$2 Million for Front-Line Health Care Workers

Leadership contributions bolster thousands of generous gifts to care for the caregivers and fuel the COVID-19 response.

Author | MargaretAnn Cross

From the time Michigan Medicine began seeing patients with COVID-19 in March, friends of the health system — many of whom who have supported patient care, research, and education philanthropically for years — reached out to see how they could help. Michigan Medicine launched a COVID-19 Philanthropic Fund; a Michigan Medicine Employee Emergency Need Fund; and a collection drive for personal protective equipment (PPE) and other in-kind donations. 

Nearly 5,000 new donors to Michigan Medicine joined the effort, and as of June 25, more than 10,000 financial contributions totaled $2 million. Support included 820 donations of $25 or less and more than 1 million items of PPE. 

Tencent Holdings LTD, of Shenzhen, China, sent 150,000 surgical masks to Michigan Medicine as part of a global commitment to helping caregivers during this crisis. 

"Tencent is pleased to join others in supporting the front-line medical professionals and researchers fighting selflessly for all of us at this critical time," says Martin Lau, a U-M alumnus and president of Tencent, a leading global technology company. "U-M and Michigan Medicine have established great partnerships around the world, including in China, and this support is an important way to help carry that spirit forward." 

"Support from our friends and our community has been overwhelming — it truly is humbling," says Marschall S. Runge, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the University of Michigan Medical School, executive vice president for medical affairs, and CEO of Michigan Medicine. "All of the ways people are helping — from gifts that assist our front line workers to online messages that bolster our spirits — allow us to stay focused on what matters most during this crisis." 

To learn more about ways to be a part of Michigan Medicine's COVID-19 response, please visit giving.medicine.umich.edu/covid-19. 

More Articles About: Philanthropy donation gift covid Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic staff Faculty employees
Featured News & Stories friends adults thanksgiving dinner table
Health Lab
How to safely celebrate the holidays and avoid getting sick
This holiday season, follow these five expert-approved steps to celebrate safely and avoid getting sick.
 Lindsay and Andrew Admon
Points of Blue
Lindsay Admon, MD, MSc, and Andrew Admon, MD, MPH, MS: Helping students discover their passions
Drs. Lindsay and Andew Admon met as students at University of Michigan Medical School and are now helping prepare future physicians for careers in medicine as faculty members.
 Asra Ahmed
Points of Blue
Asra Ahmed, MD: Inspiring Excellence in Hematology Education
Dr. Asra Ahmed is a hematology educator who focuses on using creative teaching methods to enhance learning and retention, while mentoring trainees to have a lasting impact on their careers and patient care.
 A Michigan Medicine employee reads to a baby in the Brandon Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
News Release
$10M Mott Foundation grant will help expand complex care spaces at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital
A $10 million grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to U-M will enable C.S. Mott Children's Hospital to renovate space within its NICU and PCTU.
 Minding Memory with a microphone and a shadow of a microphone on a blue background
Minding Memory
Can a personalized music intervention reduce behavioral disturbances in dementia?
While memory loss is generally thought of as the hallmark of dementia, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia like agitation, aggression, anxiety, and hallucinations are nearly universal, affecting almost all patients with advanced dementia. These behavioral disturbances are often the trigger for nursing home placement, and they can be highly distressing for both patients and their care partners. In today’s episode, Matt and Lauren speak with Dr. Ellen McCreedy, a researcher from the Brown School of Public Health who has conducted a study of personalized music intervention called Music & Memory for people living with dementia in nursing homes. Dr. McCreedy is a gerontologist and health services researcher who focuses on evaluation of non-pharmacologic interventions for managing behavioral disturbances of people living with dementia.
 Dr. David Stewart
Points of Blue
David Stewart, MD: Shaping the next generation of pediatricians
David Stewart, MD, is a leader in pediatric medical education, guiding future physicians through hands-on hospital training and advancing competency-based education in pediatric residency programs.