Mayor Johnson to accept donations from Aga Khan Council, SMU QB on Thursday
DALLAS — Mayor Eric Johnson on Thursday will visit Dallas Fire-Rescue Station 4 to receive two donations intended to help the City respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For media wanting to attend, Station 4 is located at 816 S Akard St, Dallas, TX 75202.
The Aga Khan Council for Central United States, a social governance body of the Ismaili Muslim community, will donate 10,000 surgical masks, 10,000 pairs of gloves, and 1,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to the City of Dallas. Those donations will be distributed to City of Dallas first responders and front-line workers.
“Contributing to the quality of life in the communities in which we live and work is part of the core values of the Ismaili Muslim community,” said Nizar Didarali, President of the Aga Khan Council for the Central United States. “Volunteerism and being contributing citizens are at the forefront of what we do. Therefore, donating 10,000 masks, along with gloves and hand sanitizer to the City of Dallas is but a token of our appreciation to the government and first responders who are working to keep us safe and healthy.”
Mayor Johnson will accept the donation at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Members of Dallas Fire-Rescue and the Dallas Police Department will be on site to accept the donation.
“This donation from the Aga Khan Council for Central United States provides important resources for City of Dallas employees who are bravely working on the front lines of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mayor Johnson said. "The donation also again demonstrates the generosity and strength of our Dallas community in times of crisis."
At 11 a.m. Thursday at the fire station, Mayor Johnson, on behalf of the Mayor's Disaster Relief Fund, will accept a $50,000 check from SMU quarterback Shane Buechele and Paige Vasquez, a Corporate Communications and Events Coordinator for the Dallas Mavericks.
“I was impressed with Shane Buechele’s performance on the field last season for SMU, but I am far more impressed with his commitment to his community here in the city of Dallas,” said Mayor Johnson. “Dallas is a resilient city. We will recover from COVID-19, and the funds raised by Shane and Paige will help us get there.”
Buechele and Vasquez said they decided to raise the money to give back to their community.
“Dallas is home. I grew up here,” Buechele said. “It’s been amazing to see how many people have sent in donations. Everyone wants to help and give back in some way and I’m glad they’re able to do that through the donation page Paige and I started.”
“We are so thankful to be able to hand over this donation to Mayor Johnson, and we appreciate everyone that helped us reach our goal,” Vasquez said.
The Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund committee will meet to decide how the donation will be distributed to help those in need. The Mayor’s committee is chaired by businesswoman and former U.S. Ambassador Jeanne Phillips and includes UT-Southwestern Vice President for Community and Corporate Relations Ruben Esquivel, The Beck Group's Executive Chairman Peter Beck, City Manager T.C. Broadnax, Mayor Johnson's Chief of Staff Mary Elbanna, and Matthew Randazzo, the CEO and President of The Dallas Foundation.
To donate to the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund, which is sponsored by The Dallas Foundation, click here. For more information on COVID-19, visit DallasCityHall.com/coronavirus.
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