On the Front Lines: Thank You For Your Support
With your generous support, we have been able to reach those who are most in need of testing and education in light of this global pandemic. Your continued support will help us in continuing the fight against COVID-19 in South
Los Angeles. Continue reading to learn how you can help us do more.
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science would like to express our sincere gratitude to Wells Fargo, the California Wellness Foundation and The Ballmer Group for their generous grants of $ 75,00, $ 250,000 and $ 100,000, respectively, to support COVID-19 testing site operations. On another positive front, we also thank our longtime partner L. A. Health Foundation for their grant of $ 100,000 to support ten student scholarships worth $ 10,000. It is because of gracious support such as yours and our valued funding partners that we are able to continue training diverse health professionals who enter the health workforce prepared to take on, and prevail, over challenging times such as these.
Last, but certainly not least, we give our heartfelt thanks to the following organizations and individuals for their donation of masks, food, cash and other essential supplies to the workers staffed at the COVID-19 testing site and other COVID-19 expenses for the month of May: Ms. Jessica Flores; Dr. Jimmy Hara; Dr. Lauren Swerdloff; Dr. Charles Swerdlow; Dr. Sheila Young; Yolanda Vera, CEO of MLK Outpatient Center; Apple Spice; Catering by Bryan; Chik-Fil-A; China Gate Restaurant; City Fare; McDonald’ s; NYMK Catering; Panera Bread; Porto’ s Bakery; Starbucks; and Sweetgreen, CDU Trustee Linda Griego, Betty Johnson, Rosemary Tillman-Kellum, Dr. Tom McGee, Melanie Rodriguez; Brenda Anderson; Lisa Brighina; Carlin Smith-Stine; LA RAMS; Arthur J. Gallgagher; Keith Kobayashi; Johannelda Diaz; Dine 11; and Poppy and Rose.
COVID-19 has challenged us all to share and show acts of kindness. Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science is truly thankful for the continued expressions of support that we have seen from our friends and partners in response to COVID-19. Because of your generosity we have been able to test over 35,000 community members since opening on Wednesday, April 8. We have also been able to provide more than 4,000 meals to our students, staff and faculty volunteers at the site which have included LA County Fire and LA County MLK Outpatient Center staff.
As stay at home orders are being lifted in phases, the need for COVID-19 testing has intensified. Our students, faculty and staff volunteers along with LA County Department of Health Services staff and students from other area colleges are choosing to be on the front lines until the needs for testing in the Watts-Willowbrook / South Los Angeles community are met. We hope you will join us as an advocate and supporter for our role in testing, data collection and analysis and in educating future health workers that will serve in disadvantaged or underresourced communities with excellence and compassion.
It’ s not too late to help us protect the community against this COVID-19 battle:
Monetary gifts can be given online at CDU COVID-19, or via text by sending“ CDREWU” to 44321. Additionally, in-kind donations of breakfast, lunch, healthy snacks, water, or juice can be made by emailing advancement @ cdrewu. edu.( Note, responses to in-kind donations may take 24-48 hours for response.)
With your help, we are reaching those who are most in need of testing and education. We’ re ready to do more. Thank you for considering a gift to support CDU and giving us the tools to remain flexible and serve our Mission. Your gift today will make a difference. Please stay tuned to CDU’ s COVID-19 efforts at: https:// www. cdrewu. edu / updates-covid-19.