Press release
We’ve donated USD2.5 million to charities across Europe and Americas as part of our COVID-19 assistance fund
London – Standard Chartered has today announced further details on how the Bank is providing both short-term relief, and longer-term assistance, to communities across its European and Americas markets via the Bank’s recently launched USD50 million COVID-19 global charitable fund.
USD2.5 million has been allocated to over 30 local charities in 16 markets across the region, with $300,000 of that set aside for employees to nominate worthy causes at the forefront of the relief efforts to receive a share across Europe and the Americas. This approach has enabled the Bank to get money out quickly where it is needed most in the countries we operate in.
Recipients in the region include St John Ambulance, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and Age UK Medway in the UK; New York based Citymeals on Wheels, New Jersey based Community Food Bank of New Jersey, San Francisco based United Way Bay Area and Houston based United Way Greater Houston in the US; leading French philanthropic network, the Fondation de France; Aircraft Leasing Ireland Initiative, a direct PPE procurement scheme for the Irish Health Service Executive and healthcare charity, Fundacja Wielka Orkiestra Swiatecznej Pomocy in Poland.
The Bank is in the process of progressing other donations across the region.
Standard Chartered is also proud to announce that it is donating 42,000 masks to support the front-line fight against COVID-19 across Europe and the Americas. Amongst those receiving the vital protective equipment include Marie Curie Hospital in France, St John Ambulance in the UK, hospitals in New York, New Jersey, San Francisco, Houston and Latin America, and the General Hospital in Jersey.
Commenting on the assistance fund, Tracy Clarke, Chief Executive Officer, Europe and Americas, Standard Chartered Bank, said: “Our focus is to provide rapid and effective emergency relief to those who are most vulnerable now and support economic recovery and the protection of livelihoods during the coronavirus pandemic in the regions within which we operate. The resilience of Standard Chartered’s business means we are well positioned to provide financial aid to local charities in need as we strive to continue to live our ‘Here for good’ values, supporting the communities around us, for now and the future.”
Matt Stringer, Chief Executive Officer at RNIB, one of the UK’s leading sight loss charities, said: “Coronavirus has had an enormous impact on all of us and blind and partially sighted people are facing specific challenges. Many are struggling to access essential items, like food and medicine, or read the latest Government information. We have met these challenges head on by opening our Helpline for longer to respond to an increase in calls and expanding our services and campaigns to ensure blind and partially sighted people get the resources and support they need. We want to ensure that the two million people with sight loss across the UK stay safe and feel connected during the pandemic, and it is donations like this one from Standard Chartered Bank that have enabled us to expand our operation and continue delivering our services at a time when they are needed the most.”
Beth Shapiro, Executive Director, Citymeals on Wheels in New York, said: “We are so appreciative of this generous and critical support, which will help make it possible for us to deliver 450,000 shelf-stable emergency meals to more than 40,000 elderly New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic and maintain our normal meal delivery services.”
The Bank is also proud that it is not only helping its communities financially, but there are a significant number of Standard Chartered employees volunteering their own time to help those who need it most. As a result, paid volunteering leave has been increased to four days.
Today’s news follows the Bank’s recent announcement to commit USD1 billion of financing for companies that provide goods and services to help the fight against COVID-19, and those planning the switch into making products that are in high demand to fight the global pandemic.
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For further information please contact:
Simon Kutner
Regional Head of Communications, Europe (Interim)
+44 (0)7880 296 947
Chris Teo
Head of Corporate & Business Communications, Americas
+1 212 667 0446