The Million Mask Campaign
Donation protected
In the war against Coronavirus, our hospitals are on the front lines. They're fighting day and night to care for the sick, and they're out of basic personal protective equipment (PPE) to fight the virus. In Italy and other countries, this shortfall has resulted in doctors and nurses falling ill, unable to continue the fight. In America, some hospitals have already been reusing these single-use masks for over 11 days. They desperately need the help of the American people.
The Federal Government is working to secure millions of masks, but it will take months until domestic manufacturing ramps up to the levels we need. We are filling the gap by purchasing masks from suppliers in countries that have been less hard-hit and have excess supplies.
We've partnered with a 501(c)(3) charity, BlueStar Veterans Foundation, to gather and distribute masks from these smaller factories around the world to the hospitals that need it most. We have a contract to buy 50,000 N95 medical-grade respirators, but we need your help. If we raise more money, we'll keep buying. Your money goes 100% toward the purchase of masks, not to any overhead (which will be covered by BlueStar).
Every $2.40 you donate will give a mask to a hospital worker on the front lines who desperately needs it. If you donate $30, you'll keep one of our medical professionals safe for one more day while fighting this virus.
This is the fight of our generation. It will require a sacrifice from us all. United we stand; divided we fall.
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Read More About the Problem In the News:
New York Times: ‘It Feels Like a War Zone’: Doctors and Nurses Plead for Masks on Social Media
ABC News: The battle to protect health care workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic Dwindling supplies increase risk of infection for the people we need the most.
BuzzFeed: “We Are Desperate”: 10 Nurses And Doctors Explain What It's Like To Fight The Coronavirus Without Enough Face Masks
Stat News: Frustrated and afraid about protective gear shortages, health workers are scouring for masks on their own
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FAQs
Who are you?
We're just a group of citizens working to do our part. Read more below the FAQs.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes! BlueStar will provide tax-deductible receipts for any donation over $250 upon request.
How can I help more than just donating?
Share our campaign, on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email, and on other social media, first and foremost. If you want to get more involved (by helping us with supply lines or distribution avenues, or really anything else) email us at [email redacted]
How are you getting supplies? Why aren't hospitals doing this?
The supply lines are disjointed in this crisis. Hospitals do not have the resources or time to look for small manufacturers, nor can they re-work exclusive contracts to purchase new supplies, even if they had the money to do so (which many do not). We've worked day and night to find distributors in China, where distribution was ramped up for their peak in January/February. They now have excess supply and don't know how to sell it. That's where we are stepping in.
Where are you distributing the masks?
We're starting with hospitals in New York City, which is at the forefront of the crisis. As the virus spreads, we anticipate need will also change, and we'll direct our efforts elsewhere if necessary. We are coordinating with other small groups like ours. It really is an "all in this together" fight.
How do you know you're not getting scammed by a foreign courier?
This was one of our chief concerns. We have a bonded courier who sells $1.4M into the U.S. every year with supplies ready to ship. We spoke with the American bond company who verified that the paperwork is all valid, and perhaps most importantly, we have a personal relationship with management at the company, so we know they're the right masks. The company has U.S. infrastructure, so they know that they are open to legal liability if they don't follow through on their contract.
What if you don't meet your goal?
We don't like to think that way! But we've already met the minimum order threshold, so we will just order as many masks as we can. We are also actively working to integrate with other organizations who may be doing similar relief efforts. This is an incredibly fast-evolving situation, so we are going to do whatever we can to help save the most lives. If it means that we need to buy gowns or gloves, so be it. But the biggest problem now is masks, so that's our focus.
__
Who We Are
BlueStar Senior Veterans Foundation : A 501(c)(3) charity providing free medical alert services to senior veterans, their spouses & widows, they are helping to use their infrastructure and inside knowledge of the medical field to help us make this happen. Their board of generals, admirals, and healthcare professionals have been crucial to getting the information we need to fight this fight the right way.
Jack Wray: Former Naval Officer turned lawyer, Jack's experience managing procurement in the Navy, coupled with his OSHA safety certification, gives him unique insight into what the needs were and how to fill them. A graduate of Penn Law, his knowledge of the legal framework has been a crucial part of the team.
Amber Yang: With contacts in America and abroad, and fluency in Chinese, Amber has been an indispensable team member. As a member of an anti-corruption arm of a multinational bank, Amber is adept at understanding the complex international landscape in which we're working.
Alex Carchidi: A Boston area entrepreneur and consultant with experience in biotech, Alex knows how to make things happen and deal with the challenges we're facing.
