One World: Together At Home raised a total of $127.9 million, providing $55.1 million to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and $72.8 million to local and regional responders.
Following One World: Together At Home, a historic global broadcasting event, Global Citizen together with Lady Gaga, announced $127 million in commitments to date in support of health care workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
World leaders, corporate partners and philanthropists announced their support for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO, powered by the UN Foundation, during theOne World:Together At Home global broadcast event. Donations to the fund will also support the vaccine development alliance Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and UNICEF. The Together At Home effort will also aid over 100 additional local and regional charities that will also receive funds, including Education Cannot Wait, Direct Care, Feeding America and United Way, among others. Changemakers, investors, and foundation leaders came together to contribute quickly to related efforts, like strengthening health care systems and investing in vaccine development.
The historic broadcast was hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert, alongside friends from Sesame Street to help unify and inspire people around the world. The special featured communities impacted by COVID-19 across the world, and included conversations with — and tributes to — the political leaders, scientists, health care professionals, and other essential service workers on the frontlines.
Last month, in response to the global pandemic, Global Citizen launched an urgent campaign in support of the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Kicked off by Global Citizen Festival Curator and Coldplay Frontman Chris Martin through the first #TogetherAtHome Instagram live show, the campaign calls on individuals to take action and urges world leaders and corporations to support the response with sufficient resources. Global Citizens from over 150 countries around the world have taken hundreds of thousands of actions in support of the response fund.
The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund
The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund enables the tracking and containment of the spread of the coronavirus, ensuring patients and frontline workers get the resources they need, while supporting and accelerating efforts to develop vaccines, tests, and treatments. The incredible generosity shown to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund will help the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, CEPI, and partners accelerate their life-saving work. The One World: Together At Home campaign has raised commitments valued at $55.1 million in support of the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
Regional and Local Response
Regional and local organizations around the world are stepping up and shifting their efforts to address the particular challenges brought up by COVID-19. Food banks are providing meals to millions of families whose children are usually fed at school, shelters and community organizations are ensuring housing is safe and secure, and financial institutions are offering loans and assistance to those finding themselves without work. Thanks to the work of the organizations listed below, as well as many others, these efforts continue to be supported. The One World: Together at Home campaign has raised commitments valued at $72.8 million in support of these regional and local efforts worldwide.
One World: Together At Home presented a balanced combination of government statements, health-related visions and remarks, as well as strong financial commitments from the private sector. Key moments in One World: Together At Home are summarized below.
Global Citizen’s activities were strongly supported by the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, who used this opportunity to call for unity and a global ceasefire in order to focus on the virus, while saluting the bravery of health care heroes and looking forward to
"rebuild[ing] a fairer world as united Global Citizens and United Nations."
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed also thanked Global Citizens for the solidarity shown in supporting health workers and called for support on the race to find a vaccine.
"COVID-19 anywhere is a threat everywhere," she said.
President of the UN General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, shared a message of solidarity and support with frontline workers on behalf of all representing governments, too,
"We are playing our part as Global Citizens, by staying together at home," Muhammad-Bande said.
Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, offered a silver lining in this crisis, saying it gives us the opportunity "to put aside our differences, to break down barriers, [and] to see and seek the best in each other."
Two of the world’s most influential philanthropists, and strong supporters of vaccine development, Bill and Melinda Gates, expressed hope that a vaccine will soon be ready for everyone in the world, highlighting that "our response to this won’t be effective unless it’s equitable."
In that context, Dr. Seth Berkley, the CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, presented Gavi’s work, which protects half of the world’s children from vaccine-preventable diseases and has allocated $29 million to some of the world’s poorest countries so that they are able to purchase emergency protective equipment. Actors Connie Britton, Samuel L. Jackson, and Henry Golding applauded the impressive work Gavi is doing during this crisis, highlighting that the organization will be instrumental in distributing an eventual COVID-19 vaccine to anyone who needs it.
Above mentioned funds were mobilized with the help of our corporate and philanthropic partners, to whom we are grateful for their support.
ANNOUNCEMENT - ACCESS BANK announced approximately $2.75 million (over 1 billion Naira) to COVID-19 Response Efforts. Access Bank has been working in Nigeria to "erect medical tents to house 1,000 beds that will serve as training, testing, isolation, and treatment centers."
ANNOUNCEMENT - The COCA-COLA system is committed to contributing more than $100 million to support relief efforts in communities impacted across the globe.
ANNOUNCEMENT -STATE FARM announced $5 million to local and regional responders as part of their larger contribution to COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts across the US.
