700,000 Masks Donated to Small Businesses, Schools, First Responders
Across Southern California
The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Foundation received an unprecedented gift of one million face masks last week and has donated 700,000 masks to small businesses, schools, and medical first responders in Southern California for use amid the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
The three-ply, disposable blue face masks are the generous donation of New York City businessman Long Deng, President of iFresh, Inc.
Working with over 30 chambers of commerce in Orange County, the masks were distributed broadly to hundreds of local small businesses to alleviate financial burdens as essential businesses continue to operate and nonessential businesses reopen.
Theresa Harvey, President & CEO of the North Orange County Chamber of Commerce, said: “The North Orange Chamber is honored to partner with the Nixon Foundation to provide masks to our essential workers. Businesses that will benefit include those throughout the region including healthcare providers, community colleges, restaurants, and more.”
Scott Alevy, President & CEO of the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce, said: “The Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce has been a resource of valuable and timely information for the South Orange County business community throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. People look to us for vital resources. We are very grateful for the generous donation of health-protective face masks that were provided by the Richard Nixon Foundation.”
In addition, more than 20,000 masks were distributed to Orange County public, private and charter schools by the Orange County Department of Education, as schools implement plans to reopen and begin in-person instruction again.
Al Mijares, Orange County Superintendent of Schools, said: “The Nixon Library is a historical treasure in our county and has been frequented by many educators and students in our county and beyond. Thank you for the contributions that the Foundation and the Library have made to our schools.”
The Nixon Foundation is working with the American Red Cross and individual hospitals for additional distribution to medical centers and first responders.
300,000 masks will be housed at the Nixon Library and used when the Library reopens to visitors. Adhering to California state mandates, masks will be distributed to every visitor to the Library’s permanent galleries, special exhibitions, and public or privately-contracted events, which only occur as allowed by the Orange County Health Agency.
Those organizations receiving masks include:
- Orange County Board of Education
- Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce
- North Orange County Chamber of Commerce
- Orange City Chamber of Commerce
- Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce
- Brea Chamber of Commerce
- Aliso Viejo Chamber of Commerce
- California State University, Fullerton
- Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce
- Crittendon Family Services
- Cypress Chamber of Commerce
- Dana Point Chamber of Commerce
- La Habra Chamber of Commerce
- Laguna Hills Chamber of Commerce
- Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce
- Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce
- Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce
- Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce
- Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce
- Placentia Chamber of Commerce
- San Clemente Chamber of Commerce
- San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce
- St. Joseph Health
- Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce
- Tustin Chamber of Commerce
- Friendship Baptist Church
- OC Black Chamber of Chamber
- Orange County Business Council
- Orange County Fire Chiefs
- Providence St. Joseph
- Roundtree Gardens
- American Red Cross
- Senior Living Group
- Saddleback Church Yorba Linda
This is the latest in a series of bold initiatives taken by the Nixon Library and Foundation to aid those on the front lines of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, despite having been closed as an institution for nearly six months.
Since March, the Nixon Library has hosted 16 blood drives in “America’s Grand Ballroom,” the Library’s exact replica of the White House East Room, resulting in 962 usable units of blood, amounting to potentially 2,886 lives saved.
The Nixon Foundation also partnered with Saddleback Church Yorba Linda to host three grocery distribution drives in the Library’s parking lot; more than 60,000 pounds of groceries were gathered and distributed to over 1,000 families.
Photo: Nixon Foundation Executive Vice President Jim Byron and U.S. Chinese Chamber of Commerce CEO Jack Fang receive the masks at the Nixon Presidential Library.