In the weeks since United Way of Southwest Michigan activated the Southwest Michigan Cares Fund in response to the March 6 tornado outbreak, the community has responded with remarkable generosity, pushing total donations past $70,000 with more than 220 donors from across the region, and the nation, chipping in.

The fund was activated on March 7, one day after a powerful supercell storm tore through Cass, St. Joseph, and Branch counties, spawning tornadoes near Edwardsburg, Three Rivers, and Union City. Four people were killed, more than a dozen were injured, and countless homes, businesses, and buildings were damaged or destroyed. Cass County declared a local state of emergency, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated the state's Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the response.

"When we turned on the Southwest Michigan Cares Fund, we knew our community would show up," said Anna Murphy, President and CEO of United Way of Southwest Michigan. "$70,000 in donations is real, meaningful help for these organizations on the ground helping people in their own communities to recover. We are grateful to every single person and organization that has given."

The Southwest Michigan Cares Fund was established to move dollars quickly and efficiently to organizations doing critical work on the ground during a crisis. One hundred percent of donations designated to the fund go directly to recovery efforts. United Way of Southwest Michigan has committed to directing funds raised for the tornado response to its sister United Way agencies in Branch County and St. Joseph County, which serve those directly impacted communities. In Cass County, which falls within United Way of Southwest Michigan's service area, the organization is working closely with partners and organizations already operating on the front lines to determine where emergency funding will have the greatest impact.

Several corporate partners have already stepped up with significant contributions, including Meijer, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, Enbridge, Corewell Health, First Congregational Church UCC St. Joseph, Priority Health, Gun Lake Casino, and Invenergy.

"The road to recovery for these communities is a long one," Murphy added. "The outpouring of support we've seen tells us that Southwest Michigan doesn't leave its neighbors behind. We're going to keep working with our partners and sister United Ways to make sure every dollar reaches the people who need it most."

Senior Director of Organizational Sustainability Zack East says every time the organization set a fundraising goal on the website, it would be cleared within days. “I remember asking for donors to help us get to $25k, then $35k, then we quickly rose past $50k thanks to our corporate partners, and it’s just been an incredible rise from there.

Individuals and businesses wishing to donate may send a check payable to United Way of Southwest Michigan with "Cares Fund" noted in the memo line to PO Box 288, St. Joseph, MI 49085. Donors may also designate their gift to a specific county. For information on corporate giving opportunities, contact Senior Director of Organizational Sustainability Zack East at [email protected] or (269) 932-3226.

Those in need of assistance can get referrals to agencies providing essential needs and recovery services by dialing 2-1-1 or going to MI211.org.