With a strong understanding of culture and community, Canada Goose has figured out ways to increase their meaningful work amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Back in March, the winter clothing manufacturer made the much-needed pivot to address the medical gear shortage on the frontline. Switching from producing their well-known parkas to scrubs, their facilities transformed to push out a total donation of 14,000 uniforms across various Canadian hospitals fighting the Coronavirus.

Announced yesterday, the expansion of the Canada Goose Response Program is extending beyond its borders and will now deliver 20,000 more general uniforms, distributed amongst all eight Mount Sinai hospitals in New York — the epicenter of the virus. Dani Reiss, the President & CEO of Canada Goose, recognized how “New York City has played an important role in the story of Canada Goose — the city and its people have embraced our brand. We are proud to give back to New York and its healthcare workers as they continue their fight against COVID-19.” As the Canada Goose employees return to work, while adhering to safety guidelines, their plans of production are skyrocketing to the millions and are expected for delivery by October 2020.

Atop of the much-needed scrubs, Goose Person, Kate Upton, and professional baseball husband, Justin Verlander, are making a charitable donation, alongside Canada Goose, to Mount Sinai’s Institute of Health Equity Research (IHER). As many are aware or becoming aware, systematic racism directly translates to health disparities. Noticeable by looking at how COVID-19 is currently dispositionally affecting the African American and Latino communities. With that in mind, IHER was created to better understand health issues, including COVID-19, that are affecting these most at-risk communities. Specifically in regards to the communities that are non-white, low-income, immigrant, uninsured, LGBTQ+, across all ages, genders, and abilities. 

IHER and Canada Goose are at the forefront of a much needed global health change. Upton and Verlander honored to be a part of this transformation, started donating Verlander’s salary back in April in support of organizations helping individuals impacted by COVID-19. Kate sharing, “Justin and I are grateful to be collaborating with Canada Goose to make a difference and help implement change.” Their donation will assist the IHER team in identifying causes, developing solutions, taking concrete action, and training the next generation beyond the borders of NYC. 

Together, the monetary contribution and scrubs allow Mount Sinai clinical researches to feel support and encouraged to continue their heroic battle on the frontlines.