For the Best of Us

Please allow me to take just a moment to tell you about something that's given me so much hope in the last few weeks.

In a time when countless people are concerned about their futures, I’ve been lucky enough to stay busy working with a team of people on something over the last several weeks that I want to share with you. Because this seems like the best time to share our humanity with one another.

Our FirstNet partners at AT&T and our media partners at iHeartMedia have joined forces to launch a charity concert series beginning tonight (and for the next several weeks) called First Responder Fridays. We kick things off at 7:00pm ET with the crazy-talented Lewis Capaldi. 

All efforts here will drive toward a solitary goal – thanking and supporting policemen, firefighters, EMT and hospital workers, and all of their families. The money raised and contributed by these organizations, artists, and you will go directly toward feeding First Responders across our country with the help of a number of different charitable organizations. 

Further details on how you can help below, if you’re able.

Now, I want to tell you a little about getting here. We’ve been working with such a passionate and driven group of folks from across many organizations. An endeavor that normally takes months and months of planning and adjusting has been done in a matter days and weeks. These are really good people. People that genuinely care about First Responders, many of whom have family, friends, and loved ones that are First Responders on the front lines of this healthcare crisis.

I’m so proud of the work our YAH team, led by Chris Baumgartner, has done to get so many complex logistics worked through with our partners at AT&T and iHeartMedia. I can tell you with great confidence that everyone involved is completely focused on the goal of making sure that this helps our First Responder community. They continue to be our ongoing inspiration to get this off of the ground. 

As there often seems to be quite a bit of negativity out there as it relates to corporate America, I think it’s also important to call out the passion, dedication, and drive of our AT&T partners Amy Bailey, Nicole Lechner, Adrian Coleman, Lynnee Hopson, and all of their leadership and support teams. The same is true of our iHeart partners, including Kyle Blank, Brian Marre, Tom Poleman, Katherine Wegert and so many others. This kind of thing doesn’t happen unless people care enough to keep pushing to the finish line. These organizations genuinely want to help, and are doing everything they can to provide that help as quickly as possible. Thank you all for your ongoing kindness, good humor, and long days through this. 

I want to mention as well that we know there are so many people bravely moving forward during this overwhelming time in the world – truck drivers, warehouse workers, retail workers, food service workers, teachers, and many, many more. We thank them as well. Thank you!

But let us start here, with those that are perhaps most committed to helping carry us through - our policemen, firefighters, EMT and hospital workers, and all of their families. We start here because they have devoted themselves and their lives to chipping away at the dangers that surround us daily. They are here, have been here, and will continue to push forward in their pursuit of lifting the rest of us up, every single moment of every day. In such an uncertain world, where we’re all scared, they are a constant force for hope.

Thank you so much! We wish only that the work here brings at least a few moments of relief, comfort, and joy to you all. There's much more work ahead for us all, but let's go fight together.

In honor and support of these first responders and medical professionals, AT&T is committing $5.5 million to provide much needed support in the form of nourishing meals through World Central Kitchen, Feeding America, Salvation Army and Team Rubicon. Through “iHeartRadio’s First Responder Fridays with FirstNet, Built with AT&T,” iHeartMedia, AT&T and its FirstNet program hope to raise even more money by encouraging listeners and viewers to support these four amazing organizations. 

Everyone who is able can Text TOGETHER to 20222 to donate $10 to support these four amazing organizations.