COMMITMENT -WW International committed "$2 million to provide 10 million nutritious meals and 3 million pounds of fresh produce to those affected by the current issues of food insecurity." This commitment supports WW's charitable partners, including Feeding America, Wholesome Wave, along with many other charitable organizations.
ANNOUNCEMENT -VODAFONE GROUP is responding to the outbreak of COVID-19 with significant donations and technical support, as well as by making their digital learning platforms available for free.
ANNOUNCEMENT -GlaxoSmithKline announced $10 million to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund "to support WHO and partners to prevent, detect, and manage the pandemic, particularly where the needs are the greatest."
Governments have also been doing their part to support international efforts against COVID-19. In the spirit of collaboration and solidarity, government leaders have shown their support for UN efforts, for regional responders, for frontline health workers, and for all of us staying at home.
COMMITMENT - MEXICO committed to addressing gender-based violence as part of their COVID-19 response, as the prevalence of domestic violence is increasing while countries are under lockdown. Mexico’s Secretary of the Interior Olga Sanchez Cordero and the Vice Foreign Minister of Multilateral Affairs Martha Delgado presented Mexico’s commitment to working with the global community to overcome this crisis, while Martha Delgado stated that Mexico "will be developing innovative technological tools that help women stay safe during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, [while] deepening the actions of the Spotlight Initiative, which is coordinated with UN Women with financing from the European Union."
ANNOUNCEMENT - The UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, represented by artist Hussain Al Jassmi, came through by providing medical supplies to 21 countries, benefiting more than 100,000 health workers.
Viewers of the digital broadcast also heard from Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg; Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister Tánaiste Simon Coveney; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Development Cooperation of Belgium Alexander De Croo; and France’s Minister of State for Gender Equality Marlene Schiappa. The global leaders called for solidarity and a united front in addressing this international crisis, while mentioning their countries’ generous contributions to support health workers, scientists, and researchers, including CEPI, and the world’s most vulnerable populations.
In a truly global moment, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu from Lagos State, Nigeria; Head of Government of Mexico City Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo; Incoming President of the US Conference of Mayors Mayor Greg Fischer of Louisville, Kentucky; Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City; and Mayor Sadiq Khan of London, UK, took a moment to say thank you to health care workers and remind us all that we can tackle this together.
COMMITMENT - IBM committed $5 million to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund as a part of their overall $200 million response to COVID-19 response efforts. IBM’s global response initiatives consist of cash and in-kind contributions that "apply data, knowledge, computing power and insights to solve [these] difficult problems" in communities hardest hit.
COMMITMENT - As part of One World: Together At Home, CISCO committed $5 million to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, adding to its more than $227 million global COVID-19 relief effort.
COMMITMENT - P&G committed tens of millions in product, cash, and in-kind donations to a variety of different regional and local organizations as part of their COVID-19 response. Their generous contributions will support the efforts of international and regional responders, including CARE, Direct Relief, Feeding America, Food Banks of Canada, In Kind Direct UK, Matthew 25: Ministries, the Red Cross, and United Way. These organizations work to provide food, shelter, and supplies to families impacted by this crisis.
COMMITMENT - PEPSICO has committed more than $50 million to a global COVID-19 relief effort that is already delivering more than 50 million meals to those most affected globally. As part of One World: Together At Home, PepsiCo has committed $7 million, including a $2 million contribution to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
One World: Together At Home also featured news outlets sharing kindness reports about people helping others through this crisis. We saw inspiring stories of teachers carrying on with classes, efforts being made to support the homeless population and displaced veterans, as well as people protecting the elderly and those living in assisted living facilities
COMMITMENT - ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION committed generously to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. The Rockefeller Foundation also committed an additional $15 million to a national testing strategy to expand testing and safely reopen the US economy. This would support getting people back to work safely and as soon as possible.
COMMITMENT - ANALOG DEVICES FOUNDATION committed $4 million to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
COMMITMENT - APPLE committed $10 million to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
ANNOUNCEMENT - JOHNSON & JOHNSON has announced a lead vaccine candidate for COVID-19 and a commitment to rapidly accelerate research and development, human testing, and production capacity to supply more than 1 billion doses of a safe and effective vaccine worldwide at a non-for-profit basis for emergency pandemic use. In addition, the company has committed $50 million to support frontline health workers. The Johnson & Johnson global COVID-19 response can be found here.
COMMITMENT - VERIZON committed $3 million to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, in addition to the $2 million it had already contributed. Verizon also announced that it has donated connectivity to over 100,000 students and teachers who have been affected by school closures due to COVID-19.
