Healthe, Just Brothers, 100 Black Men of America, Inc. and Operation HOPE team to support students and teachers
ATLANTA – March 1, 2021 – In response to unprecedented challenges brought on by the pandemic, community and business leaders today announced efforts to support the safe re-opening of Atlanta Public Schools (APS). Each of the District’s schools will receive state-of-the-art Air Purification systems. The effort seeks to aid students and teachers in communities with limited resources that were hit hard by COVID-19. APS Superintendent Dr. Lisa Herring formally accepted the donation during a special meeting with district officials on Thursday.
Philanthropist, scientist and founder of Healthe, Inc., Fred Maxik, Thomas Dortch of Just Brothers and Chairman of 100 Black Men of America, Inc., as well as Operation HOPE’s founder and CEO, John Hope Bryant are donating 100 Healthe Air 1.3 Air Purifiers valued at $1,000 each to Atlanta Public Schools. Each Air Purifier is approximately 24 x24 x4 inches in size, lightweight, thin, sleek, installed easily on the ceiling and purifies 90% of airborne viral load and pathogens reducing the viral load. Research shows that air purification systems help decrease the contract of airborne viruses like COVID-19. An air purifier is not a cure, however, if an infected individual enters the room, the air purifier can greatly reduce the spread.
“We want to send a clear message, not simply through words, but also through our actions. Our collective investment in these air purification systems is to help improve the health and safety of students and teachers,” said John Hope Bryant, founder and CEO of Operation HOPE. “As APS continues to map out its re-opening strategy, we all agree that our children – our precious future leaders – deserve to learn in the safest environment possible.”
According to city health officials, in-person educational and recreational activities are crucial to the well-being of children.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that most children and adolescents with the virus that causes COVID-19 have mild or no symptoms. While children who are infected with COVID-19 are more likely to be asymptomatic, they are capable of transmitting to others, including grandparents and elderly caregivers, who are at higher risk. Adhering to safety standards like limited capacity, face coverings, social distancing, health monitoring and cleaning protocols is recommended as communities consider how to safely re-open K-12 school buildings for in-person learning and protect students, teachers, and staff.
“I began my education in public schools and hope that this is just the beginning of a long-term relationship,” said Fred Maxik founder of Healthe, Inc. “The pandemic has put a focus on technologies that will essentially allow us to inoculate our environments. Through innovation and science, we have tools that empower us to create healthier and safer classrooms for all,” he added. Maxik is the principal inventor of over 400 global patents and is the recipient of a White House Champion for Change Award.
“Executing a plan that balances health and safety concerns with the educational and social benefits of having youth in classrooms is not for the faint of heart,” said Thomas W. Dortch, Jr., Chairman of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. and founder of Just Brothers. “These are tough decisions so we quickly decided to help APS move the ball forward. ”
“We have kept our schools clean with extensive measures to sanitize our buildings. And we have instituted numerous protocols – far beyond just wearing masks – to keep our school and work environments safe,” Dr. Herring said. “We didn’t do this alone. Not by a long shot. We have been blessed by the generosity and foresight of many from business, the nonprofit world and the philanthropic community. Because of groups like Operation HOPE and 100 Black Men and such men as John Hope Bryant, Tommy Dortch, and Fred Maxik, we can continue the work to protect the Atlanta Public Schools community.”
In addition to the novel coronavirus, installation of the Healthe Air 1.3 Air Purifiers can help reduce the presence of numerous airborne pathogens such as influenza, chickenpox and rhinoviruses, which can cause common cold symptoms.
About Operation HOPE, Inc.
Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to “silver rights” with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for the underserved—disrupting poverty for millions of low and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation. Through our community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the 2016 Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $3.2 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities—turning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered disaster survivors. Project 5117 is our multi-year four-pronged approach to combating economic inequality that aims to improve financial literacy, increase business role models and business internships for youth in underserved communities, and stabilize the American dream by boosting FICO scores. Operation HOPE recently received its seventh consecutive 4-star charity rating for fiscal management and commitment to transparency and accountability by the prestigious non-profit evaluator, Charity Navigator. For more information: www.OperationHOPE.org. Follow Operation HOPE on Twitter and Facebook @operationhope.
About Atlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the state of Georgia, serving approximately 51,000 students across 87 schools and five programs. The District is organized into nine K-12 clusters with 64 traditional schools, 19 charter schools, six partner schools, two alternative schools and five alternative programs. To learn more about Atlanta Public Schools, follow us on social media – Twitter (@apsupdate), Facebook (Atlanta Public Schools), and Instagram (apsupdate) – or visit us online at www.atlantapublicschools.us.
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Contact:
Ellen Peacock, Operation HOPE Lalohni Campbell
404-455-5940 404-593-7145