Healthcare workers have been on the frontlines around the clock for weeks to care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The philanthropic community has shown an outpouring of support for frontline workers’ safety and well-being during this crisis.

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation provided funding to the University of Michigan-Flint to house Genesee County healthcare workers in its residence halls. This has allowed healthcare professionals to keep their families safe from exposure while having a clean and safe place to rest and recover.

The foundation also provided support to Freedom Center Church, which purchased meals from Flint restaurants to deliver to hospitals.

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation (RCWJRF) committed $1.5 million to support caregivers on the front lines of COVID-19 at acute care hospitals in Southeast Michigan and Western New York.

“Caregivers on the front lines of COVID-19 put themselves in harm’s way for the benefit of others and work tirelessly, day in and day out. It’s critical that they too are cared for,” David Egner, president and CEO, RCWJRF and CMF Trustee said. “Our trustees and staff have been touched by stories shared by our grantees about frontline hospital workers accessing basic needs like childcare, transportation, and healthy meals. We hope these grant funds play a role in providing some comfort to these crucial workers.”

CMF members around the state have helped to connect workers with not only critical Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and basic needs such as food and housing, they’ve also engaged in special initiatives to show appreciation.

The 5 Healthy Towns Foundation, in collaboration with volunteers from Health Ministry in Action and Community Wellness Coalitions, launched a letter-writing campaign to thank frontline healthcare workers for their efforts. The initiative, originally created by a group of Chelsea High School students, allows community members to drop off or mail letters of thanks to workers at St. Joseph Mercy in Chelsea and Henry Ford Allegiance Hospital in Jackson. Residents can also submit words of thanks online that will be shared with hospital staff.

“It’s not just the clinical staff who deserve our thanks,” Amy Heydlauff, CEO, 5 Healthy Towns Foundation told Chelsea Update. “It’s everyone going to work in our health centers—environmental services staff, dietary workers, radiology and lab personnel, pharmacy techs social workers and many more. We want them to know that we appreciate their commitment.”

Foundations are advancing a variety of collaborations to thank and support healthcare workers.

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM) partnered with the Detroit Pistons to fund aid to hospital workers. In addition to the Pistons’ $250,000 donation to CFSEM’s COVID-19 Health Fund, owner Tom Gores purchased and delivered 100,000 surgical-grade masks for Detroit first responders and hospital employees.

To boost healthcare professional and resident morale and to promote social distancing, the Pistons partnered with the Detroit Youth Choir (DYC) to create a video that features DYC members singing “Stand By Me” while former Pistons players—including former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing—show signs thanking healthcare workers and encouraging residents to stay home.

Want more?

Watch the thank you video from the Detroit Pistons and the Detroit Youth Choir.

The Download