Medtronic Foundation pledges $10m to COVID-19 efforts

March 26, 2020 By Sean Whooley Leave a Comment

Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) announced that its Medtronic Foundation is making an additional $10 million in contributions to COVID-19 relief efforts around the world.

The Fridley, Minn.-based company said in a news release that the funds will be put toward training and supervising frontline health workers, ensuring their safety (including the provision of personal protective equipment and other supplies), supporting preparedness for the health workforce, offering community support and providing flexible support to nonprofit partners working in underserved communities.

Medtronic is also organizing virtual volunteer opportunities so that the more than 90,000 Medtronic employees around the world can support non-profit organizations that are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Medtronic Foundation also intends to match Medtronic employee donations to non-profit organizations.

“With roots in the world’s largest medical technology company, the Medtronic Foundation has a responsibility to be a leader on global issues impacting access to healthcare,” Medtronic Foundation president Paurvi Bhatt said in the news release. “During this unprecedented global health crisis, we are committed to supporting and equipping the courageous frontline health workers who are delivering critical care to those in need. Through volunteerism and financial investments, we continue to partner with thought-leading partners working globally, nationally and locally – with the flexibility and investment required to meet this critical need.”

Last month, the Medtronic Foundation announced that it would pledge $1.2 million for coronavirus relief, earmarked for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for its medical teams, the Centers for Disease Control Foundation to respond to the public threat of the virus, and Project HOPE, which is delivering shipments of personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals in China.

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