COVID-19 is a global health emergency that has never been seen before. The COVID-19 has affected communities in every aspect of our lives. It has never been more important to have global cooperation because everyone’s safety is dependent on the other. Early in 2020, when the pandemic was spreading at lightning speed, the World Health Organization (WHO) reached out to the UN Foundation for help building momentum and support for its role as leader and coordinator of global efforts to detect, prevent, and respond.
“COVID-19, a pandemic unprecedented in its scope and severity, requires extraordinary global solidarity for an urgent response,” said Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus. Director-General of the WHO.
In just over two weeks, the UN Foundation launched, together with WHO, the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund in partnership with the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation. This was the only way that individuals and businesses could support the global response of WHO. Speed was essential as the pandemic overwhelmed the global health system, shook economies, and put societies in lockdown.
Elizabeth Cousens is the President and CEO of the UN Foundation. She said: “We cannot ignore that this problem is truly global – it requires global solutions.” “The case for international cooperation is clear – people from all over the world are affected and want to help.”
SOLIDARITY IN AN ACTION
The virus reminded us that our actions affect each other. The Fund demonstrated that even though people may be separated, they are united in spirit and mission.
People and organizations around the world have been digging deep. From the Irish woman who did 8000 squats to Snapchat’s special augmented-reality filter to massive donations from global brands such as Facebook, GSK, and FIFA to 12-hour gaming “streamathons,” people and organizations from all over the globe dug deeply.
Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus were among the stars who raised money for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Rita Ora and Harry Styles also contributed.
“I couldn’t do nothing,” said Jacksepticeye. He raised $660,000 in donations from his fans during Hope from Home, a 12-hour streamathon that was innovative on the Tiltify Platform. The total amount raised for COVID-19 efforts, including the Solidarity Response Fund, exceeded $2 million.
“We are all isolated due to our self-isolation, but with the power of internet, we can still bridge the gap and come together to make a change.”
In this video, Essity, a Swedish brand of hygiene and health, shows how they repurposed production lines for the manufacture of personal protective equipment.
The Power of Long-Term Partnerships
UN Foundation and WHO were united by a simple message: Everyone everywhere is at risk, and everyone can help. We at the UN Foundation are committed to partnership. In collaboration with WHO, we created a customizable model that allowed celebrities, influencers, and companies to play an authentic role by reaching out to their networks, customers, and audiences and offering them the opportunity for donation.
The collaborative relationships that were nurtured with partners over the years — such as global businesses, tech platforms and platforms for TV and film, digital influencers, and networks of active citizens — have been a force multiplier in promoting international solidarity. The Solidarity Response Fund has also benefited from a Who’s Who of entertainment, including global brands like Ralph Lauren, CLOAK, and Adidas, as well as millions of dollars in donated ad spaces from media giants such as Amazon, Bloomberg, and Vice Media. Our communications and PR campaign for the Fund won 10 awards and accolades from industry leaders.
A FUNDRAISING BY NUMBERS
We learned very quickly that solidarity can also be contagious. In just six weeks, more than 500,000 people from around the globe and 150 companies contributed more than $200m to the Fund. The Fund became the second largest single contributor to WHO’s COVID-19 response after the German Government. In the first year following its launch, nearly two-thirds of a million people from 190 different countries raised almost a quarter billion dollars to support the global COVID-19 Response. This is what it looks like when people show solidarity.
Donations to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund
FUND IMPACT
The Fund was designed to be flexible and fast, allowing WHO to get the resources where they were needed most quickly. The early funding was crucial in helping WHO to deliver personal protective equipment in the hundreds of millions, start vaccine trials across 100 countries, create training materials in 44 languages, and combat misinformation about COVID-19. The donations have also helped UNICEF, the World Food Programme(WFP), the UN Refugee Agency(UNHCR), the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East – UNRWA), the World Organization of the Scout Movement – WOSM, and the vaccine alliance CEPI. The Fund’s impact is staggering in terms of its size and geographic spread.
