BRONX RISING INITIATIVE
IS A CALL TO ACTION
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Bronx County, New York has become one of the most infected counties in America. Our low-income and under-insured neighbors are constantly neglected and are struggling more than ever to receive testing and treatment. We will not sit back and wait for the resources we need while our community is infected at alarming and disproportionate rates.
We deserve access to high quality and equitable resources.
That is what the Bronx Rising Initiative (BRI) is fighting for!
BRI is an initiative powered by 'The Oyate Group' a 501(c)3 that was founded by Tomas Ramos in 2018.
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Our Goal
“At a time when we are faced with a crisis of this magnitude, it is clear that our community needs help. Local clinics and hospitals are not equipped to address this pandemic. This is the reason why I started BRI, it is a call to action that leads to a tangible outcome. This is only the beginning, we are working to secure more financial resources for other hospitals and clinics in the coming weeks.”
-TOMAS RAMOS, Founder
A LAYERED APPROACH
phase 1: "The Fight For Our Frontlines"
"Our hospitals are our first line of defense and offense for fighting the COVID-19 virus, The Bronx healthcare system was already overwhelmed - BRI's Phase 1 is about fighting for our hospitals and saving lives."
- Tomas Ramos
$1,130,000 for
Saint Barnabas Hospital
Tomas Ramos met with leaders from St. Barnabas Hospital (SBH) to discuss how the facility could increase its ICU bed capacity. During the meeting, SBH laid out a plan that would more than double the department’s 26 beds, which would increase the Bronx’s overall ICU bed supply by 13% at a time when the borough’s residents need it most.
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$1,714,000 for
BronxCare
On March 20th, Ramos presented Bronx Care leadership with a check for $1,714,000 to propel their ICU expansion in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak. The funds will also allow the hospital to assign over a dozen full-time nurses and specialists to this new space. In addition to the check, BRI worked to get 10,000 N95 medical-grade breathing masks to help protect BCHS employees from exposure to the virus.
$100,000 for
Morris Heights
Health Center
On Friday, March 13th, Tomas and the BRI team met with administrative leaders from the Morris Heights Health Center to present their organization with a check for $100,000. These funds are being provided so their organization can increase efforts to combat COVID-19.
$100,000 for
Urban Health Plan
Tomas Ramos spoke with Paloma Hernandez, the President and CEO of Urban Health Plan, and presented her organization with a check for $100,000 to combat the COVID-19 outbreak locally. BRI also donated a few hundred N-95 medical-grade breathing masks to help protect Urban Health Plan’s employees from exposure to the virus.
