A coalition of tech, business, and sports leaders from across the Puget Sound region has raised $27 million to help people affected by the COVID-19 outbreak — and it is asking others to pitch in.
More than 200 donors came together over the past four days to launch All in Seattle, an effort to provide assistance to community members in financial need due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The initial fundraising goal was $5 million.
Coronavirus Live Updates: The latest COVID-19 developments in Seattle and the world of tech
Donations will be made to a group of nonprofits that provide food and shelter support. The group is not collecting or distributing the charitable funds, but sending “a rallying cry meant to inspire individuals to give directly to the organizations working on the ground right now,” according to a community letter distributed Monday morning.
“We are coming to you with a big, yet necessary, ask – be bold and dig deep,” the letter reads. “The people of the Seattle region need you desperately. We are launching #AllInSeattle to make sure the people in our lives and in our neighborhoods have the support they need to make it through this crisis.”
The list of supporters includes well-known names such as Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, but organizers were careful to call it a broad coalition with widespread involvement and support. Other contributors include top executives and leaders at some of the Seattle region’s publicly held companies and startups, and other individuals, families, investment firms, and foundations. (Full list below.)
Today #allinSeattle launched their campaign for small businesses and working people who have been impacted by COVID-19.
So many people have asked: how can I help? Visit #allinseattle to see many of the organizations quickly deploying resources to those in need. https://t.co/SJVrY138jd
— Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) March 23, 2020
Washington state and the Seattle area became the initial epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, which has killed 75 people in Seattle and King County and more than 15,000 worldwide.
Social distancing mandates are forcing businesses to shut down and heavily slash staff across the Seattle region. Restaurants have closed down; nonprofits are making major cuts; and tech startups are already reducing their workforces.
The state’s labor department is facing a rush of unemployment insurance claims, which more than doubled over the past week.
“This is about getting money in the hands of people who need our help,” said Steve Singh, Concur co-founder and managing director at Madrona Venture Group, one of the organizers of the coalition.
Singh expects business leaders in other cities to drum up fundraising support for their local communities amid the COVID-19 outbreak. “You’ll see flavors of this all around the country,” he told GeekWire.
Amazon, Microsoft, and other Seattle-area companies helped launch the COVID-19 Response Fund earlier this month. Seattle Foundation is hosting the fund and administering one-time grants to support the work of public health organizations and nonprofits.
Amazon will also donate $25 million to help its network of independent delivery drivers, Amazon Flex workers, and seasonal employees deal with disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, the company is temporarily covering rent for companies that lease space in its buildings and providing grants to small businesses in its Seattle neighborhood.
Microsoft this weekend donated personal protective gear to Washington state for healthcare workers in the Seattle area.
Here’s the full list of the initial #AllinSeattle donors:
- Aaron & Hilary Richmond
- Adam Selipsky
- Alan & Mary Frazier
- Alayne & Bobby Sulkin
- Alex Washburn
- Amy & Jon McCullough
- Amy Hood & Max Kleinman
- Andy & Elana Jassy
- Anne & Charlie Simpson
- Anu & Naveen Jain
- Art Wahl
- Arthur & Ellen Rubinfeld
- Avalara
- Aya Hamilton
- BDA Cares
- Bert & Madeleine Valdman
- Beth Galetti
- Bill & Gimena Richter
- Bob & Laura Kimball
- Bobby Wagner
- Brad Smith & Kathy Surace-Smith
- Brett & Christina Miller
- Brian & Diane Langstraat
