It’s a sad reality that so many businesses have closed, laid-off employees, seen massive revenue decreases, and suffered other harsh impacts from the coronavirus pandemic. Many businesses have been forced to go into crisis management and survival mode as a result.
But some companies are doing their level best to help clients, customers, medical and first responders, and those stricken with the deadly virus during these difficult times. These are companies that believe in giving back to help other businesses and communities where they can and they should be recognized and admired for their leadership and initiatives.
Rather than highlight those who are trying to profit from the misfortunes of others by price gouging and insensitive marketing ploys, we’re highlighting some of the best examples of business philanthropy we can find. These companies deserve our respect and acknowledgment for their generosity and sense of community.
Free route finding & delivery software
Route4Me is a New York headquartered logistics service for more efficient deliveries. The company is currently offering its subscription service as an unlimited trial in all countries it serves for Federal, State and City government agencies, municipalities and villages, and local foodbanks. The offer will be available until the peak of the COVID-19 passes crisis according to the company website.
“We have proprietary and patented technology, which can significantly increase work efficiency, and help achieve a 300% improvement on most work activities, without adding additional people or staff,” explains Founder and CEO, Dan Khasis. “Driver shortages existed before the pandemic, but things have gotten much worse. Our technology will help plan the shortest, fastest, and most optimal driving routes, and it will also help track the location and progress of each task and route destination. Gaining visibility into activities completed by employees, contractors, or volunteers is very powerful when every minute of activity helps others.”
Khasis said the technology can be employed in a number of ways to enhance healthcare, product and service delivery during the coronavirus pandemic including:
- touchless/no contact delivery
- forward deployment of ambulances and sterilization teams to areas with larger elderly populations
- tracking and delivery of non-emergency but essential medical and sanitation products
- critical food distribution from food banks or other donation centers to at-risk individuals
- enhanced or temporary sanitation pickup
- optimizing donation pickups from business communities to healthcare, first responders, communities or individuals at greatest risk.
Bacardi helps hospitality industry
Bermuda-based Bacardi Limited launched #RaiseYourSpirits, a program to support bars and restaurants devastated by the COVID-19 shutdown. Bacardi and its other premium liquor brands pledged $3 million in addition to the $1 Million pledged by its PATRÓN® tequila brand last week to support non-profits that are providing aid quickly to those in our industry hard hit by the pandemic. Some of the organizations supported include Another Round, Another Rally; CORE; the James Beard Foundation; Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation; and Tales of the Cocktail®.
“Bacardi is a family company, and for us, business is personal. We always say that love for our brands is built in bars, and now it is our turn to show them our love,” said Mahesh Madhavan, CEO of Bacardi Limited. “We don’t have all the answers today on how best to help everywhere, but we are committed to do what we can to see our industry through this crisis.”
“These may be the darkest of days for bars and restaurants, but I am certain that when we come out on the other side, people will emerge from isolation with a renewed zest to live life to the fullest and celebrate together with friends and family,” he added.
The company also said it is shifting some of its rum distillery production capacity in Puerto Rico to supply ethanol and help produce more than 17 million units of 10-ounce hand sanitizer. The hand sanitizer will be donated and shipped to USPS workers, firefighters and police in local communities with new production next week donated to nonprofits.
DoorDash promoting local restaurants
Restaurant delivery leader DoorDash is promoting local restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic with its “Open for Business” campaign. It’s highlighting businesses that are still taking orders through its delivery app and is temporarily reducing or waiving its fees and commissions for delivery and takeout orders during the crisis.
The company has pledged to donate up to $20 million in a #OpenforBusiness marketing push to help local restaurants survive in the next several months.
SDK.finance: 1-year payment deferral for fintech software
SDK.finance, a financial technology provider, announced a 1-Year payment deferral for all companies with financial licenses issued by any country of the European Union and the UK. The initiative aims to help minimize the negative economic impact of the global COVID-19 outbreak.
Alex Malyshev, CEO of SDK.finance, said, “Closing borders, quarantine, and closing restaurants and shops, are all actions that lead businesses to bankruptcy and people to poverty. Small and medium businesses that are the backbone of the European Union economy, with around 57% of the total value-added in GDP, are particularly vulnerable today.”
