Thank You Tuesday: Good news around Bham, the mask donation edition

Bham Now readers.  In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, we need stories that lift up our community. That is why we are beginning a new series called  “Thank you days.”

We are going to publish brief, easy to read good news stories about residents in Birmingham and surrounding communities doing good works.

Of course, there is one catch to this series. We need YOUR help. If you find a good news story on social media or in a local newsletter, please email us at Pat@bhamnow.com .  

You can be a part of brightening everyone’s morning, spreading good news we can ALL be thankful for.

So, let the day begin.

Birmingham Legion FC owner secures 20,000 N95 masks for UAB

Let me first disclose that I’m a faithful member of the Magic City Brigade, Legion FC’s supporter group. You know, those guys who play the drums, sing songs, taunt opponents & refs (I’m a soccer ref too – that gets a little weird for me), wave flags and dance. We love Legion FC owner Lee Styslinger III who is also Chairman & CEO of Altec, Inc.  

So you can imagine how the Brigade felt when the team announced last week, the BOSS helped source 20,000 N95 masks for the University of Alabama at Birmingham. And let’s not forget, the team has also raised thousands of dollars selling special Birmingham Strong t-shirts. Very proud of our owner and the boys in black.

Hammer Down! Thank you Birmingham Legion

EBSCO and Mercedes-Benz are donating masks too.

Thanks to Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart Welch, III, we learned EBSCO Industries has donated over 450,000  BFE 99 masks to the Birmingham area’s first responders.  Wow! Nearly half a million!

Thank you EBSCO!

Also, doing their part to protect first responders, Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham donated earlier this week 10,000 FDA approved masks to Irondale Police Department and the Shelby Baptist  Medical Center. 

Thank you Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham!

Red Diamond gives away Cold Brew Coffee & Tea around town

According to a recent news release, Red Diamond has already contributed more than 2,700 bottles of their popular Fitz™ Cold Brew Coffee and Fortify™ Cold Brew Tea to local hospitals and first responders. Who have they served? 

• Brookwood Baptist Hospital
• Grandview Medical Center, 
• The Great Grocery Giveback
• Mountain Brook Fire Department, 
• St. Vincent’s Birmingham Hospital
• YMCA of Greater Birmingham

Thank you Red Diamond!

Community Foundation awards  3rd round of Emergency Response Grants

For the third straight week, the Community Foundation has awarded Emergency Response grants to community groups and nonprofits. I wrote a story about the first two rounds of grants and how they were awarded last month.

To date, the Community Foundation has awarded $644,000 to 39 local organizations in the past three weeks. That’s “speed” grantmaking.  Talk about “stepping up!”

Thank you Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham!

Birmingham Promise Hires First Director

Birmingham Promise, one of the city’s most exciting new programs has hired Rachel Harmon as it inaugural director. 

A scholarship and apprenticeship initiative of the City of Birmingham, in partnership with Birmingham City Schools and the United Way of Central Alabama, Birmingham Promise is receiving its first wave of scholarship applicants this Spring. The initiative is open to all Birmingham City Schools students for use at any 2-year or 4-year school in Alabama.

A former director at the City of Birmingham and Rhodes Scholar, Harmon will lead an organization that has garnered widespread community and local corporate support.

Welcome Rachel Harmon and Thank you Birmingham Promise!

Don’t Forget

Help us recognize good works throughout the Birmingham metro area.  Send tips and info at: Pat@bhamnow.com   

And THANK YOU BIRMINGHAM!