Sports
Falcons’ Arthur Blank Creates $1M Relief Fund for Stadium Workers Amid COVID-19
Wilfredo Lee/Associated PressAtlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC owner Arthur Blank has created a $1 million emergency relief fund for Mercedes-Benz Stadium employees who have taken a financial hit because of the COVID-19 pandemic.The fund was announced Tuesday, per Eric Jackson of the Atlanta Business Chronicle, and will benefit associates and game-day workers by providing…
Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press
Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC owner Arthur Blank has created a $1 million emergency relief fund for Mercedes-Benz Stadium employees who have taken a financial hit because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fund was announced Tuesday, per Eric Jackson of the Atlanta Business Chronicle, and will benefit associates and game-day workers by providing “assistance for the venue's event-based associates, including ones that work for third-party companies in Levy Restaurants and SAFE Management.”
Mercedes-Benz Stadium is home to the Falcons and Atlanta United FC, so employees were affected when the Major League Soccer season was suspended March 12.
The Athletic's Jason Butt reported March 13 that Blank was going to continue paying hourly employees at each of his businesses:
“Speaking with The Athletic on Friday afternoon, Falcons team president Rich McKay said the decision to ensure hourly employees were not affected negatively during the pandemic was an easy one to make. McKay mentioned there are numerous hourly employees who work for Atlanta United and the Falcons and also at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the remaining companies that are a part of The Blank Family of Businesses, which is managed by the AMB Group.”
On March 20, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announced a $5.4 million commitment to “critical support throughout Georgia and Montana”:
Atlanta Falcons @AtlantaFalcons
Falcons owner Arthur Blank and the @BlankFoundation will be donating over 5 million dollars in funding for COVID-19 relief efforts in Atlanta and Montana.
https://t.co/h0jfvFUPrq
Blank is the co-founder of Home Depot.
Several members of the Falcons have participated in COVID-19 relief, such as quarterback Matt Ryan:
Atlanta Falcons @AtlantaFalcons
Matt Ryan is planning to donate $100,000 to help those in Atlanta impacted by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
https://t.co/XOUj36FghU
Falcons In The Community @FalconsCR
Grab your books! 📚
#BooksWithBeef https://t.co/AykCdcm4cy
Grady Jarrett @GradyJarrett
Elderly seniors in our community need our help and you can make an impact from home. I encourage you to donate to Meals on Wheels virtual can drive today online at https://t.co/JoKym38M9X https://t.co/Eqts1f2SPr
And Atlanta United FC players have been providing encouraging messages, including 2018 MLS MVP Josef Martinez:
Atlanta United FC @ATLUTD
On this #WorldHealthDay this message is especially important.
Thank you to all our healthcare workers ❤️ https://t.co/WCM8idmFdn
YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta @atlantaymca
Thanks to Atlanta United FC goalkeeper @akann90 for the encouraging shoutout! We are grateful for the support of @ATLUTD and all of our partners as we pivot to meet critical community needs during these challenging times. #stickwiththeY https://t.co/xRHWXR8NJe
Adam Jahn @AdamJahn14
Our elderly neighbors need our help. You can show your support by donating what you are able to Meals on Wheels Atlanta and make an impact right from your own home! Visit https://t.co/ZxVmeIXm1K for ways to donate. https://t.co/fB6MXwCZjh
Per CNN, there are 398,185 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States that have resulted in 12,844 deaths.
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