DUBLIN and MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 30,
2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With the pandemic surging across
the globe and food insecurity on the rise, Medtronic and the
Medtronic Foundation today announced an additional $3.8 million commitment to provide healthcare
worker support and protection, mental health support, operational
support and food assistance to organizations and communities in
need. This new commitment is in addition to charitable
contributions made earlier this year and brings the total of the
company's COVID-19 relief efforts to more than $46 million.
Today's comprehensive global response focuses on emergency food
assistance and hunger relief programs, mental health support and
health worker grants, organization operational support, and in-kind
personal protective equipment (PPE) donations in underserved
communities and those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic
such as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
communities.
The PPE donation includes more than 400,000 N95 surgical masks
and 430,000 KN95 respirators, all of which will be distributed by
International Medical Corps. The masks will go to hospitals and
health facilities chosen for their locations in COVID-19 hot spots,
or directly to individuals as part of prevention efforts. In
addition, these facilities serve underserved and underinsured
communities, most at-risk and most affected by the pandemic.
"As the global pandemic continues to surge, our Mission compels
us to help ensure our courageous frontline healthcare workers have
adequate protection," said Noel Colón, Medtronic senior vice
president and chief quality officer. "We are proud to equip
frontline health workers delivering critical care to those in need,
as well as those most at-risk and most affected by the
pandemic."
Among the nonprofit organizations receiving added support from
the Medtronic Foundation through its $1.6
million grant package are those focusing on rapid access to
low income communities such as the COVID-19 Action Fund for
Africa, Americares, Direct Relief,
Meals on Wheels, and numerous food banks.
"As the coronavirus pandemic surges around the world and in our
own backyard, healthcare, food assistance, and mental health
pressures are at all-time highs; it is crucial for us to deliver
support quickly to counteract the disproportionate effect the virus
has on underserved, marginalized communities," said Paurvi Bhatt, president of the Medtronic
Foundation. "In this season of giving, we are also turning our
gratitude into action by coming together with our partners to
support these issues and the brave frontline health workers who are
in need of services themselves."
Engaging Together
In addition to the financial
contributions, the Medtronic Foundation also will continue to match
Medtronic employee and retiree donations to approved nonprofit
organizations worldwide including those that focus on food
assistance, mental health support and healthcare worker
protections.
About Medtronic Foundation
Medtronic plc is the sole
funder of the Medtronic Foundation, whose focus is on improving
health for underserved populations worldwide, as well as supporting
communities in which Medtronic employees live and give. For more
information, please visit medtronicfoundation.org.
About Medtronic
Medtronic plc (www.medtronic.com),
headquartered in Dublin, Ireland,
is among the world's largest medical technology, services and
solutions companies – alleviating pain, restoring health and
extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic
employs more than 90,000 people worldwide, serving physicians,
hospitals and patients in more than 150 countries. The company is
focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take
healthcare Further, Together.
Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic
reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual
results may differ materially from anticipated results.
Contact:
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Elizabeth
Costello
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Erika
Winkels
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Medtronic
Foundation
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Medtronic
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Public
Relations
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Public
Relations
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+1-612-940-7693
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+1-763-526-8478
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Ryan
Weispfenning
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Medtronic
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Investor
Relations
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+1-763-505-4626
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SOURCE Medtronic plc