Children of Phillies managing partner John Middleton contribute to PHL COVID-19 Fund

Francie Middleton and her brother John Powers Middleton have deep roots in the city of Philadelphia, and both showed their gratitude with recent donations to the PHL COVID-19 Fund.

“We live in Philadelphia, and I really wanted to do something impactful for the city,” said Francie, daughter of Phillies managing partner John Middleton.

Francie and her husband, Michael Fields, donated $250,000 to the PHL COVID-19 Fund. John Powers Middleton, a film and television producer, contributed $100,000.

“It is the easiest way to give, and takes care of a broad, diverse group of nonprofits in the area,” he said. “We saw it as a way for Philadelphia to be taken care of as a cohesive whole in the pandemic, rather than a piecemeal fashion.”

Added Fields: “Giving to the COVID-19 Fund is our way of helping the people of Philadelphia. The fund is the fastest way, we found, to get help to our most vulnerable neighbors, who are suffering the most in this time of crisis.”

The fund, which was formed on March 19, is a collaboration established by the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Foundation, and the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey to help nonprofits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It has raised $15.8 million in gifts and pledges from more than 5,000 donors, including businesses, foundations, and individuals. So far, 930 nonprofit organizations have requested a total of $27 million. (The application window has been closed for new requests.)

While neither of the Middletons nor Fields sought publicity for their donations, they said they spoke about it to help bring attention to the cause.

“These things make me feel uncomfortable by putting us out there, but at the same time, if you don’t work with them and get the press out, you are not raising awareness and not doing your job, the full job you can do, to further the cause,” John Powers Middleton said.

The PHL COVID-19 Fund announced its fourth round of grants on Thursday, totaling more than $3.25 million to 101 nonprofit organizations. The fund has granted more than $10 million to 296 nonprofits.

These organizations received this week’s funding:

African Family Health Organization (AFAHO), $70,000; AIDS Fund, $5,000; Alianzas de Phoenixville, $20,000; Ann Silverman Community Health Clinic, $50,000; Asian Americans United, $15,000; ASPIRA Bilingual Cyber Charter School, $30,000; Back on My Feet, $40,000; Benefits Data Trust, $50,000; Bethlehem Baptist Church, $42,000; Boyertown Area Multi-Service, $25,000; Boys and Girls Club of Chester, $21,000; CASA, $50,000; Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden, $50,000; Centro de Apoyo Comunitario, $2,500; Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels, $2,500; Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, $40,000; Community Interfaith of Central Montgomery County, $2,500; Community of Compassion, CDC, $15,000; Congreso de Latinos Unidos, $50,000; Council of Spanish-Speaking Organizations – Concilio, $50,000; Diversified Community Services, $50,000; Einstein Healthcare Network, $100,000; Emmanuel Cancer Foundation, $2,500; Episcopal Community Services, $50,000; Esperanza Health Center, $100,000; Family and Community Service of Delaware County, $15,000.

Family Service, $50,000; Family Services of Montgomery County, PA, $25,000; Federation Housing, $10,000; Fox Chase Cancer Center, $40,000; Free Migration Project, $6,000; Friends Association for Care and Protection of Children, $10,000; Friends Rehabilitation Program, $40,000; Galaei, $20,000; GPASS Greater Philadelphia Asian Social Services Center, $10,000; Greensgrow Inc., $35,000; HACE, $50,000; HIAS and Council Migration Services of Philadelphia Inc. d.b.a.HIAS Pennsylvania, $50,000; Honey Brook Food Pantry, $3,000; House of W.I.N. Inc., $2,500; Immigrant Rights Action, $3,000; Interfaith Hospitality Network of the Main Line (IHN-ML), $20,000; Inter-Faith Housing Alliance (IFHA), $50,000; Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, $50,000; John B. Stetson Charter School, $50,000; Judith Creed Horizons for Achieving Independence, $50,000; Juntos, $25,000; Kamp for Kids, $8,000; Kennett Area Community Services, $20,000; Keystone Hospice, $26,000; Keystone Human Services, $2,500; La Comunidad Hispana, $50,000.

La Puerta Abierta/The Open Door, $11,000; Lenape Valley Foundation, $10,000; Liberti Church, $45,000; Living Beyond Breast Cancer, $50,000; Loving Our Cities, $30,000; Manna on Main Street, $50,000; Merakey Foundation, $40,000; Mercy Hospice, $40,000; Mercy Neighborhood Ministries, $25,000; Middletown Senior Citizens Association, $8,000; Mission First Housing Group, $50,000; Montco SAAC, $50,000; Montgomery County Emergency Service, $50,000; Mothers’ Home, $50,000; Mount Carmel Baptist Church, $50,000; National Giving Alliance, $5,000; Neighbor to Neighbor Community Development Corp., $3,000; Norris Square Community Alliance, $50,000; North City Congress, $35,000; NorthEast Treatment Centers, $40,000; Olney Charter High School, $50,000; One Accord Inc., $5,000; Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center, $50,000; Patrician Society of Central Norristown, $10,000; People’s Emergency Center, $50,000.

Philadelphia Community Bail Fund, $50,000; Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central and Southern New Jersey, $50,000; Police Athletic League of Philadelphia, $22,000; Presby’s Inspired Life, $17,000; Project SAFE, $13,000; Revive South Jersey, $3,000; Rolling Harvest Food Rescue, $10,000; Safe Haven Family Life Center @First Church, $3,500; St. James School, $25,000; St. John of God Community Services, $20,000; The Common Place, $16,000; The Equity Project, $50,000; The Garces Family Foundation, $50,000; The Open Link, $50,000; The Village of Arts and Humanities, $40,000; To Our Children’s Future With Health Inc., $50,000; Treatment and Recovery Partnership (TARP), $2,500; Urban Tree Connection, $10,000; Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, $50,000; West Chester Food Cupboard, $25,000; Woods Services Inc., $40,000; YMCA of Bucks County, $50,000; Your Way Home Montgomery County, $50,000; YouthBuild Charter School Philadelphia, $40,000.

The Inquirer is owned by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, which operates under the auspices of Philadelphia Foundation. For more information on how to donate to the PHL COVID-19 Fund, visit phlcovid19fund.org.