In an economy that thrives on free enterprise and entrepreneurship there is no greater threat than giant corporations and their CEO's. The law of large numbers simply just doesn't apply to our 1%. And then there was the coronavirus; an invisible enemy powerful enough to take on the whole world. We have a new public enemy today. A better tomorrow lies in the hands of our actions today.
Despite the stigma, some of today's largest corporations are stepping up and taking action to secure not just their financial future, but the financial future of all of us. Apple, Microsoft, google, Comcast, T-Mobile and Amazon are just a few of the big businesses helping us fight this battle. Here's what they're doing:
Creative Cloud customers in educational institutions can request temporary "at-home" access for students and teachers world wide at no extra charge until May 31st.
(Adobe has around twenty individual applications. Monthly subscriptions for most of them individually is $20 a month. Or you can subscribe to use all of them for $53 a months.)
Unlimited paid sick leave over the next month for employees that tested positive for COVID-19
Hiring 100,000 more workers
Giving Raises to current staff
Pledged $2.5 million to help victims of the virus in Seattle
Started a $25 million fund for Seattle small business affected
Announced $15 million in donations towards relief efforts
Skipping March payments for Apple Card customers interest free
Unlimited paid sick leave to any employees experiencing symptoms
Will deliver prescribed medications to customers free of charge
Early refill limits of thirty day prescriptions for medicines needed for conditions such as hypertension and asthma are being waived by Aetna, a CVS company
U-Haul is offering 30 days of self storage to all college students who have been affected by schedule changes at their universities
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are providing over $100 million for COVID-19 treatments and vaccines
Google has established a global fund to help temporary staff and vendors get paid sick leave should they experience any coronavirus symptoms.
Pledged to keep American customer's internet connected for the next 60 days even if customers cannot pay
Mark Cuban has offered to reimburse his employees for any lunch and coffee purchases made at local, independent businesses.
It doesn't end there. Fashion designers, vehicle manufacturers, cosmetic companies, have redirected their production efforts towards helping healthcare workers and medical facilities get the equipment they so desperately need right now.
L'Oreal has shifted from cosmetics to hand sanitizer and hydro-alchoholic gel for European and French healthcare authorities and food distributors
Ralph Lauren has donated $10 million for COVID-19 relief and is said to make 250,000 face mask and 25,000 isolation medical gowns
Zara, fashion retailer, has already donated 10,000 mask and is expected to deliver another 300,000 soon.
Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli have donated two full intensive care units each to the West African hospitals
(The list goes on and on. For more information or to see complete lists check out the reference links below)
There's no denying that we are in the middle of a historic tragedy and unfortunately, the worst may still have yet to come. But we must not admit defeat. We can't give up. That little bit of hope we need to pull through is in each and everyone of us. If we can work together, big, small, black, white, red, green, left, right and everything in between; we can win this war!
Thank you to all of the companies out there for your support and your contribution. Thank you to all the companies and banking institutions not mentioned here as well as all of the military forces and our government. Seeing what we can accomplish when we all come together might just be the light at the end of the tunnel.
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