Blackstone today announced an anchor $10 million contribution to the New York State COVID-19 First Responders Fund and an additional $5 million in contributions to organizations orchestrating food delivery to healthcare workers and first responders as well as others supporting vulnerable populations in New York City.

The New York State COVID-19 First Responders Fund was established by Governor Cuomo to procure and distribute scarce supplies and resources to healthcare institutions that are most in need, providing personal protective equipment, laboratory testing materials, ventilators, hospital beds and other critical supplies. These funds will also support food, transportation and housing assistance for healthcare staff.

Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO & Co-Founder of Blackstone, said: “We are proud to support Governor Cuomo and those on the front lines of this pandemic. We thank them for their tireless efforts on behalf of all New Yorkers.”

Amy Stursberg, Executive Director, Blackstone Charitable Foundation, said: “With so many urgent needs stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical to have a coordinated and efficient system to deploy relief in real time to those who need it most. The New York State COVID-19 First Responders Fund was designed to do just that. We are pleased to support this comprehensive effort.”

Blackstone’s additional $5 million in grants will support organizations providing food security and resources for New Yorkers in need. These include, among others:

  • Organizations working to ensure that healthcare workers, first responders and vulnerable populations are fed: City Harvest, World Central Kitchen, Great Performances and Slice Out Hunger.
  • New York City-based nonprofits that need immediate relief as they provide critical support to New Yorkers in need: Coalition for the Homeless, Union Settlement, Covenant House and others.

About Blackstone

Blackstone is one of the world’s leading investment firms. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, and the communities in which we work. We do this by using extraordinary people and flexible capital to help companies solve problems. Our $571 billion in assets under management include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Further information is available at blackstone.com. Follow Blackstone on Twitter @Blackstone.