Friends,
Thank you for all the words of support for this newsletter, we’re so grateful to be able to stay connected and share good news at the intersection of community and tech! Did you join your neighbors making joyful noise at 8pm last Thursday? Some neighborhoods are doing it every night! Looking for a regular 10am break? Try illustrator Wendy Macnaughton’s guided drawing lessons on Instagram Live every Monday through Friday.
In solidarity,
The sea.citi Team
HOW TECH COMPANIES ARE SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES
- Uber has updated their list of responses to the crisis.
- A number of tech companies including Verizon, Facebook and Google have pledged support to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization.
- Google pledged $800+ million to support small businesses and crisis response, including seeding the Kirkland Small Business Relief Fund.
- Expedia partnered with the King County Medical Society to seed a personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturing fundraising effort.
- Amazon contributed an additional $100,000 to the Alliance for Education’s Right Now Needs Fund to help Seattle students and families. They have also contributed $50,000 in Amazon gift cards to Bellevue LifeSpring to provide groceries, health products, and personal care items to Bellevue students and families in need. Learn about all of Amazon’s relief efforts here.
- Salesforce is offering a series of new free solutions to help companies stay connected.
- 3R Technology launched a Technology Access Program to provide fully refurbished laptops to low-income individuals and nonprofits at discounted pricing.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Support the Pacific Science Center — the Pacific Science Center is a vital part of our region’s STEM network, they rely on financial support from the community to weather this crisis.
- Support food banks — find a food bank you want to support and *call ahead* to understand their most pressing needs and modified operations.
- Drink coffee — Caffe Vita launched the COVID-19 Relief Blend; $2 from the sale of each bag will be donated to COVID-19 relief efforts.
- Read about how local tech CEOs are adapting in this crisis.
MOST RECENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS
- Governor Inslee adjusted the ban on funerals and provided additional guidance on real estate transactions.
- CenturyLink Field Event Center will become an Army field hospital.
- King County Metro has restored some weekday trips.