ANNOUNCEMENT - In addition to supporting the WHO’s global COVID-19 response efforts, EMERSON COLLECTIVE is investing in important regional organizations like the One Acre Fund, which supports more than 1 million farm families in Africa. In response to COVID-19, One Acre Fund is mobilizing its network of 8,000 trusted rural staff, and more than 100,000 community volunteers, to deliver critical farming supplies and technical assistance that ensure local farmers stay safe and open for business.
The broadcast highlighted the global nature of this crisis, with a variety of outlets showcasing stories of frontline health efforts worldwide. Norah O’Donnell, from CBS News, took us to South Korea, one of the early epicenters of this pandemic, where society is slowly and cautiously reopening. Lester Holt, of NBC News, highlighted the crucial work being done by nurses and EMTs in the hardest hit areas of the US. James Longman, from ABC World News, took us to Europe, where countries like Italy have been implementing strong measures against the spread of COVID-19.
COMMITMENT - BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES committed $8 million to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Bloomberg Philanthropies and its founder, Mike Bloomberg, are longtime partners of the WHO — and now they’re working together to fight the coronavirus. In the US, and all around the world, they're supporting mayors and other local leaders who are managing the crisis on the frontlines. Additionally, they are helping countries in Africa prepare their health care systems for the epidemic. In New York, Bloomberg Philanthropies is also providing meals to workers in the city's public hospitals and health care facilities — to support the heroes who are risking their lives to save ours.
COMMITMENT - TARGET committed $1 million to global COVID-19 responses, including donating to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund in support of the WHO. Target also committed $8 million to numerous local COVID-19 response organizations across the country, as well as donating 2 million KN95 respirator masks. In addition, Target committed $1 million to its Team Member Giving Fund to assist those most impacted, and is raising wages for all 340,000 frontline team members.
Artists participating in One World: Together At Home shouted out to local and regional response organizations.
Globally recognized artist and philanthropist Usher highlighted the work of No Kid Hungry, which has provided 1.7 million meals so far to kids out of school, and the CDC Foundation’s Emergency Response Fund, which is providing medical supplies. Amy Poehler spoke with Covenant House spokesperson Renata Alexis about the important work the organization is doing to support the homeless population. Additionally, Alicia Keys highlighted the work of United Way, which is focusing on the educational, hunger-related, and economic consequences of the outbreak, and LISC, which provides grants, loans, and tech infrastructure to community-based organizations and small businesses.
COMMITMENT -CITI committed $10 million in the U.S. to make financial counseling and supportive services available to small business owners and families experiencing financial hardship through community-based organizations, including Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation in New York, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and So Others Might Eat in Washington, D.C. This commitment is part of its broader commitment of $65 million to global COVID-19 relief efforts.
COMMITMENT - The STADLER FAMILY FOUNDATION is supporting the WHO’s efforts to build resilient health care systems and ensuring frontline health workers have access to critical PPE.
One World: Together At Home invited some special friends to share supportive and instructive messages with young Global Citizens.
Friends from Sesame Street encouraged us all to find ways to stay positive, saying "hug yourself" while practicing social distancing.
COMMITMENT - The LEGO FOUNDATION committed $15 million to Education Cannot Wait’s COVID-19 Response. Education Cannot Wait (ECW) will deploy critical funding through its COVID-19 First Emergency Response to help teachers, parents, caregivers, and local responders provide education to the most vulnerable kids, including girls and refugees, who will be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.
COMMITMENT - INDIVIDUAL PHILANTHROPISTS also answered the call by committing a total of over $12.8 million to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and a total of $3.9 million to regional and local responses.
COMMITMENT - The SPANX FOUNDATION also supported the One World: Together At Home special and the work Global Citizen is doing to support health care workers on the frontlines.
COMMITMENT - PIXI BEAUTY committed generously to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
COMMITMENT - STUBHUB committed generously to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
COMMITMENT - RELX committed generously to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
ANNOUNCEMENT - STARTUP HEALTH announced a $1 million fund to support 10 companies with seed-capital, as part of a multi-year initiative to invest in entrepreneurs developing solutions to prevent, mitigate, and manage pandemics, beginning with COVID-19.
It’s not over!
While the One World: Together At Home special broadcast represented a moment of global unity and an opportunity to support the global response through the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund or regional and local responders, there is more to be done. Global Citizen remains committed to building on this incredible momentum to continue to support the global COVID-19 response, frontline health workers, and the broader prevention agenda to ensure we never face another crisis like this again.