$50 million fund launched for families of health care workers killed by coronavirus
A $50 million nationwide fund has been created for families of health care workers and volunteers who died of COVID-19 after assisting others who had the new coronavirus, a Foundation for the Carolinas subsidiary announced Tuesday.
E4E Relief launched the Brave of Heart Fund with $25 million donations from the New York Life Foundation and the Cigna Foundation, fund leaders said. New York Life has committed another $25 million to match individual donations.
The plan is to grow the fund to more than $100 million with contributions from other corporate donors and from individuals, according to a foundation news release.
E4E Relief provides employee relief funds. Foundation for the Carolinas created the program after 9/11 to help bank workers directly affected by the terrorist attacks. The fund’s employee assistance programs now serve at least 4 million people worldwide.
Donations to the Brave of Heart Fund are tax-deductible and can be made at www.BraveofHeartFund.com. Cigna also will provide free emotional and behavioral health services for surviving family members.
In the first few hours after its launch, the Brave of Heart Fund received about 350 individual online donations totaling about $37,000, fund officials said.
Family members of health care workers and volunteers who died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, and who are struggling financially can apply for charitable grants beginning in May at www.BraveofHeartFund.com.
Recipients could receive up to $60,000.
“When tragedy strikes, large or small, people want to help,” E4E Relief CEO Holly Welch Stubbing said in the news release. “The Brave of Heart Fund is an overwhelming example of this, with New York Life and Cigna rising to the occasion to support fallen healthcare workers.”
Added Michael Marsicano, president and CEO of Foundation for the Carolinas, “We hope to honor these fallen heroes and provide much-needed support to their families across the nation.”
This story was originally published April 21, 2020 at 10:29 AM.