ByteDance-owned video sharing platform TikTok is donating $10 million to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Solidarity Response Fund.
This fund helps the WHO carry out work such as sending supplies to front line health care workers around the world.
TikTok’s $10m donation was announced today (March 23) on the company’s website via a blog post written by President Alex Zhu.
“In this time of global distress and concern about the impact of COVID-19, we’ve been inspired by people in towns and cities everywhere whose fundamental humanity is shining through when we need it most.”
Alex Zhu, TikTok
Said Zhu: “In this time of global distress and concern about the impact of COVID-19, we’ve been inspired by people in towns and cities everywhere whose fundamental humanity is shining through when we need it most – people serenading across quarantined buildings; neighbors delivering food and medicine to those who cannot leave their homes; global outpourings of empathy and support for grieving families.
“This humanity transcends borders and backgrounds, and we’re moved by how people are sharing their strength when we need it most.”
“Now is the time for all individuals and companies to come together and fight this virus – because the case for cooperation simply couldn’t be clearer.”
Elizabeth Cousens, UN Foundation
Elizabeth Cousens, President & CEO of the UN Foundation, said: “We can only stop this virus with a coordinated, global response, where everyone – from every sector – is doing their part.
“TikTok’s extraordinarily generous contribution to the World Health Organization’s global effort is a perfect example of that.
“Now is the time for all individuals and companies to come together and fight this virus – because the case for cooperation simply couldn’t be clearer.”
You can read Alex Zhu’s post in full below:
In this time of global distress and concern about the impact of COVID-19, we’ve been inspired by people in towns and cities everywhere whose fundamental humanity is shining through when we need it most – people serenading across quarantined buildings; neighbors delivering food and medicine to those who cannot leave their homes; global outpourings of empathy and support for grieving families. This humanity transcends borders and backgrounds, and we’re moved by how people are sharing their strength when we need it most.
Most importantly, it’s been gratifying to see the global community rally behind the true heroes of this crisis: the health care professionals around the world who are battling on behalf of us all. There are no words to express the debt we all owe those who are putting their personal safety at risk, who are voluntarily separating themselves from their own families, who are working around the clock and under incredibly challenging circumstances to save lives.
We believe it’s essential to do everything we can to help the global health community in this fight, and today TikTok is donating $10 million to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Solidarity Response Fund. This fund helps the WHO carry out vitally important work, including sending essential supplies to front line health care workers, ensuring communities have access to the latest science-based information, and accelerating efforts to discover life-saving treatments or vaccines. Alongside many great companies and individuals, we’re passionate about doing our small part to contribute to this important cause and the critical work the fund enables.
This is another step in our drive to support the global health field and the pandemic’s impact on local communities. We continue to donate critical supplies to countries and communities in need, including helping procure masks for health care workers and enabling the distribution of food support for students, teachers, and families affected by school closures. We’re matching employee donations to a range of local and global initiatives, including WHO, Red Cross, and a number of direct relief programs. As a company we continue to seek out ways to get involved and lend a hand.Music Business Worldwide
