H&M Foundation Commits $500,000 to the United Nation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund  

From billion-dollar conglomerates to individuals like you and me, everyone is tasked to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from choosing to stay at home—a simple but powerful act that will disrupt the fire-like spread of the virus—people have started to donate funds to support various response efforts.   

As if creating a centralized superfund for the world—but really to ensure countries are well-equipped to respond to the global crisis—the UN Foundation, at the request of the World Health Organization (WHO), has put up the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. According to WHO, the first-of-its-kind initiative will raise money to track and understand the spread of the virus, ensure patients get the care they need, and accelerate efforts to develop vaccines, tests, and treatments.  

Already, big players, such as Facebook and Google through fundraisers on their respective platforms, have supported the movement. Today, the nonprofit H&M Foundation has also committed $500,000 (around P25.8 million) to the fund’s lifesaving work. 

“We are all experiencing an extraordinary situation, which requires as many as possible to get involved to enable response efforts,” said Diana Amini, global manager of the H&M Foundation. “The H&M Foundation’s contribution will be used to protect vulnerable patients and health workers in the front line through the establishment of intensive care units and access to protective equipment. We encourage everyone that want to help to get involved,” 

“Diseases don’t respect borders, and I am so grateful to H&M Foundation for recognizing that this truly global problem needs a truly global solution with everyone doing their part,” said Elizabeth Cousens, president and CEO of the UN Foundation.   

Right now, countries, including ours, are ramping up their efforts to combat the evolving outbreak. Funding will help them do this faster, and the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund is currently the only way for corporations, foundations, organizations, and individuals to contribute to WHO's global response efforts. 

Any amount, whether big or small, will help arrest the crisis the world is facing today. To start, click here.

COVID19ResponseFund.org