One of the fast-growing video-apps, TikTok has pledged the sum of $250 million to support communities in the fight against coronavirus.
The Beijing based firm is expected to release the fund to assist frontline workers, educators and local communities affected by the pandemic.
While some of the funds would be contributed to major health organizations like CDC Foundation and World Health Organization (WHO), the remaining would be used to help individuals and small businesses.
The company made this known in a statement released and signed by TikTok President, Alex Zhu.
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With this development, TikTok joins other tech firms like Google, Facebook and Apple to contribute towards combatting the disease.
“We are committed to playing our part in that global outpouring of mutual support and giving. We want to magnify all we are seeing across our community and translate it into concrete relief for those most affected by this crisis,” Zhu said.
Breakdown of the fund: The $250 million relief fund is grouped into three parts. They are TikTok Health Heroes Relief Fund, TikTok Community Relief Fund and TikTok Creative Learning Fund.
While the TikTok Health Heroes Relief Fund entails the China-based firm contributing $15 million to CDC and $10 million to the WHO COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, the TikTok Community Relief Fund would be used to help vulnerable communities impacted by COVID-19.
Lastly, the TikTok Creative Learning Fund is for educators, professional experts and nonprofits organizations.
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In addition to the $250 million pledge, TikTok would commit $25 million in adverts to help trusted organizations deliver crucial public health information as well as $100 million in advertising credits for businesses who are looking to rebuild during this period.
“We understand that these are challenging times for everyone. Alongside businesses, governments, NGOs, and ordinary people across the globe stepping up in this critical moment, we are committed to offering the very best that we can to help out humanity.
“Together, we will persevere through this time of crisis and emerge a better community and part of a world that we fervently hope will be more united in common purpose than it was before,” Zhu added.
