Suez, which operates in North America as Suez Water Technologies and Solutions and Suez North America, has announced plans to donate $1.75 million to food pantries, health care facilities, the United Way and similar COVID-19 emergency response organizations.
According to a news release from Suez, New Jersey-based Suez North America plans to contribute to several organizations, including:
• The United Way – Suez will donate $650,000 to the United Way. Most of these funds will help support COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts and will help prevent homelessness for families struggling during the health crisis. Additional funding will go toward providing goods and services to those in need and providing crisis intervention training for first responders with a special focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Feeding America – Suez will donate $500,000 to the U.S. hunger-relief organization. Funds will provide emergency support to help member food banks respond to increases in need amid disruptions to the food supply chain and the requirement to pivot to no-contact food distributions. Support will be prioritized to help food-insecure families in communities where Suez operates in the U.S.
• Local public health organizations – Suez will donate $600,000 to help address local COVID-19 health needs as well as nonprofit community health organizations in both the U.S. and Canada. Grant funding will be provided to finance COVID-19 research, help address urgent COVID-19-related health needs at the community level and reduce health disparities for patients in need, particularly in underserved communities.
• Surgical and N95 respirator masks – Suez will donate 10,000 protective masks from its operations to local hospital systems in communities the company serves.
“We are redirecting our philanthropic focus during this crisis from major environmental initiatives to helping those charitable organizations serving on the front lines who require immediate, substantial and sustained assistance,” says Nadine Leslie, chief executive officer of SUEZ North America. “This virus has had a huge impact on our society, and we cannot be idle as an organization when so many people, many of whom have dedicated their lives to helping others, now need our help.”
Suez provides water and waste management solutions to help cities and industries improve on resource management and strengthen environmental and economic performances.