- Brian McAndrews & Elise Holschuh
- Bruce & Ann Blume
- Capital Pacific
- Carol Bobo
- Carol & Matt McIlwain
- Carole Ellison
- Chad & Harlan Robins
- Cheryl Scott
- Chris & Mary Diorio
- Chris and Heidi Stolte
- Chris Jones and Kira Sorensen
- Chuck & Jane Stonecipher
- Clayton Lewis & Tom Rasmussen
- Cliff Burrows & Anna White
- Courtni & Charlie Billow
- Craig Jelinek
- Cynthia Stroum
- Dan & Stacey Levitan
- Dan & Takayo Ederer
- Dan Absher
- Dan Levine
- Darrell & Siobhan Cavens
- Dave Limp
- Dave Sabey
- David & Kim Eisman
- Dawn Lepore & Ken Gladden
- Delphine & Charles Stevens
- Doug & Barb Herrington
- Doug & Barb Herrington
- Doug & Charlotte Guyman
- East Seattle Foundation
- Eddie & Kim Poplawski
- Eleanor & Charlie Pollnow
- Elena Donio & Shanen Boettcher
- Emily & Matt Oppenheimer
- Erin & Colin Hathaway
- Eve Stacey & John Van Newkirk
- Fred & Norma Crosetto
- Fred R. Smith Foundation
- Gates Ventures
- Goldman Sachs Gives
- Graham Smith
- Greg & Allison Enell
- Greg & Monica Smith
- Greg James
- Harish & Shalini Naidu
- Heather & Ric Redman
- Hemda Arad & Yuval Neeman
- Himalaya Capital
- Holly & Eric Dillon
- Hope & Peter Cochran
- Howard & Sheri Schultz
- Ivone & Oren Etzioni and A12 team
- Jack Anderson
- Jane Park & Burton Davis
- Janet Ketchum
- Jeff & Anne Blackburn
- Jeff & Judy Greenstein
- Jeff & Julie Schoenfeld
- Jeff & Kelly Wright
- Jeff & Korynne Wright
- Jeff & Liesl Wilke
- Jeff Bezos
- Jeff Gow & Wendy Norman
- Jill & Michael Heijer
- Jim & Jan Sinegal
- John & Deanna Oppenheimer
- John & Mary Shirley Foundation
- John Gabbert
- John Hempelman
- John Laughlin
- John Meisenbach
- John Stanton & Terry Gillespi
- John Teutsch & Mary Foster
- Jon & Judy Runstad
- Jon Gelsey
- Jonathan & Heather Sposato
- Jordan & Andrea Lott
- Julie & Erik Nordstrom
- Kabir & Noreen Shahani
- Katheen Hogan
- Keri & Rob MacAulay
- Kevin & Andrea FitzWIlson
- Keyo & Adrianne Gold
- Kim & Jon Hemingway
- Lark & Gary Young
- Larry & Brittni Estrada
- Laurie & Michael Corliss
- Leigh Toner & Chris Capossela
- Len & Jenn Jordan
- Leo & Marnie Backer
- Leslie & Dale Chihuly
- Leslie Decker & Steve Rimmer
- Li & Eva Lu Humanitarian Foundation
- Linda & Cameron Myhrvold
- Linda & David Cornfield
- Lisa & Brad Powell
- Lisa & Norm Bontje
- Lynn Hubbard and David Zapolsky
- Madrona Group
- Madrona Venture Group
- Mari & Craig Swanson
- Mark & Jamie Mader
- Mark Britton
- Mary & David Alhadeff
- Megan Smith & Larry Lirtsman
- Michael & Barbara Malone
- Michael Holmes
- Michelle Seitz & Craig Zummer
- Mikal & Lynn Thomsen
- Mike & Corry Clayville
- Mike & Liz Hilton
- Mike & Susie Raskin
- Mike & Tricia Hopkis
- Mike Paulus
- Mike Rowell
- Molly Nordstom
- Nancy & Paul Etsekson
- Nick Hanauer
- Olive Goh & Eric Dugger
- Pattie & Mickey Smith
- Paul & Christine Caragher
- Paul & Emily Thelen
- Paul & Shannon Goodrich
- Paul Ellingson
- Peggy & Eric Johnson
- Penny & Craig Tall
- Pete & Leslie Higgins
- Phyllis Campbell
- Pradeep & Rubie Singh
- Rajeev & Jill Singh
- Rajesh Jha & Sudha Misra
- Retail Lockbox
- Ron Elgin
- Ron Sher
- Russell & Ciara Wilson
- Saltchuk Family of Companies
- Sara Kranwinkle
- Sarah & Rich Barton
- Satya & Anu Nadella
- Scott & Carin Jacobson
- Scott & Laurie Oki
- Scott & Shawn Redman
- Scott & Susanne Guthrie
- Scott McFarlane
- Sherri Wolson & Neil Black
- Sid & Teresa Shenai
- Soma & Akila Somasegar
- Stan & Kristine Baty
- Steve & Heather Murch
- Steve & Heather Singh
- Steve & Patty Fleischmann
- Stuart Sloan
- Sujal & Meera Patel
- Sunny & Prerna Gupta
- Susan Brotman
- Suzi & Paul Latham
- T.J. & Soozi McGill
- Ted & Pam Kummert
- Teresa Spellman Gamble & Tim Gamble
- The Ackerley Family
- The Ballmer Group
- The Del Rio Family
- The Foster Foundation
- The Harnish Foundation
- The Neupert Family Foundation
- The Prentice Family/USI
- The Sabey Family
- The Wright Family & Grousemount Foundation & the Rolfe Family
- Tim & Jenny Porter
- Tola Capital
- Tom & Sue Ellison
- Tom Alberg & Judi Beck
- Trang Le & Rich Tong
- Troy & Stacey Cichos
- Washington Federal Bank
- Wright and Sandy Dickinson
- Yaffa & Paul Maritz
- Yahn Bernier & Beth McCaw
- Yegeneh & Nader Naini
- Yucca & Gary Rieschel
