Over $1 Million Awarded in Rapid Response Post Hurricanes

The Rapid Response Initiative was launched after Hurricane Helene and made the first grant to support Hurricane Milton relief efforts seven hours before the historic storm made landfall. Building on lessons from Hurricanes Irma and Ian, we recognized the need for an “evergreen” fund that was designed to proactive support our community during any disaster. Over $1 million has been awarded from the Rapid Response Initiative, which provided immediate, life-sustaining needs for the region after the back-to-back hurricanes in the fall of 2024. Click here for more detailed information on the grants provided from this impactful initiative.

Of the over $1 million awarded from our Rapid Response Initiative, $700,935 was granted for basic needs like food and hygiene supplies, including $75,000 to the Southern Smoke Foundation to support hospitality workers on the barrier islands who were deeply impacted by Hurricane Helene. $315,820 was granted for housing requests, $181,000 was granted to support mental healthcare needs, and $45,000 was granted for educational necessities.  

In 2024, the Southern Smoke Foundation distributed a total of $132,500 to 50 food and beverage workers in Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. These funds supported servers, cooks, and bartenders from nine surrounding cities. Caring donors outside of Gulf Coast and from across the country contributed to the total amount that the Southern Smoke Foundation provided to our region, showing the collective impact of our Rapid Response Initiative.    

"One key milestone for Gulf Coast Community Foundation was launching the Rapid Response Initiative. Through this initiative, we have been able to quickly fulfill large regional requests for food, shelter, education, and mental health services thanks to our compassionate donors and support from people from all over the country. As tragic as these events were, the way our community came together in the aftermath was truly inspiring,” said Gulf Coast’s President | CEO Phillip Lanham. “Because of our efforts, Gulf Coast has been invited to present a session on our disaster response initiatives from the 2020 pandemic through the 2024 hurricane season at the Council on Foundation’s national conference, Leading Locally in Minneapolis, MN this June. We have the opportunity to educate foundation leaders from across the nation about our swift, collaborative, and effective response to disaster relief with the hope of using our models to more efficiently serve their communities.” 

UnidosNow received a $100,000 grant to assist families with food replacement costs, housing, and service navigation. Their mission is to elevate the quality of life of the growing Hispanic/Latino community through education, integration, and civic engagement. Through the grant, UnidosNow served a total of 77 households and 318 individuals, including 177 adults and 141 children. One participant’s parent from UnidosNow’s Future Leaders Academy for Middle Schoolers (FLAM) shared, “The support we got was beyond our expectations. The resources, time, and emotional support helped us navigate through one of the toughest times in our lives. We felt seen and cared for.”  

The life-sustaining support from Gulf Coast’s Rapid Response Initiative has been essential for families and community members as they rebuild their homes and lives.  

Click here to learn more about our Rapid Response Initiative.