National Grid Foundation, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Queens Chamber of Commerce Announce Grant to Help Volunteer Medical Professionals from Across America Care for Queens COVID Patients
Today, the National Grid Foundation, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and the Queens Chamber of Commerce announced the award of a $10,000 grant from the National Grid Foundation that will allow the hospital to cover expenses for medical professionals from around the country who have volunteered to help Queens fight the COVID-19 pandemic. New York has seen more COVID-19 cases than anywhere else in the world, with Queens seeing more cases than any other borough.
“The National Grid Foundation donation provides much needed support for hospitals and front-line workers in the hardest-hit community of our service area,” said Melanie Littlejohn, National Grid’s New York vice president and Foundation Board Member. “This was a collaborative effort to ensure that local residents impacted by COVID-19 have the medical care they need during this pandemic.
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, and their sister hospital, Flushing Hospital, have been two of the busiest safety-net hospitals in the borough amidst the disaster. The hospital’s most critical need is for staff, as doctors, nurses, EMTs and others fall ill to the virus. Volunteers from other parts of the country have selflessly offered their support, but expenses such as airfare, housing, local transportation still need to be covered and add to losses already sustained during the crisis. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Flushing Hospital have added approximately twenty-five doctors to the hospitals’ staffs, but need many more to sustain care for critically ill patients who will continue to fill beds.
"Jamaica Hospital Medical Center provides vital medical services to a Queens community which is at the epicenter of the COVID crisis. While caring for a high volume of critically ill patients, many of our front-line employees contracted the virus themselves. When we needed it the most, many volunteer medical professionals from across the nation responded to help us provide care to our patients. We are extremely grateful to the National Grid Foundation for their generous donation, which will allow us to cover the costs associated with this important effort," said Bruce Flanz, President and CEO, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
The National Grid Foundation was connected to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center after reaching out to the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s President and CEO Thomas J. Grech. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic the Chamber has been helping, working to connect resources from the business community to organizations on the frontlines fighting the pandemic.
“Queens has been the epicenter of the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are all in awe of the heroic work our medical professionals and first responders have been doing through the crisis,” said Thomas J. Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “When National Grid reached out asking how they could help, I was delighted to connect them with Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, who are dealing with extraordinarily difficult circumstances. We thank the National Grid Foundation for their generous contribution, and to Jamaica Hospital for their work to keep us all safe and healthy.”
About National Grid Foundation
National Grid Foundation was created to enhance the quality of life across its grant making territory. The Foundation’s ongoing challenge is to create opportunities for solutions to educational and environmental issues. Its objective is based on the principle that giving people the tools to build hope is an essential ingredient in the development of individuals, families and communities. Since its inception in December of 1998, the Foundation now in its 21st year has granted more than $27million to local community organizations.
About Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
Jamaica Hospital Medical Centerserves a population greater than 1.2 million in Queens and Eastern Brooklyn. This 408-bed medical center is an accredited community teaching hospital with a large network of community-based ambulatory care centers. JHMC offers an array of acute inpatient, rehabilitation and mental health services, and is one of the busiest Level 1 trauma centers in New York City. The hospital provides general medical, pediatric and Ob/Gyn services. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s mission is to serve patients and the community in a way that is second to none.
About the Queens Chamber of Commerce:
The Queens Chamber of Commerce is the oldest and largest business association in Queens, representing more than 1,150 businesses and more than 100,000 Queens-based employees. Its mission is to foster connections, educate for success, develop/implement programs and advocate for members’ interests.www.queenschamber.org