TD colleagues honor nurses with their heartfelt tributes
Today, we are all watching in awe as nurses help lead the battle on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, taking care of patients while often risking their own well-being.
But for Shelley Sylva, TD Bank's Head of Social Impact, she's known since birth the importance of supporting these healthcare heroes, since both her grandmother, Margaret Wright, LPN, BSW and mother, Marva James, RN, MHS, CCRN were frontline nurses.
"I know the super powers nurses possess - I saw it displayed every day in my home," Shelley said.
That's why she chose to donate during National Nurses Week 2020 to American Nurses Foundation, one of the three organizations TD Bank is supporting as part of our COVID-19 Relief Colleague Matching Program, which launched last month to help raise funds for response efforts and provide much needed financial support to our community partners.
Between now and May 21, TD will match colleagues' individual voluntary donations of $25 up to $1,000 for a total up to $500,000. Employees may also target their contribution to United Way and Rise Against Hunger.
Lisa Martucci-Thibault, TD Corporate Communications Manager, also decided to designate her contribution to the COVID-19 Relief Colleague Matching Program for the American Nurses Foundation.
She has always had a deep respect for the difficult job that nurses perform. But that appreciation has grown immensely as Lisa saw the sacrifices nurses make each day while caring for her elderly mother, who was hospitalized with COVID-19 and recently died from the disease.
"Nurses are healing warriors," Lisa said. "I saw that firsthand when my mother battled COVID-19. Knowing she would not recover, her nurses braved the personal risks of infection and provided compassionate care to minimize her suffering. I am forever in their debt."
How TD contributions will help
The American Nurses Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the American Nurses Association (ANA), and it recently launched the Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses, where TD's contributions will be designated.
The funds will be used specifically for the following purposes:
- Provide direct assistance to nurses serving on the frontlines and across other health care settings.
- Support the mental health and well-being of nurses given the unprecedented stress of the situation.
- Ensure all nurses have access to the latest scientific evidence to protect themselves, prevent the spread of the infection, and provide patient care.
- Drive national advocacy to strengthen public health efforts and deploy critical medical supplies.
“We are grateful for the donations from TD Bank employees, which will help us provide much needed mental wellbeing support, resources and tools to nurses on the front lines of preventing and treating COVID-19,” said Kate Judge, Executive Director, American Nurses Foundation.