Members of the University community, the Loyola Schools Sanggunian, and several student organizations, have spearheaded a number of initiatives following the COVID-19 pandemic. In the wake of the crisis, they hope to assist those affected by the pandemic, including vulnerable communities and frontline workers. Visit the links below to see how you can contribute to these ongoing initiatives. 

Ateneo de Manila University initiatives

1. The Ateneo DReaM Team continues donation drive

The Ateneo Disaster Response and Management (DReaM) Team, alongside Tanging Yaman Foundation, Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, and the Manila Observatory, initiated a donation drive for the vulnerable sectors affected by the pandemic. According to their website,  they raise funds to “provide personal protective equipment…for health workers,” “deliver packed meals and provide shelter for hospital personnel in crisis areas,” and “give packed food and hygiene items for families in need.” 

As of April 30, the Ateneo DReaM Team has helped over a hundred hospitals and over 25,000 families in partner communities across Luzon. In particular, they have served food packs to 72,005 families in 167 different communities, given personal protective equipment (PPE) to 114 hospitals across the country, and provided 23,050 packed meals to healthcare workers. Those who wish to help in Ateneo’s response to COVID-19 may do so through this website. 

2. Ateneo de Manila University opens dormitory for frontliners 

Ateneo welcomed 30 healthcare workers from the Quirino Memorial Medical Center, one of the main government hospitals that care for patients with COVID-19, to the Institute of Social Order dormitory in the Loyola Heights campus on April 15. Aside from providing board and lodging in the dormitory for a month, Ateneo has also been facilitating a point-to-point shuttle service to and from the hospital for the benefit of the healthcare workers. Additionally, they have been given food and Wi-Fi access throughout their stay. 

“This is one of the ways the Ateneo is supporting healthcare workers who are in the frontlines in this fight vs COVID-19,” said Vice President for Social Development Lino Rivera. Those who wish to help in Ateneo’s response to COVID-19 by donating may do so through this website.

3. Ateneo Art Gallery launches Marciano Galang Acquisition Prize Program

With support from the Embassy of Italy, the Ateneo Art Gallery (AAG) launched the Marciano Galang Acquisition Prize Program on April 22 to help artists who have been affected by the pandemic, as well as to “highlight the Filipino’s creativity…during these uncertain times,” reads the AAG website. The program encourages artists aged 18 years old and above to submit works that illustrate moments of hardships and experiences of hope during this crisis. Should their work be selected by the program’s jury, they can earn as much as Php 35,000 and can have their works permanently showcased in the Ateneo Art Gallery. Entries may be submitted until June 14 through this form.

4. Areté Makerspace creates PPEs for medical frontliners

Areté Makerspace is currently manufacturing face shields that have been “approved by doctors as an alternative low-risk PPE” in support of healthcare workers who battle the virus on the frontlines. Finished face shields will be given to the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH) so that they can distribute these to hospitals. While Areté Makerspace is also using their stock materials, those who wish to donate more materials may do so through this form.

5. Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health launches online medical consultation platform

The Lung Center COVID-19 Ask Force, an online medical consultation platform, was launched by ASMPH faculty Gina Delos Reyes with ASMPH alumni Dr. Charmaine Cabana and Dr. Elysse Salindo on the first day of the enhanced community quarantine. They hoped to provide accessible healthcare service to all netizens as well as address queries about the virus. As the platform quickly gained traction, the volunteer doctors have conducted almost 10,000 consultations, and the page reached 60,000 subscribers by its third week. 

Currently, the page continues to release infographics regarding the virus and keeps its chatbot running for people to message. However, in support of the Department of Health (DOH), all consultations are now redirected to the DOH’s free telemedicine service providers that are available around the clock, accessible through these contact numbers. 

Sanggunian initiatives

1. Coalition of Ateneans for Indigenous Peoples initiates donation drive

On March 22, the Coalition of Ateneans for Indigenous Peoples (CAIP) and Atenista Laban sa Kaliwa Dam (ALAKAD) initiated a donation drive to gather funds for the families in Daraitan, Tanay, Rizal. CAIP-ALAKAD hopes to raise money to finance relief packages containing food and other basic necessities. The drive was launched for the benefit of those families that have been affected by the enhanced community quarantine, such as the indigenous Dumagat-Remontados in the area. 

