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.
Hopkinton Select Board Liaison to the B.A.A. John Coutinho with Hopkinton resident and St. Vincent Hospital C.E.O. Carolyn Jackson on the St. Vincent loading dock. Photo courtesy of John Coutinho
“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.
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.