NORTH CHICAGO, Ill.,
March 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/
-- AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV), a research-based global
biopharmaceutical company, today announced a donation of
$35 million to support COVID-19
relief efforts. In the U.S., AbbVie's funds will be used to support
healthcare capacity for hospitals as well as protect vulnerable
populations by enabling access to food and essential supplies. In
Europe, the donation will provide
critical equipment and supplies to patients and front-line
healthcare workers in the hardest-hit countries.
"AbbVie is making this donation to nonprofit partners that will
have an immediate and significant positive impact in communities
that have been hit hardest by this unprecedented crisis," said
Richard A. Gonzalez, chairman and
chief executive officer, AbbVie. "Our 30,000 AbbVie team members
around the world are proud to be able to help make a difference in
the fight against this virus."
International Medical Corps – Immediate Hospital Support for
U.S. Hotspots
AbbVie's donation to International Medical Corps will support
increased healthcare capacity at overwhelmed hospital emergency
departments in the U.S., where International Medical Corps is
deploying a total of 20 mobile field hospitals to help increase
surge capacity at overburdened hospitals. These mobile field units
enable hospitals to expand the available triage and treatment space
at existing facilities, improve patient flow and keep COVID-19
patients separated from other patients.
AbbVie is the sole donor funding the procurement of the tents,
equipment, supplies as well as all of the operating expenses for
these field hospitals through the end of 2020. AbbVie launched
International Medical Corps' response in cities across the US,
including in:
- Boston, MA
- Chicago, IL
- Cleveland, OH
- Detroit, MI
- Los Angeles, CA
- New Orleans, LA
- New York City, NY
- Puerto Rico
Each field hospital includes the equipment, personnel and
resources to effectively provide urgent or outpatient care to
hundreds of patients per day, including patient beds, medical
examination supplies, portable sinks, power, lighting and HVAC
units. The field hospital can be stood up in approximately six
hours and withstand 80-mph sustained winds. International Medical
Corps will pull from its roster of nearly 300 medical professionals
to fill critical gaps in nursing and infection prevention and
control. Each hospital will determine specifically how it intends
to use the additional space and resources.
"AbbVie's extraordinary and swift support means that health
workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. will
have more resources to save lives in the fight against this
dangerous disease," said Nancy
Aossey, president and CEO of International Medical Corps.
"I'd like to thank AbbVie for always standing with us — and for
helping to make sure that we are first there, no matter where, in
fighting outbreaks of infectious disease in the U.S. and
globally."
Direct Relief – Providing Equipment and Supplies in
Europe
AbbVie is donating to Direct Relief to provide equipment and
supplies in the hardest-hit European countries. Direct Relief is
procuring and delivering personal protective equipment (PPE) for
front line healthcare workers as well as oxygen concentrators and
ventilators for patients. This equipment is critical as hospitals
work to manage high patient demands and limited beds, particularly
in intensive care units.
"Direct Relief is so deeply grateful for the leadership and
commitment reflected by AbbVie's action today, which is keenly
needed, will be put to immediate use, and is a perfect example of
what's needed as we all face this historic threat to the health of
people everywhere," said Thomas
Tighe, Direct Relief president and CEO.
Feeding America – Protecting Vulnerable Populations and
Communities
Feeding America is the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief
organization and serves America's most vulnerable populations,
including seniors. AbbVie's support means more people in need will
benefit from Feeding America's services, which include food and
essential supplies. As people continue to be under stay-at-home
orders or are otherwise confined to home, Feeding America food
banks are launching creative new delivery methods, including
direct-to-home food drops and minimal-contact food
pick-ups.
"We are incredibly grateful for AbbVie's generous commitment to
Feeding America's COVID-19 Response Fund. During this unprecedented
time, the Feeding America nationwide network of 200 food banks is
working tirelessly to provide food and emergency assistance to
children, seniors and families struggling with food insecurity and
people experiencing job disruptions," said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding
America.
AbbVie Community Resilience Fund – Setting Aside Funds for
Future Needs
As part of its $35 million
commitment, AbbVie is designating up to $5
million in reserve funding for additional near-term
commitments to help address the COVID-19 pandemic. With the
situation rapidly evolving, AbbVie seeks to ensure flexibility in
its donation program as funds emerge and new areas of need are
identified. To that end, AbbVie is creating the Community
Resilience Fund, which will provide funding to organizations
improving community resilience in under-resourced areas impacted by
the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more and apply here.
Various Charities – Empower Employee Giving
AbbVie also announced that it is doubling the AbbVie Foundation
match for COVID-19-related contributions by its employees. Through
this program, AbbVie seeks to increase the impact the company can
make on this crisis. Instead of the typical 1:1 match, the AbbVie
Foundation will match $2 to every
$1 employees donate to a nonprofit
for this purpose. In 2019, the company's employee giving and
matching program raised more than $13
million for charities.
AbbVie Employee Assistance Fund – Supporting Employees
in Need
For employees impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, AbbVie is
offering support through the AbbVie Employee Assistance Fund's
Employee Relief Program. Employees in need of assistance can
apply for this program, which covers expenses such as mortgage/rent
payments, utilities, food, childcare and medical expenses by going
to AbbVie.com/EAF.
Learn more about the company's response to COVID-19 at
AbbVie.com/coronavirus.
About AbbVie
AbbVie is a global, research and development-based
biopharmaceutical company committed to developing innovative
advanced therapies for some of the world's most complex and
critical conditions. The company's mission is to use its expertise,
dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to markedly
improve treatments across four primary therapeutic areas:
immunology, oncology, virology and neuroscience. In more than 75
countries, AbbVie employees are working every day to advance health
solutions for people around the world. For more information about
AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on
Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram.
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SOURCE AbbVie