In an effort to aid local citizens financially burdened amid the coronavirus outbreak, San Jose-based television station NBC Bay Area (KNTV) will air an hourlong fundraising telethon this weekend.
“Coronavirus: Our Community Responds,” scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday (Channel 11, Cable 3), is being organized to urge viewers and online audiences to donate to the Silicon Valley Strong financial assistance fund. Organizers say money raised through the telethon will benefit individuals and families who need assistance with rent, food and other basics.
NBC Bay Area anchor Garvin Thomas will host the program.
Stacy Owen, president and general manager of NBC Bay Area and Telemundo 48, said in a statement that the stations are “committed to highlighting the myriad ways people are stepping up to help each other in this unprecedented time. … We are proud to provide a platform to share positive stories and inspire people to help their neighbors.”
On March 23, Destination: Home CEO Jennifer Loving — along with Cisco Chairman and CEO Chuck Robbins, Silicon Valley Community Foundation CEO Nicole Taylor, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors President Cindy Chavez — announced an $11 million Silicon Valley Strong COVID-19 financial assistance program with funds intended for low-income individuals who have lost work due to the COVID crisis.
The effort encompassed donations from across a public-private spectrum, including participation by Destination: Home, Cisco, Western Digital, Adobe, Zoom Video Communications, Inc., Broadcom, Micron, Facebook, Infosys, Silver Lake, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the County of Santa Clara, the City of San Jose, as well as individual donors who supported the effort through the Silicon Valley Community Foundation website.
In just three days, the process for the financial assistance program, administered by Sacred Heart Community Services was shut down as over 4,400 requests were received — exceeding the number of households that could be served with the initial $11 million. Since then, more than 4,800 additional households have added their names to an interest list in hopes that more funding will become available.
“About half of the applications for the fund were from extremely low-income households, or those earning $43,900 or less for a four-person family,” Loving said in a statement. “We will do everything we can to raise more money as quickly as possible.”
The telethon will also be live-streamed at nbcbayarea.com and NBC Bay Area’s Facebook Page. Those wishing to help out don’t have to wait for the telethon to donate. You can Text SVStrong to 41444 to DONATE or visit siliconvalleystrong.org/telethon.