Gucci CEO takes a 100,000 euro stand against Coronavirus
Marco Bizzarri joins luxury peers in an effort to end COVID-19.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Gucci’s president and chief executive officer, Marco Bizzarri, has joined the long list of notable names imparting personal donations to the fight against Coronavirus.
Being native to the effected regions, Bizzarri has pledged 100,000 euros to the Ausl IRCCS of Reggio Emilia, encompassing eight hospitals currently treating infected patients. “Our healthcare system, which is fighting against the COVID-19 emergency in these hours with extreme dedication and heroism, deserves the gratitude and support of us all,” said Bizzarri. “The countries that faced this emergency before us proved that the work of scientists and healthcare professionals is precious and that the respect of precautions, albeit strict, is fundamental.”
The statistics are harrowing as numbers of those infected and those who have lost their lives to coronavirus continue to ascend. In Italy alone, there are 10,149 confirmed cases and 631 individuals have died at the hands of COVID-19. As of Monday, March 9, Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte enacted a country-wide lockdown, to be instituted through April 3, in an effort to limit contagion and preserve intensive care resources.
The grim circumstances of Italy have prompted a worldwide response, inciting global initiatives in a rally of support. In one day’s time, digital entrepreneur Chiara Ferragni and her musician husband Fedez raised over 3.4 million euros and made a personal donation of 100,000 euros on behalf of Milan’s San Raffaele Hospital. Likewise, Giorgio Armani extended a 1.25 million euro donation to Milan’s Istituto dei Tumori, Luigi Sacco and San Raffaele hospitals and Rome’s Istituto Lazzaro Spallanzani; Armani’s endowment will also support the country’s civil defense actions under the Protezione Civile umbrella.
The list of companies taking a stand against COVID-19 reads long: Bulgari, Versace, LVMH, Kering, Alibaba, L’Oréal, Dolce & Gabbana, the Estée Lauder Cos. Inc., Shiseido Co. Ltd. and Swarovski have initiated action. Needless to say, Bizzarri is in good company.