Heficed offers free network resources during COVID-19
Heficed, a full-suite network infrastructure provider, is offering organizations involved in the research and development of solutions to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of their services for free.
A bare-metal server could alleviate the problem of overcrowding and increase an organization’s production capabilities, as it hosts only a single-tenant. Paired with cloud hosting, it enables business agility, even during this time of uncertainty. By providing a stable and secure connection, Heficed aims to enable organizations working overtime researching solutions concerning the pandemic, to handle even the most critical operations with ease. Read more…
New York techs fundraise for protective gear
VC Fred Wilson highlights two worthy GOFundMe projects by tech leaders determined to provide protective equipment for healthcare workers.
A Million Masks for NYC was started by a group of New York high tech leaders raising funds to get protective gear and equipment to workers on the coronavirus frontline. The Frontline Responders Fund is a $10 million campaign started by Edward Norton and logistics company Flexport to fund supplies of “masks, gowns, gloves, and other critical supplies to protect medical professionals and hospitals around the world. Please support these worthy causes.
Natwest eliminates some POS fees
In the UK, Natwest waived fees for point-of-sale terminals for its Tyl payments product until the end of 2020. The bank put a program in place to enable businesses to offer payment options to their customers at a reduced cost. NatWest is also providing next-day settlements to Tyl to help businesses maintain cash flow during the COVID-19 crisis.
In addition, NatWest announced the launch of a £5 million ($6.1 million) fund to help young entrepreneurs across the UK to keep their businesses afloat during the coronavirus crisis.
Kabbage supports local business with gift certificates
Cash flow solutions provider Kabbage created a program to encourage consumers to buy gift certificates to support local businesses during the coronavirus crisis. Any US small business can sign up for free on www.helpsmallbusiness.com to immediately seek financial support through gift certificate purchases from residents across the US.
Kabbage provides businesses a unique URL to easily share their personalized page with customers via text, email, web, social media or print. Consumers can purchase multiple certificates for any amount between $15 and $500 and small businesses will get an immediate notification and can use free technology offered by Kabbage to scan, verify, track and fulfill gift certificates when redeemed.
“We encourage everyone to think beyond consumer goods and consider all service providers such as local handymen, lawn care providers, dry cleaners and laundromats; they all need our support,” said Kabbage co-founder and President Kathryn Petralia. “Many weddings, birthdays and vacations are being postponed due to social distancing. Think about the small businesses you would have approached for those activities and purchase certificates to plan for future dates.”
EBANX launches sales platform to help local business sell online
In Brazil, EBANX in partnership with Visa launched a program to support online sales for businesses closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. EBANX Beep helps SMBs and self-employed professionals self vouchers for products and services to help businesses that have no cash flow during the quarantine period.
“This platform is an option for SMBs and self-employed professionals to be in the digital world, giving them more visibility and business opportunities, in addition to promoting the digital inclusion of businesses in general,” said André Boaventura, partner and CMO at EBANX.
Candid.org tracking grant distribution and funding to coronavirus relief programs
More than 416 companies have donated in excess of $4.3 billion according to Candid.org which is tracking grants and funds raised to support coronavirus relief programs. Businesses and organizations big and small are donating substantial funds, people and resources to a wide range of projects at state, city and community locations responding to the COVID-19 crisis.
The total donations are changing daily but among the top 10 donors to date are Google ($906.8 million), Cisco ($208.8 million), Tata Trusts ($199 million), Wells Fargo ($181 million), Tencent Holdings ($173 million), Alibaba Group ($144 million), Facebook ($122 million), China Evergrande Group ($115 million), Bank of America ($111 million), Assicurazioni Generali SpA ($110 million), Intesa Sanpaolo SpA ($110 million), Bill and Melinda Gates foundation ($110 million), and Netflix ($100 million).
In contrast to the US government which can’t seem to get its crisis response together fast enough to meet the country’s needs, companies are moving quickly to try and support emergency care, encourage research, and deliver supplies and medical programs where they can make the biggest difference across the US and around the world.
Philanthropy these days seems like an old-fashioned concept. These companies and many others at every level, in every country, deserve our support, admiration, and respect for reminding us that in a crisis philanthropy and helping others matter.
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