Stephen Lamb: With a joint JD/MBA from Wharton, Stephen brings much-needed operational and logistical expertise to the procurement of overseas goods.
The Federal Government is working to secure millions of masks, but it will take months until domestic manufacturing ramps up to the levels we need. We are filling the gap by purchasing masks from suppliers in countries that have been less hard-hit and have excess supplies.
We've partnered with a 501(c)(3) charity, BlueStar Veterans Foundation, to gather and distribute masks from these smaller factories around the world to the hospitals that need it most. We have a contract to buy 50,000 N95 medical-grade respirators, but we need your help. If we raise more money, we'll keep buying. Your money goes 100% toward the purchase of masks, not to any overhead (which will be covered by BlueStar).
Every $2.40 you donate will give a mask to a hospital worker on the front lines who desperately needs it. If you donate $30, you'll keep one of our medical professionals safe for one more day while fighting this virus.
This is the fight of our generation. It will require a sacrifice from us all. United we stand; divided we fall.
__
Read More About the Problem In the News:
New York Times: ‘It Feels Like a War Zone’: Doctors and Nurses Plead for Masks on Social Media
ABC News: The battle to protect health care workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic Dwindling supplies increase risk of infection for the people we need the most.
BuzzFeed: “We Are Desperate”: 10 Nurses And Doctors Explain What It's Like To Fight The Coronavirus Without Enough Face Masks
Stat News: Frustrated and afraid about protective gear shortages, health workers are scouring for masks on their own
__
FAQs
Who are you?
We're just a group of citizens working to do our part. Read more below the FAQs.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes! BlueStar will provide tax-deductible receipts for any donation over $250 upon request.
How can I help more than just donating?
Share our campaign, on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email, and on other social media, first and foremost. If you want to get more involved (by helping us with supply lines or distribution avenues, or really anything else) email us at [email redacted]
How are you getting supplies? Why aren't hospitals doing this?
The supply lines are disjointed in this crisis. Hospitals do not have the resources or time to look for small manufacturers, nor can they re-work exclusive contracts to purchase new supplies, even if they had the money to do so (which many do not). We've worked day and night to find distributors in China, where distribution was ramped up for their peak in January/February. They now have excess supply and don't know how to sell it. That's where we are stepping in.
Where are you distributing the masks?
We're starting with hospitals in New York City, which is at the forefront of the crisis. As the virus spreads, we anticipate need will also change, and we'll direct our efforts elsewhere if necessary. We are coordinating with other small groups like ours. It really is an "all in this together" fight.
How do you know you're not getting scammed by a foreign courier?
This was one of our chief concerns. We have a bonded courier who sells $1.4M into the U.S. every year with supplies ready to ship. We spoke with the American bond company who verified that the paperwork is all valid, and perhaps most importantly, we have a personal relationship with management at the company, so we know they're the right masks. The company has U.S. infrastructure, so they know that they are open to legal liability if they don't follow through on their contract.
What if you don't meet your goal?
We don't like to think that way! But we've already met the minimum order threshold, so we will just order as many masks as we can. We are also actively working to integrate with other organizations who may be doing similar relief efforts. This is an incredibly fast-evolving situation, so we are going to do whatever we can to help save the most lives. If it means that we need to buy gowns or gloves, so be it. But the biggest problem now is masks, so that's our focus.
__
Who We Are
BlueStar Senior Veterans Foundation : A 501(c)(3) charity providing free medical alert services to senior veterans, their spouses & widows, they are helping to use their infrastructure and inside knowledge of the medical field to help us make this happen. Their board of generals, admirals, and healthcare professionals have been crucial to getting the information we need to fight this fight the right way.
Jack Wray: Former Naval Officer turned lawyer, Jack's experience managing procurement in the Navy, coupled with his OSHA safety certification, gives him unique insight into what the needs were and how to fill them. A graduate of Penn Law, his knowledge of the legal framework has been a crucial part of the team.
Amber Yang: With contacts in America and abroad, and fluency in Chinese, Amber has been an indispensable team member. As a member of an anti-corruption arm of a multinational bank, Amber is adept at understanding the complex international landscape in which we're working.
Alex Carchidi: A Boston area entrepreneur and consultant with experience in biotech, Alex knows how to make things happen and deal with the challenges we're facing.
Stephen Lamb: With a joint JD/MBA from Wharton, Stephen brings much-needed operational and logistical expertise to the procurement of overseas goods.
Fundraising team: Million Mask Campaign (3)
Jack Wray
Organizer
New York, NY
Alex Carchidi
Team member
Amber Yang
Team member