OUR STORY
The COVID Foundation is a charitable organization that focuses on providing humanitarian relief in the fight against COVID-19. We provide PPE to the communities that need it most. Started by NYC native Ben Wei on March 22, 2020, the Foundation has quickly become a platform for PPE distribution, funding efforts, partnerships, and exchanges on issues related to COVID-19.
To date, we have already distributed over 20,000 critically-needed N95/KN95 respirator masks to 25 hospitals and nursing centers throughout New York City, over 60,000 masks to the Fire Department of New York and other NYC-area first responders, and over 20,000 care packages including masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer to assisted living facilities and home health care workers.
30+
passionate, creative, relentless volunteers
25+
years in combined STEM/healthcare
60+
years in combined nonprofit experience
FOUNDING TEAM
Ben Wei, Founder
Ben is is a non-profit founder and tech entrepreneur, born and raised in NYC. He is a graduate of Harvard University and went on to launch Access Code (now known as Pursuit.org), a 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on providing in-demand coding to underserved communities. He has served as a Committee Chair for the Harvard Alumni Association Board of Directors and is currently Vice President on the Alumni Council for Collegiate School.
Rainbow Wong, Head of Operations
Rainbow is an expert in operational excellence, risk management, and fund allocation. She previously served as a Vice President in JP Morgan’s Chief Investment Office. Rainbow also participated as a volunteer educator for Apex for Youth, a 501c3 non-profit providing educational programming for marginalized youth in NYC.
Joe Kerns, Community PPE Director
Joe leads a business operations team at Facebook. He is also a Board Member and member of the Economic Development Committee of Manhattan Community Board 3, serving the LES, Chinatown and the East Village. He was part of the inaugural Five Borough Future fellowship, where he co-founded the NYC Community Board Project, which helped drive a more diverse membership of the 59 community boards across NYC.
OUR VOLUNTEERS
Solving the current COVID-19 crisis takes a team effort. Not only does the Foundation have the ability to accelerate PPE procurement through its global supply chain, the Foundation thoughtfully distributes PPE for optimal social impact thanks to our broad network and knowledge of our volunteers.
Our teams include: Non-Profit Advisory, Healthcare Advisory Community PPE, Data Visualization, Healthcare Advisory, Marketing & Content, Nonprofit Strategy, Nonprofit Management, Partnerships/Fundraising, Supply Chain/Distribution, Web & Graphic Design
& many more!
ADVISORS
Oliver Libby
Oliver B. Libby is Managing Partner and co-founder of Hatzimemos / Libby, a strategy and venture firm based in New York City. Mr. Libby is a Presidential Leadership Scholar, a Milken Young Leader, a Concordia Summit Advisor, a member of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network Youth Advisory Council, a founding GLG Social Impact Fellow, a NationSwell Councilmember, an Advisory Board member at Project HEAL, and a guest judge for The Hult Prize and Echoing Green. Mr. Libby was also a Foundation Trustee and Chair of the Admissions Committee of the Harvard Club of New York City, as well as a member of the Advisory Council of the Clinton Global Initiative.
Greg Epstein
Greg is the Humanist Chaplain at Harvard and MIT, and the author of the New York Times bestselling book Good Without God. Described as a “godfather to the [humanist] movement” by The New York Times Magazine in recognition of his efforts to build inclusive, inspiring, and ethical communities for the nonreligious and allies, Greg was also named “one of the top faith and moral leaders in the United States” by Faithful Internet, a project of the United Church of Christ and the Stanford Law School Center for Internet and Society.
Natalie Arbid
Natalie is currently at UMass Boston’s clinical psychology doctoral program where she is investigating the mechanisms of cognitive behavioral treatment for transdiagnostic symptoms of anxiety disorders. She is also interested in examining for whom treatment works, specifically the contextual and cultural factors that impact treatment effectiveness.
William Werbel, MD
Dr. Werbel grew up in the New York suburbs, staying on the East Coast for college at Harvard, where he studied evolutionary biology and biomechanics. He then moved to the Midwest for medical school at the University of Michigan before beginning residency at Northwestern where he also served as chief medical resident. Currently, he is a fellow at John Hopkins Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases.
Sonny Patel
Sonny is a NIH Fogarty Global Health Scholar and Fellow at Harvard University. He has developed research protocols, programs and training to build capacity and knowledge in communities around the world – from subject matters in Public Health and Mental Health to specialized topics in Disaster Resilience. He continues to provide executive guidance to several nonprofits and international non-governmental organizations who are aiming to grow, be sustainable and deliver high impact programs.