X

Twitter's Jack Dorsey pledges $1B to coronavirus relief, $2.1M to related domestic violence

The donations include $1 million to Masks For The People, an effort to deliver masks and hand sanitizer to minority communities.

Abrar Al-Heeti Technology Reporter
Abrar Al-Heeti is a technology reporter for CNET, with an interest in phones, streaming, internet trends, entertainment, pop culture and digital accessibility. She's also worked for CNET's video, culture and news teams. She graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Though Illinois is home, she now loves San Francisco -- steep inclines and all.
Expertise Abrar has spent her career at CNET analyzing tech trends while also writing news, reviews and commentaries across mobile, streaming and online culture. Credentials
  • Named a Tech Media Trailblazer by the Consumer Technology Association in 2019, a winner of SPJ NorCal's Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2022 and has three times been a finalist in the LA Press Club's National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards.
Abrar Al-Heeti
2 min read
Jack Dorsey

Jack Dorsey has set aside $1 billion to help fight COVID-19. 

Getty Images

Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey said in a tweet on April 7 that he'll move $1 billion of his Square equity to fund relief for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.  After the pandemic passes, he added, the money will fund girls' health and education, as well as universal basic income.

Dorsey shared a Google Sheets link where people can track where the money goes

"Why pull just from Square and not Twitter?" Dorsey wrote in a follow-up tweet. "Simply: I own a lot more Square. And I'll need to pace the sales over some time. The impact this money will have should benefit both companies over the long-term because it's helping the people we want to serve."

Dorsey confirmed on April 13 he has donated $1 million to Masks For The People, an effort to deliver face masks, hand sanitizer and testing kits to the "incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, violence interrupters, elderly in our community, and most vulnerable black and brown loved ones in urban and rural communities."

In addition, Dorsey is co-funding $4.2 million with Rihanna's Clara Lional Foundation for the Mayor's Fund LA "to address the current crisis for domestic violence victims in Los Angeles as a result of the COVID-19 Safer at Home Order," they announced on April 9.

Tech companies that have contributed to COVID-19 relief efforts include Apple, which reportedly doubled its donations to China's fight against the outbreak, and Samsung, which is providing funding and medical supplies as well as donating its phones to quarantined patients. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said it's donating $100 million to coronavirus treatment, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative said it'll give $25 million to help fight COVID-19. Additionally, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is donating $100 million to food banks in the US. 

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.