APPLETON, Wis. – ThedaCare is privileged to recently receive a donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from BSTRONG and Global Empowerment Mission. Since 2017 BSTRONG and Global Empowerment Mission have served the needs of those affected by tragedies and catastrophes around the globe.
ThedaCare received a PPE donation from BStrong and Global Empowerment Mission. The PPE donation to ThedaCare included surgical masks, KN95 masks, gloves and hand sanitizer.
“We are extremely grateful to receive this donation,” said Kristin Lyerly, MD, Obstetrician and Gynecologist with Women’s Care of Wisconsin, an affiliated ThedaCare physician. “Our team members are doing everything they can to offer the best care possible for our patients and families, and the acknowledgment of their dedication through a PPE donation like this shows them that many people are standing behind them with support.”
Dr. Kristen Lyerly (Photo credit: Kim Thiel): Dr. Lyerly became connected to BStrong and Global Empowerment Mission after joining performer Amy Schumer on a Zoom event for the Biden Campaign while Dr. Lyerly was running for Wisconsin′s 88th State Assembly District. She helped secure the PPE donation to ThedaCare which included surgical masks, KN95 masks, gloves and hand sanitizer.
BStrong is a disaster relief initiative led by Bethenny Frankel, who has been organizing efforts to support those on the frontlines of the pandemic. Global Empowerment Mission in partnership with BStrong have provided millions of articles of PPE to hundreds of facilities, including health care organizations, police departments, fire departments, state health departments, funeral homes and military bases.
“Right now, so many people are going through difficult times, and everyone is reflecting on what it means to feel safe – at their job, at home and in the community,” said Frankel. “If we can help those on the frontlines who are caring for COVID patients feel safe at work through PPE donations, it’s our way to give back, supporting those health care workers to keep doing what they do, day in and day out.”
Bethenny Frankel: Entrepreneur and philanthropist, Bethenny Frankel, founded BStrong, the disaster relief initiative in 2017 to offer emergency assistance to those in crisis. ThedaCare recently received a PPE donation from BStrong and Global Empowerment Mission.
Dr. Lyerly became connected to BStrong and Global Empowerment Mission after joining performer Amy Schumer on a Zoom event for the Biden Campaign while Dr. Lyerly was running for Wisconsin’s 88th State Assembly District.
“Before the Zoom went live, Amy and I chatted a little bit about the COVID-19 situation in Wisconsin, and the impact to health care workers in our state,” said Dr. Lyerly. “Amy, who has a close friend in nursing on Long Island, was concerned that hospitals were still running into hurdles to acquire certain PPE. The next day Amy called me, and asked where she could send a donation to help keep our team members safe. It was an incredibly thoughtful gesture from a woman who has dedicated her career to lifting us up and making us laugh.”
The PPE donation to ThedaCare included surgical masks, KN95 masks, gloves and hand sanitizer.
“These PPE items will help protect our team members, and ensure that we are here to care for our communities,” said Dr. Lyerly. “It means a great deal that this donation was coordinated through a very neat source to offer support for our hospital system.”
About BStrong
Entrepreneur and philanthropist, Bethenny Frankel, founded BStrong, the disaster relief initiative in 2017 to offer emergency assistance to those in crisis. Since it was established, BStrong has contributed vital supplies and funding to Puerto Rico after Hurricanes Maria and Irma, California following the wildfires, Mexico City after an earthquake, Florida following Hurricane Michael, North Carolina after Hurricane Florence, and many more. For more information, visit www.bethenny.com.
About Global Empowerment Mission
Global Empowerment Mission, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011, is dedicated “to empowering people struck with tragedy by providing emergency aid, cash cards, food and housing; providing quality education, diverse vocational training and job creation to people in third world countries such as Haiti. The objective is for people in developing countries to have a self-sufficient and sustainable economy, ultimately eliminating their dependency on foreign aid.” For more information, visit www.globalempowermentmission.org.
About ThedaCare
For more than 110 years, ThedaCare® has been committed to improving the health of the communities it serves in northeast and central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to more than 600,000 residents in 17 counties and employs approximately 7,000 health care professionals. ThedaCare has 180 points of care, including seven hospitals. As an organization committed to being a leader in Population Health, team members are dedicated to empowering people to live their best lives through easy access to individualized care, supporting each person’s own health and wellbeing. ThedaCare also partners with communities to understand unique needs, finding solutions together, and encouraging health awareness and action. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care
Network Member, giving specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit health system with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs, as well as primary care.
For more information, visit thedacare.org or follow ThedaCare on social media. Members of the media should call Cassandra Wallace, Public and Media Relations Consultant at 920.442.0328 or the ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah switchboard at 920.729.3100 and ask for the marketing person on call.
