Band of Heroes: Celebrating Great Initiatives From Our Partners During The Month of July

It’s a new month of #BandofHeroes, celebrating positive news from our partners as we navigate uncertain times. This week's spotlight is on HP, Apple, and Under Armour, and the ways these FlipGive favorites continue to serve and support communities across North America.

Under Armour Engineers a First-of-its-Kind Performance Mask to Equip Athletes Returning to Training

For months now, we have all been practicing social distancing and wondering what the return to sport is going to look like. As we all go back to our seasons and training outside of the home, it's important that we ensure that we do it as safely as possible. That's where Under Armour took the lead by manufacturing a mask that is meant to keep athletes safe in the most comfortable way. 

Under Armour's innovation team engineered the UA SPORTSMASK in record time. It is a reusable, water-resistant performance face mask designed for maximum breathability. This first-of-its-kind mask functions to reduce the spread of respiratory droplets by the wearer. The top of the mask features a moldable nose-bridge to help secure it in place and mitigate airflow to the eyes, helping to prevent glasses from fogging. It can also be washed and dried, making it more eco-friendly than many single-use, disposable options. 

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Apple teams up with HBCUs to bring coding and creativity opportunities to communities across the US

Apple announced this month that it is deepening its existing partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), adding 10 more HBCU regional coding centers that will serve as technology hubs for their campuses and broader communities. This effort is part of Apple’s Community Education Initiative, designed to bring coding, creativity, and workforce development opportunities to learners of all ages.

Last month, Apple launched a new Racial Equity and Justice Initiative focused on challenging systemic barriers to opportunity for communities of color by advancing education, economic equality, and criminal justice reform efforts.

”Apple is committed to working alongside communities of color to advance educational equity,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. “We see this expansion of our Community Education Initiative and partnership with HBCUs as another step toward helping Black students realize their dreams and solve the problems of tomorrow.”

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HP Donates D300e BioPrinters to NGOs, Universities, and Research Institutions to Accelerate Drug and Vaccine Research to Combat COVID‐19

 HP Inc. announced the deployment of HP D300e BioPrinters, associated supply cassettes, and training, free of charge, to research laboratories in the U.S. and Europe to help accelerate drug and vaccine research to combat COVID-19.

“Each of us has a role to play to combat this pandemic, and HP and the HP Foundation have donated millions of dollars in products and grants to support local communities impacted by COVID-19 worldwide,” said Annette Friskopp, Global Head and General Manager, Specialty Printing Systems, HP Inc. “We are inspired by the research being conducted by laboratories worldwide to better understand this pandemic, and if the HP D300e BioPrinter in the hands of these scientists can help accelerate their drug and vaccine research, it’s our responsibility to step forward and dedicate resources and technology to make it happen.” 

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