Donations will help family members of healthcare workers and volunteers who lost their lives to COVID-19
PITTSBURGH, PA– The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission has donated $100,000 to the Brave of Heart Fund, established to provide financial and emotional support to the surviving family members of frontline healthcare workers and volunteers who lost their lives to COVID-19.
The financial contribution comes after the Hero Fund’s executive committee voted to provide recognition and support to frontline workers who risked their lives aiding in the care of those with COVID-19. The committee found their endorsement from Hero Fund founder Andrew Carnegie, who wrote in the century-old organization’s Deed of Trust that, “No action (is) more heroic than that of doctors and nurses volunteering their services in the case of epidemics.”
“Andrew Carnegie clearly and specifically applauded just such heroic action in establishing the Hero Fund over 100 years ago. Through the Hero Fund, Carnegie wished to ensure that neither those who sacrifice for others through heroic action, nor their dependents suffer as a result,” said Mark Laskow, board chair of the Hero Fund Commission.
The Brave of Heart Fund was co-founded by the Foundations of New York Life and Cigna, industry-leading financial and health service organizations, alongside charitable partner, E4E Relief. The Foundations of New York Life and Cigna each seeded the Brave of Heart Fund with $25 million. Over the last year, the fund has granted $16M to over 450 surviving families from 40 states around the country.
Commission member Peter J. Lambrou, M.D., added, “The Hero Fund is proud to partner with the Brave of Heart Fund to support those who have lost loved ones who committed to selflessly serve others. And we commend and support all those who continue the fight.”
Since its inception in 1904, the Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Hero Fund Commission has recognized and supported 10,220 Carnegie heroes who have entered mortal danger saving or attempting to save the lives of others. Those who are selected for recognition by the Commission are awarded the Carnegie Medal, and they, or their survivors, become eligible for financial considerations, including one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits, and continuing assistance.
“We are honored to receive this generous donation from the Carnegie Hero Fund to award grants to the surviving families of frontline healthcare workers. Carnegie Hero Fund is a great partner as we grow the base of advocates to reach eligible families for the Brave of Heart Fund,” said E4E Relief CEO Holly Welch Stubbing. “We have been overwhelmed with the incredible stories of dedication and sacrifice shared by the surviving families of healthcare heroes that the fund has supported thus far. The Carnegie Hero Fund is an ideal partner to both honor those legacies and to reach more eligible families to support.”
The Brave of Heart Fund is accepting applications for charitable grants to support eligible family members of frontline healthcare workers and volunteers who lose their lives to COVID-19. The fund will provide impacted families with initial grants of $15,000 per family to meet immediate expenses and will provide up to an additional $60,000 per family for long-term needs, such as medical care and counseling, housing, food, transportation and education.
To learn more, donate or for eligible parties to apply for a grant, visit braveofheartfund.com or call (855) 334-7932. Grant eligibility and amounts will be determined by E4E Relief and will depend on a variety of factors, including financial need and overall funding.
CARNEGIE HERO FUND COMMISSION CONTACT: Abby Brady, abby@carnegiehero.org
E4E RELIEF CONTACT: Ashley W Oster, aoster@e4erelief.org