The Gulf Coast Community Foundation and Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation have introduced a philanthropic initiative to fortify key health and safety organizations in the region amid the growing COVID-19 crisis. The foundations announced their joint effort on Saturday, with commitments of $1.5 million to support the initiative so far. Foundation leadership positioned the funding as a challenge to Gulf Coast donors and other philanthropists in the community to match the amount. The initiative aims to support lead health, human-service, and safety organizations facing increased demand for services right now and in the coming months. Working together, the foundations will strategically deploy funding to give strained organizations immediate relief, while also helping to build long-term capacity to continue providing vital safety-net support.