AT&T Foundation: Donates $50,000 to support Madison’s healthcare heroes operating on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic

Support builds on national effort to help those impacted by COVID-19

For more information, contact: Jessica Erickson | AT&T Public Affairs | 608-692-5340 | jessica.erickson@att.com

MADISON, Wednesday, May 20, 2020— Across the country and around the world, healthcare workers and medical personnel are playing a critical role in helping care for their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.  To support those helping us through this difficult time, the AT&T Foundation is donating $50,000 to two Madison hospitals.

“I don’t think we can say ‘thank you’ enough to our healthcare workers and first responders for the job they do every day – and that’s especially true during this time,” said Scott T. VanderSanden, president of AT&T Wisconsin.  “We are proud to support the doctors, nurses and hospital staff who leave their families every day, risking their health to help others.”

The AT&T Foundation has contributed to the following organizations:

·        SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital: A $25,000 grant will support emergency funding needs for SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in response to the COVID-19 crisis, including protecting and caring for frontline healthcare workers and converting care areas for COVID-19 patient care.  The funding from the AT&T Foundation will also be used to help purchase PPE for frontline healthcare workers and to support emerging priority needs during the pandemic.

·        University of Wisconsin Foundation: A $25,000 grant will support UW Health’s nourishment program for essential healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, including free or reduced cafeteria meals, “grab and go” snacks, gift cards to local restaurants, and dorm welcome bags for hospital staff staying in a UW-Madison dorm.  The funding from the AT&T Foundation will also support UW Health’s new emergency day care center for essential employees without child care, and their drive-through COVID-19 collection site for testing UW Health employees who are symptomatic.

“This grant from the AT&T Foundation to our Emergency Response Fund will help sustain us as we face the most significant public health crisis of our time,” said Dina Boyle, Executive Director of SSM Health St. Mary’s Foundation. “COVID-19 is placing an incredible burden on our health care system, but with this grant, we will emerge stronger than ever and continue to provide compassionate care for the community as we have since 1912.”

“UW Health is facing an unprecedented increase in needs related to the COVID-19 global pandemic,” said Mike Knetter, President and CEO of the University of Wisconsin Foundation. “We are grateful to the AT&T Foundation for their generous support of our healthcare heroes, our patients and our community during this crisis.”

The AT&T Foundation’s support is part of AT&T Believes℠ — a company-wide effort to make a meaningful impact in local communities. 

AT&T has made a nationwide commitment to provide much-needed support for first responders, medical personnel and others impacted by COVID-19.  The effort kicked off with a $1.5 million contribution to World Central Kitchen.  We’re also supporting Feeding America, The Salvation Army and Team Rubicon.  AT&T will also be collaborating with a host of additional local organizations in communities most impacted by the pandemic.  Learn more, including instructions for making individual contributions, by clicking here.

Additionally, AT&T has announced that eligible nurses and physicians across the county are now eligible for three free months of service for a smartphone or tablet with eligible new or existing FirstNet Mobile-Responder plan.1 FirstNet is the nationwide wireless communications network designed for first responders and those who support them.  Information on this offer and all of AT&T’s pandemic relief efforts can be found on our COVID-19 information page