Business, faith leaders launch $1 M COVID-19 response fund

Business executives and faith leaders in B.C. are banding together to raise $1 million in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At least 134 influential people in the worlds of business and religion signed an April letter to all British Columbians, asking them to join them in responding to the pandemic by praying, obeying government guidelines, helping at-risk or lonely neighbours, and supporting charities. Among the signatories are Christian businessmen Jim Pattison, Michael Audain, and Paolo Aquilini.

In May they launched the COVID-19 B.C. Christian Leaders Response Fund to offer one concrete way people of any denomination put their faith in action.

“What good is it… if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?” begins the May letter, quoting from the Book of James.

City in Focus president Tom Cooper, a signatory and one of the initiators behind the fund, said the idea for a Christian-run COVID-19 response fund came directly from Christian leaders.

“They thought we should do something as a witness to the wider church and society and credit Jesus for the motivation to do so,” said Cooper.

He worked with Archbishop J. Michael Miller of Vancouver and Trinity Western University president Mark Husbands on a letter in April encouraging all British Columbians to act in faith during the pandemic.

Now, he hopes the fund unites Christians in a common goal of supporting local seniors, who have been disproportionately targeted by COVID-19.

The goal is to raise $1 million through the response fund for 16 charities that directly serve seniors through food, care, and social connection. The selected charities include the Catholic Charities Men’s Hostel and The Door is Open along with several care and assisted living facilities run by Providence Health Care.

Also listed are several Downtown Eastside services and housing supports run by Baptists, the Salvation Army, and Union Gospel Mission.

Nearly $800,000 has already been raised thanks to $725,000 from local philanthropists and just over $62,000 in gifts from people in the community.

Cooper said most donors have opted to remain anonymous, but represent varied Christian backgrounds. The initial letter calling for prayer and action carried the signatures of five Catholic bishops in B.C. and the heads of Baptist, Mennonite, Christian Reformed, Evangelical, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Salvation Army, and United churches, and others.

The fund will take donations until the end of June. More information available at my.charitableimpact.com/groups/covid-19-bc-christian-leaders-response-fund.