Google Donates $800 Million in Cash and Ads To Fight Coronavirus (blog.google) 22
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, announcing in a blog post: As the coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen around the world, it's taking a devastating toll on lives and communities. To help address some of these challenges, today we're announcing a new $800+ million commitment to support small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), health organizations and governments, and health workers on the frontline of this global pandemic. Our commitment includes:
$250 million in ad grants to help the World Health Organization (WHO) and more than 100 government agencies globally provide critical information on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other measures to help local communities. This is an increase from our initial $25 million announced last month. In addition, we're providing $20 million in ad grants to community financial institutions and NGOs specifically to run public service announcements on relief funds and other resources for SMBs.
A $200 million investment fund that will support NGOs and financial institutions around the world to help provide small businesses with access to capital. As one example, we're working with the Opportunity Finance Network in the U.S. to help fill gaps in financing for people and communities underserved by mainstream financial institutions. This is in addition to the $15 million in cash grants Google.org is already providing to nonprofits to help bridge these gaps for SMBs.
$340 million in Google Ads credits available to all SMBs with active accounts over the past year. Credit notifications will appear in their Google Ads accounts and can be used at any point until the end of 2020 across our advertising platforms. We hope it will help to alleviate some of the cost of staying in touch with their customers.
A pool of $20 million in Google Cloud credits for academic institutions and researchers to leverage our computing capabilities and infrastructure as they study potential therapies and vaccines, track critical data, and identify new ways to combat COVID-19. Learn how to apply for credits on the Google for Education site.
Direct financial support and expertise to help increase the production capacity for personal protective equipment (PPE) and lifesaving medical devices. We're working with our longtime supplier and partner Magid Glove & Safety, with the goal of ramping up production of 2-3 million face masks in the coming weeks that will be provided to the CDC Foundation. Additionally, employees from across Alphabet, including Google, Verily and X, are bringing engineering, supply chain and healthcare expertise to facilitate increased production of ventilators, working with equipment manufacturers, distributors and the government in this effort.
$250 million in ad grants to help the World Health Organization (WHO) and more than 100 government agencies globally provide critical information on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other measures to help local communities. This is an increase from our initial $25 million announced last month. In addition, we're providing $20 million in ad grants to community financial institutions and NGOs specifically to run public service announcements on relief funds and other resources for SMBs.
A $200 million investment fund that will support NGOs and financial institutions around the world to help provide small businesses with access to capital. As one example, we're working with the Opportunity Finance Network in the U.S. to help fill gaps in financing for people and communities underserved by mainstream financial institutions. This is in addition to the $15 million in cash grants Google.org is already providing to nonprofits to help bridge these gaps for SMBs.
$340 million in Google Ads credits available to all SMBs with active accounts over the past year. Credit notifications will appear in their Google Ads accounts and can be used at any point until the end of 2020 across our advertising platforms. We hope it will help to alleviate some of the cost of staying in touch with their customers.
A pool of $20 million in Google Cloud credits for academic institutions and researchers to leverage our computing capabilities and infrastructure as they study potential therapies and vaccines, track critical data, and identify new ways to combat COVID-19. Learn how to apply for credits on the Google for Education site.
Direct financial support and expertise to help increase the production capacity for personal protective equipment (PPE) and lifesaving medical devices. We're working with our longtime supplier and partner Magid Glove & Safety, with the goal of ramping up production of 2-3 million face masks in the coming weeks that will be provided to the CDC Foundation. Additionally, employees from across Alphabet, including Google, Verily and X, are bringing engineering, supply chain and healthcare expertise to facilitate increased production of ventilators, working with equipment manufacturers, distributors and the government in this effort.
Cool (Score:4, Interesting)
More ads. Where do I send the thank you card?
Re: (Score:3)
More ads. Where do I send the thank you card?
Well without all of the ads how would anyone know about covid19 or the pandemic?
Re: Cool (Score:1)
Don't forget this part:
"A $200 million investment fund that will support NGOs and financial institutions"
More ads, more bureaucrats, and more bankers. Yay. Winning!
Re: (Score:2)
More ads. Where do I send the thank you card?
They are just trying to keep the exactly regular (comfortable) level of ads for you :)
Perhaps the ad market demand had dropped due to non-essential businesses closing?
If you see too few ads for a while, you might get used to it.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
Western politicians admit they can't stop shaking each other's hands.
There will be plenty of blame to spread around when it comes time to do that.
800 Million in... (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
translation: Google prints own money to fight coronavirus, somehow.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:3)
Let's not forget that 800 million represents about 1 tenth of the taxes they should have paid and corruptly avoided by off shoring profit centres to tax havens. Ohh so fucking generous Google, they are truly a disgustingly evil corporation.
YouTube ads? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Those things are like wack-a-mole with Google. They figure out a way to block a Google add, Google figures out a way around, rinse and repeat.
I, too, find it annoying when I get YouTube ads. I feel guilty for using YouTube. It's the one Google service I can't seem to shake (for non-work purpose—unfortunately I have to go through Google for work all the time; it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth but I'm just grateful we're not using Office 365).
Re: (Score:2)
You can't only block Google's ADD, you also have to block their SUB, DIV, MUL, INC and DEC.
It's not really free adverts (Score:2)
Not sure how this'll work, but it wouldn't surprise me to find this has tax advantages to Google too...
What's the old saying? Trust but Verify? Also "Don't Trust Over 30" comes to mind these days.
Re: (Score:2)
They say to never look a gift horse in the mouth, but when the horse was given to you by Odysseus it's probably a good idea.
"Free Adverts" cost Google nothing (Score:2)
How in the ... (Score:2)
Thanks to the state of advertising. (Score:2)
Thank you, Google! (Score:2)
$800 million is nothing (Score:1)
If I donate $5 to a charity, it doesn't make the news. Conversely, Google donating $800 million shouldn't make the news either.
Come back to me when they donate $80 billion.