By: Nick Santangelo

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of everyone in the College of Liberal Arts community and the city of Philadelphia that we call home. The most important things any of us can do are to stay home, stay safe, wash our hands and maintain social distancing. But some of our community members are also making a difference in other ways. 

Shawn McCaney, CLA '87, is the executive director of the William Penn Foundation, which recently fast-tracked $6.6 million in grants for the arts and added $5 million in grants for pre-K education. These are crucial funds that will help keep organizations afloat during the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Read the Philadelphia Inquirer's story about how the foundation made these funds available under McCaney's leadership.