George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg, founders of international design firm Yabu Pushelberg (YP), have launched an initiative to support the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There is a critical shortage of masks, gowns, gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to protect our community’s medical professionals as they care for those whose health has been compromised by the COVID-19 pandemic,” says the firm. “This shortage of PPE puts hospital workers at serious risk, compromising their ability to work should they be infected, and leaving fewer caregivers on the front lines of treatment.”
Through their hyper-connected global community, YP has been granted access to a supply of hospital grade, regulation PPE including N95 masks, gloves, goggles and gowns in collaboration with the Bethune Medical Development Association of Canada. BMDAC facilitated the arrival of over seven tonnes of PPE from China last week, including tens of thousands of gloves, gowns, masks and goggles donated to local Toronto hospitals in need.
George and Glenn have also begun a campaign to mobilize their broad networks in the design community worldwide to raise funds and have created a gofundme site in the U.S. and Canada, which launched this week with the goal of raising $250,000.
The initial shipments of PPE would go to St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and NYC Health + Hospitals Elmhurst in New York, two major centres for COVID-19 treatment.
