FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boston Athletic Association Donates $100,000 to Boston Resiliency Fund
and Contributes Medical Supplies, Food to Local Agencies
BOSTON (April 3, 2020) - The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has
announced it will contribute $100,000 to the Boston Resiliency Fund, which
provides essential services to Boston residents affected by the COVID-19
pandemic, in addition to donating race-related medical supplies and food to
local agencies.
"The coronavirus crisis is affecting everyone in ways that we are only just
beginning to understand," said Tom Grilk, Chief Executive Officer of the
B.A.A. "As a member of the Boston community, we wanted to help the people
and organizations in need by making this donation to the Boston Resiliency
Fund."
The fund directs 100% of all donations to organizations providing essential
services, including first responders and healthcare workers, and seeks to
support the immediate needs of populations most affected by COVID-19.
"The Boston Resiliency Fund allows the City of Boston to continue to
address the evolving, critical challenges associated with the coronavirus,"
said Boston Mayor Martin Walsh. "We're grateful for the support of the
Boston Athletic Association during this unprecedented time and we
appreciate all of the donations we have received."
John Hancock, the B.A.A.'s longtime principal sponsor of the Boston
Marathon, was one of the first organizations to contribute, gifting $1
million when the fund was launched on March 16.
Following the postponement of the 2020 Boston Marathon due to the COVID-19
pandemic, the B.A.A. has worked with local agencies to respond to their
pressing needs and donate race-related medical supplies. Items including
medical and non-medical grade gloves, medical grade face shields, face
masks, IV fluid bags, hand sanitizer, antiseptic, thermometer covers,
nebulizer tubing sets, and ponchos were donated to local organizations. The
majority of the supplies have been donated to the Massachusetts Emergency
Management Agency (MEMA) through the COVID-19 Donation Program. Supplies
have also been donated to Boston Emergency Medical Services, Massachusetts
State Police, and St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Mass.
"We quickly shifted our focus to determine ways we could positively impact
and help people within our community," Grilk said. "I'm tremendously proud
of B.A.A. staff for not only managing the myriad of logistics that come
with postponing the Boston Marathon, but simultaneously collaborating with
our city and state partners to help those in need."
In addition, the B.A.A. donated nearly 30,000 bags of Terra Chips, provided
by JetBlue Airways for finishers of the Boston Marathon, to the Greater
Boston Food Bank.
ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.)
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit
organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through
sports, especially running. The B.A.A. manages the Boston Marathon, and
also supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The
Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with
international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York
City. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been
John Hancock. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.
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