The solidarity initiatives of large Italian companies to deal with the coronavirus emergency are multiplying. Once again at the forefront is Intesa Sanpaolo, the first Italian bank, which was the first to set an example by launching a maxi donation of 100 million euros to support the health system, which has been put to the test by the very rapid spread of Covid-19. Well, the bank led by Carlo Messina communicated that just today 80 of the 100 million made available have already been disbursed of the Extraordinary Commissioner Domenico Arcuri and of the Civil Protection. In short, almost all of the amount is already financing a series of concrete interventions throughout the national territory (especially in the North, the most affected, but not only).
In particular, 53,5 million euros were allocated topurchase of medical equipment and other medical material requested by the Extraordinary Commissioner in accordance with the Civil Protection: fans, helmets, respirators, masks, gloves, overalls. The remaining 26,5 million were intended for healthcare facilities identified by the Civil Protection on the basis of the emergency needs distributed throughout the territory, both to cover work and purchases already finalized by the hospitals, and for the assignment of treatment and diagnostic equipment. Of the 26,5 million, 52% was destined for the North, 23% for the Center and 25% for the South.
“In the early stages of this extraordinary emergency – he commented the CEO of Intesa Sanpaolo Carlo Messina – we were the first to make a significant amount available to counter the effects of the epidemic. We have decided to donate 100 million euros, making them available to the Extraordinary Commissioner and the Civil Protection to structurally strengthen the National Health Service and, at the same time, for the purchase of medical equipment and materials. We are very satisfied with how, in a very limited period of time, a close collaboration, or rather a real partnership, has been able to activate a significant series of interventions and bring concrete benefits throughout the national territory. We will define new and important measures just as quickly. Our intervention, carried out thanks to the strength of Intesa Sanpaolo and the people who are part of it, aims to contribute to the care of the sick and is a sign of appreciation for the great work of those on the front line, doctors, nurses and all categories who carry out indispensable services, to whom we thank".
Meanwhile, the subsidiary has also joined the fundraising launched by Intesa Sanpaolo Fideuram – Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking: the donations of the company led by Tommaso Corcos will be added to the already announced 100 million allocated by the group. Also in this case the funds will be made available to the Extraordinary Commissioner Domenico Arcuri and to the Civil Protection. The first objective remains that of contributing to construction of 2.500 new intensive care beds. The remaining amount of the collection can be used for any intervention necessary to manage the emergency.
“In this delicate moment – commented the CEO Corcos – we wanted to intervene immediately to support the initiative promoted by Intesa Sanpaolo. I am sure that the "Coronavirus emergency: close to those who need it most" fundraising campaign will be able to count on the support of our employees, our financial advisors and our customers, all working together to contribute to this great initiative."
Still in the banking world, it also renewed its commitment Where's Banca, however territorially linked to the most dramatically affected areas, those of the Bergamo and Brescia areas. Ubi launched a grand plan which comprises a series of interventions capable of disbursing aid up to 10 billion. The Board chaired by Letizia Moratti has launched a plan that provides for aid up to the value of 10 billion: the program is called "Relaunch Italy" and is aimed at all categories of bank customers, from companies to which liquidity is guaranteed, up to families and Third Sector initiatives.
Great gesture too Terna, the company that manages the national electricity grid. In this case, the initiative even came from the employees, in agreement with the trade union organisations: Terna's workers thus decided to donate an hour of your salary for the strengthening of the intensive care facilities of the National Health System and for the purchase of personal protective equipment. By 7 April, Terna's more than 4.000 employees will therefore be able to donate an hour's salary to help manage the emergency caused by COVID-19 and the company, which promptly joined the initiative, will participate in turn with a donation equal to the amount raised by its workers.
The gesture of solidarity by Terna's employees - which is accompanied by a similar initiative promoted by group managers - is aimed at underlining the closeness to all those who today are forced to resort to urgent care from hospitals, health care and also all the colleagues who are every day operationally engaged throughout the national territory to guarantee, in safety, an essential public service, the transmission and dispatching of electricity in the country, every day for 24 hours a day.
