How companies are stepping up to ease coronavirus hardships
As companies around the country and world suffer from the effects of the deadly novel coronavirus, some businesses are stepping up to help alleviate some of the economic fallout. Here’s a list of some of their efforts so far. Yahoo Finance will continue to update this list as more companies contribute to the relief effort.
Alaska Airlines, Amazon, Microsoft, and The Starbucks Foundation
The group of mostly Seattle-based companies has committed more than $2.5 million to the city’s COVID-19 response fund.
“COVID-19 represents a battle on two fronts—a public health crisis and a threat to the economic stability of so many in our region,” said Seattle Foundation President and CEO Tony Mestres in a statement highlighting the donation efforts. “While we are all dealing with the effects of this outbreak, some of our neighbors face disproportionate challenges around time off work, the cost of care, and reliable access to information.”
Amazon, which has hired an additional 100,000 warehouse and delivery workers amid a surge of online shopping, said it will invest over $350 million globally to increase pay by $2/hour in the US, C$2 in Canada, £2/hr in the UK, and approximately €2/hr in many EU countries for employees and partners who are in fulfillment centers, transportation operations, stores or those making deliveries so that others can remain at home, according to a company statement.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, UNITED STATES – 2020/02/23: American multinational technology company Google logo seen at Googleplex, the corporate headquarters complex of Google and its parent company Alphabet Inc. (Photo by Alex Tai/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Apple CEO Tim Cook announced on Twitter that the company is making a “substantial donation including medical supplies to Protezione Civile, Italy, to help the heroic first responders, medical personnel & volunteers.”
The tech giant has established a COVID-19 fund. “For every $1 you donate by April 30, 2020, Google.org will donate $2, up to $5M, to support global preparedness and response in communities affected by the spread of COVID-19. 100% of your donation goes to the United Nations Foundation in support of WHO’s global COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund,” said Google’s company website.
Major League Baseball’s teams have pledged $30 million for stadium workers due to the delay in the 2020 season.
On March 11, the NBA suspended its season for at least 30 days. Since that announcement, NBA players have stepped up to help facilities workers who would lose out on pay. NBA stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Zion Williamson, and Kevin Love all pledged $100,000 to support team staff.
The Oregon-based company has committed more than $15 million to COVID-19 response efforts. The funds will be donated by a combination of current and former Nike executives.
“NIKE, Inc. Chairman Emeritus and co-founder Phil Knight and wife Penny; NIKE, Inc. Executive Chairman of the Board Mark Parker and wife Kathy; and NIKE, Inc. President and CEO John Donahoe and wife Eileen, are personally donating a combined $10 million to the following: $1 million to the Oregon Food Bank, $2 million to the Oregon Community Recovery Fund created by the Oregon Community Foundation, and $7 million to Oregon Health & Science University to improve statewide care coordination in Oregon, increase patient access, and ramp up operational readiness for expanded diagnostic testing for COVID-19,” a statement released by the company said.
Beaverton, Oregon, USA – Apr 24, 2019: The Nike “Swoosh” logo at one of the entrances to Nike World Headquarters.
The Nike Foundation will also donate $1 million to the United Nations Foundation and Swiss Philanthropy Foundation’s global COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. The funds will support efforts by the World Health Organization and its partners.
The Maryland-based sportswear company has pledged $2 million in donations to provide community support for those impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic, according to a company statement. It includes a 30-day healthy-at-home fitness challenge on Under Armour’s MyFitnessPal and MapMyRun platforms.
Walmart and its Walmart Foundation have committed $25 million to the COVID-19 response effort: $5 million will go to helping countries prevent, detect, and manage the coronavirus; $10 million will support food banks, school meal programs, and organizations that provide access to food for underserved populations; and $10 million will support efforts in local communities, said a company statement.
Inditex fashion group, the owner of fashion brand Zara, will allow the Spanish government to use its facilities to help produce medical supplies such as surgical masks and hospital gowns, according to Vouge. Inditex says that it has already donated 10,000 protective face masks and will be able to ship 300,000 more by week’s end.
Reggie Wade is a writer for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @ReggieWade.
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