COVID-19 is a global health emergency that has never been seen before. The COVID-19 has affected communities in every aspect of our lives. It has never been more important to have global cooperation because everyone’s safety is dependent on the other. Early in 2020, when the pandemic was spreading at lightning speed, the World Health Organization (WHO) reached out to the UN Foundation for help building momentum and support for its role as leader and coordinator of global efforts to detect, prevent, and respond.
“COVID-19, a pandemic unprecedented in its scope and severity, requires extraordinary global solidarity for an urgent response,” said Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus. Director-General of the WHO.
In just over two weeks, the UN Foundation launched, together with WHO, the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund in partnership with the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation. This was the only way that individuals and businesses could support the global response of WHO. Speed was essential as the pandemic overwhelmed the global health system, shook economies, and put societies in lockdown.
Elizabeth Cousens is the President and CEO of the UN Foundation. She said: “We cannot ignore that this problem is truly global – it requires global solutions.” “The case for international cooperation is clear – people from all over the world are affected and want to help.”
SOLIDARITY IN AN ACTION
The virus reminded us that our actions affect each other. The Fund demonstrated that even though people may be separated, they are united in spirit and mission.
People and organizations around the world have been digging deep. From the Irish woman who did 8000 squats to Snapchat’s special augmented-reality filter to massive donations from global brands such as Facebook, GSK, and FIFA to 12-hour gaming “streamathons,” people and organizations from all over the globe dug deeply.
Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus were among the stars who raised money for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Rita Ora and Harry Styles also contributed.
“I couldn’t do nothing,” said Jacksepticeye. He raised $660,000 in donations from his fans during Hope from Home, a 12-hour streamathon that was innovative on the Tiltify Platform. The total amount raised for COVID-19 efforts, including the Solidarity Response Fund, exceeded $2 million.
“We are all isolated due to our self-isolation, but with the power of internet, we can still bridge the gap and come together to make a change.”
In this video, Essity, a Swedish brand of hygiene and health, shows how they repurposed production lines for the manufacture of personal protective equipment.
The Power of Long-Term Partnerships
UN Foundation and WHO were united by a simple message: Everyone everywhere is at risk, and everyone can help. We at the UN Foundation are committed to partnership. In collaboration with WHO, we created a customizable model that allowed celebrities, influencers, and companies to play an authentic role by reaching out to their networks, customers, and audiences and offering them the opportunity for donations.
The collaborative relationships that were nurtured with partners over the years — such as global businesses, tech platforms and platforms for TV and film, digital influencers, and networks of active citizens — have been a force multiplier in promoting international solidarity. The Solidarity Response Fund has also benefited from a Who’s Who of entertainment, including global brands like Ralph Lauren, CLOAK, and Adidas, as well as millions of dollars in donated ad spaces from media giants such as Amazon, Bloomberg, and Vice Media. Our communications and PR campaign for the Fund won 10 awards and accolades from industry leaders.
A FUNDRAISING BY NUMBERS
We learned very quickly that solidarity can also be contagious. In just six weeks, more than 500,000 people from around the globe and 150 companies contributed more than $200m to the Fund. The Fund became the second largest single contributor to WHO’s COVID-19 response after the German Government. In the first year following its launch, nearly two-thirds of a million people from 190 different countries raised almost a quarter billion dollars to support the global COVID-19 Response. This is what it looks like when people show solidarity.
Donations to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund
FUND IMPACT
The Fund was designed to be flexible and fast, allowing WHO to get the resources where they were needed most quickly. The early funding was crucial in helping WHO to deliver personal protective equipment in the hundreds of millions, start vaccine trials across 100 countries, create training materials in 44 languages, and combat misinformation about COVID-19. The donations have also helped UNICEF, the World Food Programme(WFP), the UN Refugee Agency(UNHCR), the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East – UNRWA), the World Organization of the Scout Movement – WOSM, and the vaccine alliance CEPI. The Fund’s impact is staggering in terms of its size and geographic spread.