March 24, 2020

Supporting the Response to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic poses unprecedented challenges to our communities and our economy. Cornerstone is proud that across the country dozens of our clients are responding directly to this emergency. Some are developing vaccines or treatments. Others are serving critically ill patients in their hospitals. Still more are leading the public health response in every state or deploying cutting-edge technology to track the outbreaks.

While many of our clients across the country are helping the nation confront this challenge, here are just some of the ways our clients making a difference.

  • Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and various other hospital clients are on the frontlines with treating COVID-19 patients, despite a scarcity of resources.
  • The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) is leading the public health response to COVID-19 in every state and territory.
  • The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is raising awareness through social media about how to protect mental health during the coronavirus outbreak.
  • The Houston Independent School District (HISD) and the Houston Food Bank are offering curbside pickup service at all 36 food distribution sites districtwide, serving more than 16,350 households in one week alone.
  • Since prostate cancer patients are especially immunocompromised, ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer is increasing its online capacity for its various patient programs to combat loneliness and ensure that all patients have a support community during this scary time.
  • Genentech and the Roche Group are working with the FDA to start a clinical trial to study their arthritis drug Actemra in the treatment of hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19, and is also providing 10,000 vials of Actemra to the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile for potential future use at the direction of HHS.
  • Johnson & Johnson has teamed up with the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to develop a vaccine against coronavirus.
  • Microsoft, Google, and r4 Technologies are all part of the White House’s Tech Task Force, which is identifying ways technology can aid the response to the pandemic.
  • CenturyLink has pledged to not terminate service and waive late fees for any residential or small business customers, will open Wi-Fi hotspots to any American who needs them, and is offering free WebEx to school districts.
  • Dominion Energy donated 600 N95 masks to help protect health care workers.
  • SAP America and Qualtrics are conducting pilot programs that utilize cutting-edge technology to help health departments track coronavirus outbreaks in real-time.
  • Sysco has donated more than 13.5 million meals over the last four weeks across the global regions where it operates.
  • C-Spire, in partnership with The University of Mississippi Medical Center, created a free smartphone telehealth app that offers triage for symptoms.
  • Atmos Energy contributed $9,200 to the Mississippi Food Network to provide 1,200 bags of food for Jackson public school students over the next two weekends.

We are grateful to our clients and countless others who are playing a direct role in the COVID-19 response as well as to our many other clients who continue to prioritize the well-being of their employees, customers, and suppliers. At Cornerstone, we also remain determined to prioritize the health and well-being of our employees while continuing to advance our clients’ priorities.

One way we are serving our clients is by providing daily updates on COVID-19. These updates include the latest intelligence on what’s happening in Congress and the administration, plus a roundup of key developments across the nation. If you do not already receive these updates, please email Lucy Lasseur ([email protected]) and ask to be added to our distribution lists.

On behalf of all of us at Cornerstone, stay healthy!