ECMC Group, Alumnus, and NBAEF Offer Public School Staff COVID-19 Grants

Press Release

With a generous donation of $10,000 from Minneapolis-based ECMC Group’s philanthropic arm on behalf of NBAHS graduate Adam Trampe, the North Branch Area Education Foundation (NBAEF) has created the Educator’s COVID-19 Relief Fund to help North Branch Area Public Schools staff pay for COVID-related expenses.

Through this program, NBAPS staff are eligible to receive reimbursement for COVID19-related expenses not otherwise covered by insurance or the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCR) for those faculty/staff diagnosed with COVID-19. Grant funds could also be used for faculty/staff personal protective equipment purchased for school use but not covered by district funds, faculty/staff distance-learning/remote-learning related expenses not covered by district funds, and support for staff members missing work due to children in quarantine.

Grant applications are limited to a maximum of $500 per staff member to ensure funds are available widely. Grants will continue to be available until the funds are depleted.

"We are so grateful for the generous donation provided by Adam and ECMC Group, and the willingness of the North Branch Area Education Foundation for overseeing this opportunity," said North Branch Area Public Schools Superintendent Sara Paul. "Staff have faced many challenges this school year, and it is wonderful to know this support exists for those in need."

Trampe, who is vice president of Compliance and Enterprise Risk Management at ECMC Group, helped fund the initiative through a program under which ECMC Group leadership may designate mission-aligned charitable causes for directed ECMC Foundation grants.

“While ECMC has supported NBAEF in the past, this year we really wanted to identify and attack a specific need related to the upheaval that COVID-19 has created; and to do it in a way that honors and respects the extra work and sacrifices that faculty and staff are dealing with,” said Trampe.