As of April 13, CAIP-ALAKAD has sent a total of ₱101,000.00 in monetary donations to the Daraitan community. Those who wish to donate money for the drive may still do so through this form.

2. Sanggunian establishes partnership with Hatid Kapatid 

Together with Hatid Kapatid, the Sanggunian established a donation drive to provide financial assistance to families of drivers who have been displaced following the declaration of the enhanced community quarantine. As of April 30, Hatid Kapatid has raised a total of Php 162,102 for 65 families. Those who wish to help them reach their goal of collecting Php 435,000 for 174 families may still do so by referring to this infographic.

3. Sanggunian collaborates with the Pantawid COVID Project

The Sanggunian has collaborated with the Pantawid COVID Project to organize a donation drive that aims to purchase food packs that will be distributed among vulnerable groups affected by the enhanced extended community quarantine.  This includes street vendors, public transport drivers, construction workers, students stranded in their dorms, and temporarily homeless people. As of May 2, the Pantawid COVID Project has raised a total of Php 598,319 and has distributed food bags to over 2,000 families located in Metro Manila. Those who wish to donate to the Pantawid COVID Project may do so by referring to this infographic.

Student organization initiatives 

1. Ateneo Catechetical Instruction League spearheads donation drive

On April 15, the Ateneo Catechetical Instruction League (ACIL) spearheaded a donation drive to acquire relief goods for the families in their partner areas that have been affected by the pandemic. For its first week, ACIL was able to collect a total of Php 60,200 in monetary donations. 

Upon acquiring the money, they began to facilitate and distribute relief goods with two of their partner areas, Escopa 3 and Waterhole. They are currently in contact with their two other partner areas, Kaingin I and Yakap Daycare Center, regarding the acquisition of supplies. Those who still wish to donate may do so through this form.

2. Kythe-Ateneo launches donation drive for partner hospitals

Due to the pandemic, partner hospitals of the Kythe Foundation currently suffer from a shortage of masks and other essential equipment. Kythe-Ateneo launched a call for donations on April 15 to raise funds and materials for masks kits for the pediatric patients in these hospitals. In doing so, they were able to collect a total amount of Php 118,197.60 to purchase 580 mask kits and 3100 surgical masks. 

Given the “overwhelming response and support,” Kythe-Ateneo has chosen to continue their fundraiser to “address the urgent call for help” from other Kythe Foundation partner hospitals. Thus, they are still accepting donations to raise an additional Php 42,307.40, which will allow them to purchase 400 hygiene kits and 100 N95 masks. Those who wish to donate may do so by referring to this infographic.

3. Ateneo MIRLab initiates donation drive for Bakwit Schools

At present, 85 students and teachers occupy the Lumad Bakwit School at the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD), while almost 500 parents and children reside in the Bakwit School at Haran, Davao City. In an effort to provide them with food and medicine during the pandemic, Ateneo MIRLab initiated a donation drive last April 22.  According to Ateneo MIRLab Chief Billy Caluag, the organization has collected a total of Php 12,900 as of May 8. Php 10,000 of the money will be donated directly to the school at Haran, while the remaining cash will be given in the form of relief goods to the school in UPD. Those who still wish to donate may do so by referring to this infographic.

4. Ateneo Gabay spearheads donation drive for students in Marikina City and in Quezon City

On April 11, Ateneo Gabay spearheaded a donation drive to raise funds for the school supplies of the children in their partner schools, namely the Grade 5 and Grade 6 students of Industrial Valley Elementary School and of Holy Spirit Elementary School. Due to the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown of Metro Manila, their families have been deeply affected financially. Those who wish to donate may do so by referring to this infographic. 

