iPads to NYC COVID-19 Patients Alone in Hospitals

Due to the highly infectious nature of the COVID-19 virus, hospitals have had to restrict visitors. While a necessary step to stop spread of the virus, a tragic reality has emerged - hospitalized patients are suffering and dying alone. Our mission is to bridge the communication gap between ill patients and their loved ones through the donation of iPads to hospitals. 

We are organizing the donation of video-chat capable iPads to hospitals in the NYC area, the epicenter of disease. The hospitals we partner with primarily cater to underserved populations – a demographic that has been most affected by the virus and who also may not own smartphones with video capability.

While we have been and will continue to source used iPads from donors local to NYC (link HERE  to register for a pick-up), we have found ourselves in awe of the generosity of some who have chosen to purchase new iPads for donation to this cause.

Which leads us to the creation of this GoFundMe. We want to give New Yorkers and non-locals alike the opportunity to donate into a fund that will go directly towards the purchase of additional iPads for donation. Despite their higher price point, iPads have been selected as the device of choice, because of the availability of FaceTime as well as other third-party video conferencing apps (Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype, etc).

At the time that this is being written, this effort has already been underway for roughly one month, and we have over 1,000 iPads committed for donation to NYC hospitals. 939 iPads are already in the hands of hospitals in need. 

Contributing to this GoFundMe will make a huge difference in our efforts, but is far from the only way to support this cause. We and the hospitals that we are serving will be equally appreciative of any non-financial commitments that you are able to make, either in the form of you spreading the word, or reaching out to discuss ways that you can become involved as a volunteer. Please message us for more information on either.

Our volunteer team consists of Amy Johnson, Ian Kaplan, Shenara Musthaq, Wyatt Angelo, Jeff Arace, and Sandra Hagblom, among others. Amy, Jeff, and Shenara are medical students at University Hospital of Brooklyn at SUNY Downstate, where this initiative was first launched. Ian and Wyatt are commercial film and photography producers. Sandra is a content agency producer.

Thank you for contributing to our cause!


**As of May 25th, we are proud to say that our efforts have led to donated iPads in the hands of:

-Elmhurst Hospital (QUEENS)
-Gotham Queens Clinic (QUEENS)
-Jamaica Hospital Medical Center (QUEENS)
-Flushing Hospital Medical Center (QUEENS)
-Margaret Tietz Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (QUEENS)
-Jacobi Medical Center (THE BRONX)
-Bronx HealthCare System (THE BRONX)
-Calvary Hospital (THE BRONX)
-University Hospital of Brooklyn at SUNY Downstate (BROOKLYN)
-Kings County Hospital Center (BROOKLYN)
-Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center (BROOKLYN
-Brooklyn Hospital Center (BROOKLYN)
-Maimonides Medical Center (BROOKLYN)
-Woodhull Medical Center (BROOKLYN)
-Cobble Hill Health Center (BROOKLYN)
-Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center (BROOKLYN)
-Schulman & Schachne Institute for Nursing and Rehabilitation (BROOKLYN)
-NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital (BROOKLYN)
-Columbia University Irving Medical Center (MANHATTAN)
-Roosevelt Island Medical Center (MANHATTAN)
-Nassau University Medical Center (LONG ISLAND)
-A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility (LONG ISLAND)
-Newark University Hospital (NEW JERSEY)
-St. Elizabeth's Medical Center (BOSTON)