With a new name to reflect its renewed mission, Excellerate is helping thousands in Northwest Arkansas who are struggling due to COVID-19
The organization formerly known as Endeavor Foundation has announced that it is now Excellerate Foundation, a name that reflects its continuing commitment to excellence and a new focus on accelerating decisive action in Northwest Arkansas. Excellerate will build on its legacy of the past 20 years by helping drive lasting change that ensures that everyone in the region has the opportunity to thrive.
To illustrate this renewed focus, Excellerate has also shared its ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including leveraging existing resources and deploying more than $2.5 million into the community over the past five months.
COVID-19 has created a ripple effect throughout the community, and the magnitude of this simultaneous need has been unprecedented. It has tested the region’s support services like never before, largely by people who have never needed such services, don’t know they exist, and don’t know how to find them.
In the midst of this crisis, Excellerate has stepped forward to identify these regional needs and help fill in the gaps, including:
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Creating more than 5,000 Hark “client plans,” which have made more than 15,000 referrals to needed resources and services.
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Leveraging Catalyst Fund NWA—a financial assistance program created by Excellerate and Walton Family Foundation—to provide rental, utility and general assistance to more than 1,500 households affected by COVID-19.
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Sustaining the services of key nonprofits with $400,000 in emergency grants.
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Working directly with property managers to prevent evictions and remove late fees.
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Providing data and analysis to area nonprofits to help them receive more than $400,000 in federal funds for rental and utility assistance.
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Advocating on behalf of the populations hit hardest by the coronavirus.
“COVID-19 has deeply affected our community, and the work to alleviate the needs of our neighbors goes on,” said Jeff Webster, the foundation’s chief executive officer. “As part of our renewed mission, Excellerate Foundation will continue to connect organizations to each other to address the many challenges of the pandemic, while also connecting individuals to the vital resources they need to weather the storm. Excellerate has been—and will remain—at the forefront of the efforts to keep Northwest Arkansas safe and secure during these uncertain times.”
More information about Excellerate’s new visual identity, its renewed mission and vision, and its COVID-19 response can be found at excelleratefoundation.com.
To connect with the foundation about a community need or to request an interview, please contact Excellerate at info@excelleratefoundation.com.
