Bank of America Donates 100,000 Face Masks to Providence Schools

PROVIDENCE – Bank of America is donating 100,000 face masks to local schools in Providence, and another 46,000 masks to a half-dozen Rhode Island non-profits that work with vulnerable and underserved communities hardest hit by the coronavirus.

This donation is part of a nationwide effort by Bank of America to immediately distribute nearly four million PPE masks to communities disproportionally impacted by the coronavirus, including communities of color, and is connected to its $1 billion, four-year commitment of additional support to help local communities address economic and racial inequality accelerated by a global pandemic. This is in addition to the four million masks the company donated earlier this year in cities across the country.

“The health and safety of our community remains a top priority during this health and humanitarian crisis,” said Bill Hatfield, Market President for Bank of America in Rhode Island. “One of the ways we can have an impact is by working with local partners to identify and distribute PPE masks to the most vulnerable populations, such as neighborhoods with low-to-moderate income families unable to acquire proper masks, our schools and organizations serving these communities.”

“Providence Public Schools not only serve the community, but also rely on the community for support. We are so grateful to Bank of America for being a community leader and providing a much-needed donation of 100,000 face masks,” said Providence Public Schools Superintendent Harrison Peters. “This gift will help protect our students and staff during the current health crisis.”

Below is more information about how the 146,000 masks will be distributed in Rhode Island:

• 100,000 masks to the Providence Public Schools to support back-to-classroom activities throughout the city’s school system;
• 10,000 masks to Family Service of Rhode Island, a human service agency with the mission of improving the health and well-being of children and adults in communities throughout Rhode Island;
• 10,000 masks to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank Association, the largest food distribution organization in the state;
• 8,000 masks to the Pawtucket Central Falls Development Corporation, which serves the affordable housing needs of the Pawtucket and Central Falls communities;
• 8,000 masks to the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Rhode Island, which since the beginning of the pandemic has partnered with Bank of America to deliver over 25,000 cafeteria-cooked meals to needy families and individuals;
• 6,000 masks to the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Newport, which serves young people, families and seniors in Newport County;
• 4,000 masks to Wiggin Village Apartments in Providence, an affordable housing complex that serves residents at or below the poverty line.