YLS Lead Stimulus Pledge to Raise Money for COVID-19 Relief Efforts

Law School students Geng Ngarmboonanant ’21, Elizabeth Allan ’21, Natasha Khan ’21, and Columbia Business School student Tom Guthrie are leading a campaign to raise money for COVID-19 efforts by asking individuals to pledge to donate their stimulus checks from the federal government, or the monetary equivalent of if they are not receiving one, to COVID-19 charities and funds. To date, the campaign has received an estimated pledge of over $51,000. 

The idea behind the pledge is simple: approximately 150 million Americans have or will receive checks. For many of these Americans, the funds are an essential lifeline. But for those who are not experiencing disruption to their jobs and can afford it, donating these checks can help fund a new wave of giving to those who have been sickened or laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

“This crisis has been devastating for so many, Allan said. “In the face of all of this, I have been incredibly inspired by the work of community organizations, nonprofits, and individuals to come up with creative ways to channel resources to those in need and to create a sense of community during this crisis. The Stimulus Pledge is just one way that those in a position to help can provide support to these initiatives, and I hope it’s a reminder that, even with social distancing, we’re all in this together and will overcome it together.”

Pledgers are displayed on a list on the group’s website and receive an e-mail from the team when stimulus checks are issued with a list of recommended national and Connecticut-based charities and funds based on the team’s research and community outreach efforts. Now that the first round of stimulus checks has been issued, the team is hoping to inspire an additional wave of pledgers to channel the money to those most in need. The team hopes to expand through partnerships with new schools, and is accepting pledges on their website.

“There’s a famous saying by Fred Rogers that goes, ‘When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping,’” Ngarmboonanant said. “We see so many helpers in the form of frontline medical workers, grocery store clerks, transit drivers, and emergency responders running into the fire right now. We have an opportunity here to help the helpers and we hope those who can afford it will join us.”

Pledgers are displayed on a list on the group’s website and receive an e-mail from the team when stimulus checks are issued with a list of recommended national and Connecticut-based charities and funds based on the team’s research and community outreach efforts. Now that the first round of stimulus checks has been issued, the team is hoping to inspire an additional wave of pledgers to channel the money to those most in need. The team hopes to expand through partnerships with new schools, and is accepting pledges on their website.