Nike Inc. will provide an additional $1.6 million to help local organizations meet immediate needs, such as food assistance and medical care, in key cities and communities around the world where its employees live and work.
“Our local communities are a critical part of our everyday efforts — whether that’s getting kids active, leveling the playing field for all or responding to this pandemic,” Nike said in a release. “These grants will support on-the-ground organizations that need it the most, such as health, social services and humanitarian organizations, food banks and COVID-19 response funds.”
Including the new donation, Nike’s leaders, the Nike Foundation and Nike have committed more than $17 million to COVID-19 response efforts around the world.
On March 18, Nike’s leaders, the Nike Foundation and Nike announced a combined commitment of more than $15 million to COVID-19 response efforts.
Nike Inc. Chairman Emeritus and Co-Founder Phil Knight and wife Penny; Nike, Inc. Executive Chairman of the Board Mark Parker and wife Kathy; and Nike, Inc. President and CEO John Donahoe and wife Eileen, are personally donating a combined $10 million to the following: $1 million to the Oregon Food Bank, $2 million to the Oregon Community Recovery Fund created by the Oregon Community Foundation, and $7 million to Oregon Health & Science University to improve statewide care coordination in Oregon, increase patient access, and ramp up operational readiness for expanded diagnostic testing for COVID-19.
In addition, the Nike Foundation announced a $1 million donation to the global COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, created by the United Nations Foundation and Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, to fund efforts by the World Health Organization and partners to support countries preparing for and responding to the COVID-19 crisis.
The Nike Foundation is also donating the following: $1 million to the Oregon Community Recovery Fund; $1.1 million to support community partners across Europe, Middle East and Africa through the King Baudouin Foundation; $250,000 to the Mid-South Food Bank in Memphis, Tenn.; $250,000 to the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis’ COVID-19 Regional Response Fund; and $500,000 to the Boston Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund.
These commitments come in addition to the 10 million RMB ($1.4 million) Nike, Inc. donation to the China Youth Development Foundation announced earlier in January to help provide frontline workers with supplies and equipment to treat patients.
To further support communities where Nike employees live and work, Nike said it will also support a two-to-one match for any donations to support COVID-19 responses locally, nationally and internationally.
Logo courtesy Nike