5. Ateneo EDGE initiates donation drive for community in Marikina

Amid the pandemic, food supplies remain scarce for the families located in Park 24 Marikina Heights. As such, Ateneo EDGE initiated a donation drive on March 28 to collect money for the people located in this area. All proceeds will be used to purchase their food, money, and other basic necessities. Those who wish to help out may do so by referring to this infographic.

6. TUGON Ateneo launches donation drive for children in partner areas

On May 3, TUGON Ateneo launched a donation drive of cash and kind to raise funds for the children in their partner areas. The influx of donations that the area regularly receives has declined due to the pandemic, and the children are left with insufficient supplies to last the quarantine period, negatively affecting their well-being. Those who wish to donate may do so by referring to this infographic.

7. Management Engineering Association and Ateneo Lex spearhead JSEC Workers Fund Drive

The resumption of classes remains uncertain due to the pandemic, affecting the work of JSEC employees, as well as their ability to sustain their needs during the enhanced community quarantine. The Management Engineering Association and Ateneo Lex have collaborated to spearhead JSEC Workers Fund Drive, a fundraising initiative launched on May 3 that aims to raise Php 100,000. Those who wish to donate may do so by referring to this infographic.

8. Ateneo SPEED launches donation drive

On March 26, Ateneo SPEED launched a donation drive for their partner areas affected by the pandemic. In particular, they hope to raise Php 100,000 to finance the communities’ basic and monetary needs for the entire lockdown period. As of May 3, they have collected a total of Php 87,611 and have completed two waves of donations to one of their partner communities. Those who still wish to donate may do so by referring to this infographic.

9. Ateneo Economics Association endorses World Vision

The Ateneo Economics Association (AEA) has endorsed the donation drive of World Vision, the largest non-profit organization in the Philippines, to raise funds for vulnerable families and healthcare workers. Due to the lockdown, children lack access to quality learning materials and workers risk decreased levels of income. AEA hopes to address their most immediate needs by providing cash assistance, food packs, and home learning materials. 

As of April 15, World Vision has provided sanitation kits to 1,000 families, supplied tons of fresh vegetables to 2,000 families, and educated 1.4 million people about the virus through orientations. They have also provided 15 storage units that serve as treatment areas, PPE for 2,140 healthcare workers, and disinfection kits to healthcare centers in Metro Manila and Mindanao. Those who wish to help may do so by referring to World Vision’s website.

10. Ateneo ENTABLADO and Ateneo Student Exchange Council support One Smile PH

Ateneo ENTABLADO and the Ateneo Student Exchange Council have endorsed One Smile PH in its donation drive to purchase PPE for frontline workers and to facilitate relief operations and rehabilitation opportunities for indigent communities. One Smile PH hopes to raise Php 1,000,000 by getting 1,000 people to donate Php 1,000 each. As of April 27, they have donated a total of Php 91,170 to the Cainta LGU and to different hospitals around the country. Those who wish to help may do so through this form. 

11. Ateneo Management Association endorses kapitkAMAy 

The Ateneo Management Association (AMA) has endorsed kapitkAMAy, a fundraising initiative by AMA alumni that provides financial assistance to local farmers in the mountain province. Due to the pandemic, they lack the means to sell their fresh produce in markets. However, AMA aims to purchase, transport, and use their fresh produce to cook food for frontline workers in cooperation with MAD Market and Let’s Eat Pare. To accomplish this, AMA hopes to raise Php 250,000. Those who wish to donate may do so by referring to this infographic.

12. Ateneo Management Economics Organization spearheads donation drive for frontline workers

On April 6, the Ateneo Management Economics Organization (MECO) spearheaded a donation drive to raise funds for frontline workers and assist them in addressing their needs amidst the pandemic. The donations will be given in the form of water, food, and PPE through MECO’s partner beneficiaries: Hope in a Bottle, Frontliners PH, and Sylk Clothing. As of April 23, MECO was able to raise a total of Php 33,600, which was used to purchase 1,120 water bottles, 131 food packages, and 41 PPE gowns for frontline workers. Those who wish to donate may do so by referring to this infographic.