Giving Compass' Take:

• Global Citizen interviews Jill Bruton, implementation project manager at United Way, to understand the efforts of United Way of New York City helping local communities during COVID-19. 

• What opportunities are you participating in to fill community needs during COVID-19? 

• Read how philanthropy can maintain community during the pandemic.

The COVID-19 crisis has been no “great leveller” — it has been clarified by multiple studies that the virus disproportionately affects the poorest among us, as well as people of color.

And for organizations that have been working to support marginalized communities for years prior to the pandemic, a renewed sense of urgency has emerged. All over the world, activists have mobilized to help protect these communities during the pandemic.

One such group, United Way of New York City, has been fighting to support the most vulnerable people in a state that has experienced almost 400,000 cases, with a death toll of over 30,000 — almost a quarter of the US’ total fatalities.

The charity works to help people experiencing hunger, a lack of quality education, and financial instability through mobilizing a network of 700 community partners to get support to New Yorkers who need it. It’s one chapter in a global organization that fosters the caring power in 1,800 communities across more than 40 countries and territories worldwide.

In total, $127.9 million was committed as part of the campaign for COVID-19 urgent relief efforts, including $55.1 million to support the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, and $72.8 million to local and regional responders like United Way.

Procter & Gamble was one of the corporations that offered support to United Way, benefitting from the millions contributed in product, cash, and in-kind donations; while Alicia Keys thanked the charity during our global broadcast for assisting communities of color in getting through the crisis.

We caught up with Jill Bruton, implementation project manager at United Way, to talk about what the organization has seen during the pandemic, how it's been helping people, and what you can do to support the efforts.

Read the full article about supporting New York City communities during COVID-19 by James Hitchings-Hales at Global Citizen.