ATLANTA (August 5, 2020) — As COVID-19 interrupted international supply chains for personal protective equipment and other resources needed by hospitals throughout the world, creative and innovative partnerships began to emerge, including one between the Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia (ABC) and Grady Health System. This partnership has resulted in a steady supply of protective gowns for Grady’s trauma center.
“As the impact of the pandemic was growing in Georgia, we learned that the Tyvek we were using in construction could be used to protect front line health care workers. We quickly realized that this could be a meaningful way for our industry to do our part to keep Georgians healthy and safe,” commented Brett Fortune, head of construction for Katerra Construction – Southeast and former Chairman of Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia.
The Tyvek gowns are one of many innovative solutions being employed at Grady, where the safety of employees and patients remains the highest priority. Once it became clear that Tyvek would be a viable option, members of the health system’s procurement team identified additional partners to cut patterns for and assemble the gowns, ensuring both a quality product and a reliable delivery schedule.
“One of the bright lights over the past several months has been the incredible generosity of organizations like the Associated Builders and Contractors and their members. Not only do the resources and funds contributed ensure we have the supplies we need, they send a strong signal to healthcare workers on the front lines that the community cares,” added Joselyn Baker, president of the Grady Health Foundation.
Contributions from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia included both in-kind donations of Tyvek and monetary contributions used to secure additional supplies. ABC members contributed more than $37,000 and thanks to the generous match by Vic Verma, Founder of Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing, the total amounts to nearly $75,000. These contributions resulted in more than 8,300 gowns for Grady healthcare workers.
“Our company has been a member of ABC for several years in multiple states, so I have had the opportunity to see firsthand how the organization connects the various disciplines of construction to benefit our industry and the states in which Alpha operates,” said Vic Verma, Founder of Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing (an IBP Company). “The Tyvek gown initiative is a perfect example of this, so I was honored to provide matching funds from the Pranan Foundation, which our family founded to support community efforts that are close to me and my family”.
“We are humbled by the outpouring generosity of ABC member companies to help with this important cause,” says Bill Anderson, CAE, LEED AP, President & CEO of ABC of Georgia. “Our members fully understand that pulling our resources together as an industry association can have a much great impact than any of our members could do alone.”
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About The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Georgia
The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Georgia is a network of companies and professionals in the develop-design-build industry. ABC of Georgia’s vision is to be the most inclusive develop-design-build alliance in Georgia. ABC a national construction industry trade association established in 1950 that represents more than 21,000 members.
About Grady Health Foundation
The Grady Health Foundation supports the Grady Health System achieve its vision of becoming the leading public academic healthcare system in the United States, by funding and accelerating capital renovation, advanced medical technology and equipment, and clinical programs. For more information, visit www.gradyhealthfoundation.org.