The Initiative pays tribute to New York City COVID-19 heroes
For a few unprecedented weeks earlier this year, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst was known as New York City’s COVID hospital, experiencing the biggest surge of COVID-19 patients in all five boroughs. On October 19, 2020 the hospital will receive a $100,000 grant from the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative to honor the extreme heroism and humanity of the doctors, nurses and staff who have served on the frontlines of the pandemic in one of the most ethnically diverse and economically challenged immigrant communities in the United States. As the hospital passes the seven-month mark of the COVID-19 crisis and plans for the future, their teams are more focused than ever on community outreach programs, chronic disease education, and other initiatives that will help strengthen the health of their communities well into the future.
“When it comes to battling a global pandemic, there are many frontlines and many frontline heroes. We pay tribute to the New York City heroes who have fought valiantly to bring health and healing to those battling COVID-19. On behalf of all of us, I extend my appreciation to the health sector heroes at Elmhurst Hospital. We applaud your bravery and your commitment to your patients,” said Noubar Afeyan, founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering and the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Co-Founder.
The origins of Elmhurst Hospital can be traced back to the mid-1800s and an institution known as City Hospital. Built to serve the poor, it was New York’s second oldest municipal hospital. Today, it serves an area of more than 2.4 million people from 112 countries around the world who have chosen to call Queens home.
“On behalf of all our frontline staff at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to Aurora for this generous gift that will help us build stronger programs to combat COVID-19 and other special pathogens,” said Israel Rocha, Vice President of NYC Health + Hospitals and CEO of Elmhurst and Queens Hospitals.
The Aurora Humanitarian Grant will be presented to NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst on October 19, 2020 at a special virtual event broadcast live from The New York Public Library as part of the “Gratitude in Action” series. Set to mark the fifth anniversary of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, the event series will raise funds from international contributors in order to increase the impact and reach of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, which is more committed than ever to giving a second chance to those in need worldwide. Today, when the violent attacks carried out by Azerbaijan with the support of Turkey in a gross violation of international law lead to the loss of life, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Co-Founders remain deeply alarmed and saddened by this large-scale military action unleashed against Artsakh and encourage everyone to demonstrate their shared humanity by joining the global Aurora movement and contributing to the world peace.