On Tuesday morning, we held a COVID-19 call to share the rapid response, collaborative leadership opportunities and support resources available locally, nationally and internationally. The speakers shared their insight, best practices, and inspiration with more than 70 participants. Thank you to our speakers:
- Rachel Carlson, CEO for Guild Education
- Asialee Drews, Grantmaking for Western Union Foundation
- Renny Fagan, President and CEO for Colorado Nonprofit Association
- Christina Frantz, Director of Social Impact for Twilio SendGrid
- Kayla Garcia, Vice President, Resource Development for Mile High United Way
- Sarah Hogan, Principal for Barefoot PR
- Ben Perry, Philanthropic Advisor for The Denver Foundation
Couldn't make the call?
Rachel Carlson, CEO of Guild Education is leading the #StopTheSpread campaign. Over 1,500 CEOs have taken the pledge, and several companies, including Twilio SendGrid have stepped up and started a COVID recovery fund. Additionally, they are asking organizations to:
- #PayItForward — an initiative to help small businesses with their cash flow. Where companies and individuals immediately pay their small business vendors, rather than waiting the usual 30 to 45 days to pay their accounts payable.
- Focus on front line workers — healthcare, pharmacy, manufacturing and retail workers who still need to show up for work. Helping your workers understand what the disease is, how to protect themselves, how to talk with their managers about it and other crucial conversations needed to support and protect our workforce on the front line.
- Support your local community — with concrete, innovative investments and programs.
Learn more about #StopTheSpread here.
If you're looking for in-person volunteer opportunities, Mile High United Way and Spark the Change Colorado are collaborating with local nonprofits to help provide support and volunteers to organizations in need. Governor Polis also announced a statewide volunteer portal, for individuals, atwww.helpcoloradonow.org.
For more on virtual volunteering, see Volunteer Match's blog post on 4 Ways to Shape Your Volunteering in Uncertain Times here. Please also see the B:CIVIC virtual volunteering list here. This is a living document and additions are welcome.
If you're a company looking for strategies on supporting nonprofits, Barefoot PR has shared their 5 ways to support nonprofits here. And if you're a nonprofit, check out the Colorado Nonprofit Association's resource and funding guide here.
News You Can Use
CenturyLink has suspended its data cap on internet usage for customer to ease burdens on telecommunications.
DISH Network has announced it is providing its entire portfolio of 600 Mhz spectrum to T-Mobile at no cost for the next 60 days.
The Denver Foundation activated their Critical Needs Fund to focus on critical issues including housing insecurity and lack of access to food and health care services.
The State of Colorado launched the Colorado COVID Relief Fund and Help Colorado Now campaign where you can learn about volunteer opportunities, donate supplies or blood, and contribute to the fund like members, Bank of America, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation, FirstBank, Liberty Media, Wells Fargo and Xcel Energy have.
Twilio SendGrid and 34 other tech companies in Colorado took a stance to stop the spread and collaborated on steps to counter coronavirus.
The Wells Fargo Foundation announced up to $6.25 million in donations to support domestic and global response to the coronavirus and to aid public health relief efforts.
Western Union started the social media campaign, Behind Every Mask there is a Heart to promote kindness in addition to their $1M global matching challenge.
Xcel Energy won’t shut off power or gas to its 3.15 million residential customers for unpaid bills for the foreseeable, a move meant ensure people have the power and gas they need through the COVID-19 epidemic.
