CHICAGO, July 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE:
BA] today completed its 12th COVID-19 transport mission,
using a Boeing Dreamlifter to bring personal protective equipment
(PPE) to the United States.
Working in partnership with the state of Utah, Atlas Air Worldwide, H.M. Cole,
Cotopaxi, Flexport and UPS, the company transported 500,000
protective face masks bound for students and teachers across
Utah returning to classrooms this
fall. The state of Utah will
distribute the face masks free of charge to school districts across
the state with the greatest need.
As part of this mission, H.M. Cole, a custom clothing store,
donated 250,000 masks – with 100,000 of those masks sized for
children. Cotopaxi, an outdoor gear brand based in Salt Lake City, donated an additional 250,000
masks and converted one of its jacket manufacturers for temporary
face mask production. Boeing donated the cost of the mission
transport into Utah, with Atlas
Air operating the flight on behalf of Boeing. Flexport and UPS
helped coordinate customs assistance for the PPE shipment.
"As students return to school this fall, it will be important
that they have masks available," said Utah Gov. Gary R.
Herbert. "We thank Boeing and these partners for everything
they've done to support our 'A Mask for Every Utahn' initiative and
make it possible for our students to have these masks and help keep
Utahns safe."
"As a Benefit Corporation, we're believers that businesses have
a duty to utilize their influence and resources to positively
impact the world," said Davis Smith,
Cotopaxi Founder & CEO. "We are proud to partner with the state
of Utah and Boeing to help our
hometown community as we fight this pandemic. Face masks are one of
the key tools the public has to slow the spread of the coronavirus,
and we're thrilled that our efforts can help teachers and students
safely get back in the classroom."
Similar to previous airlift missions facilitated by Boeing, the
Dreamlifter – a converted Boeing 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter –
flew the mission with the face masks stored in the lower lobe of
the airplane. Following the delivery in Salt Lake City, the Dreamlifter will return to
its home base in North Charleston, South
Carolina, for a 787 components delivery in support of the
global aerospace supply chain.
"Boeing is proud to continue to use our resources to help stop
the spread of COVID-19," said David
Calhoun, Boeing President and CEO. "Today's delivery, our
12th COVID-19 response airlift mission, expands our support of
essential workers to include teachers and their students across the
state of Utah so they have the
protective tools they need to safely and confidently return to
their classrooms."
To date, Boeing has helped transport more than four million
units of PPE – including the in-house production of more than
39,000 3D-printed face shields – to frontline health care
professionals and communities in need.
Contact:
Boeing Communications
media@boeing.com
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SOURCE Boeing