Northwell Health has established the COVID-19 Emergency Fund along with a community fund-raising website to support the healthcare system’s response effort.

“With the support of people in our communities, we can fulfill our mission to tackle the most difficult healthcare challenge of our time,” Northwell Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer Brian Lally said Monday. “Every donation, big or small, makes a difference. Together we can beat this invisible enemy.”

Nassau County resident Adam Lilling found out he had tested positive for the coronavirus on his 40th birthday, Northwell said.  After fighting the virus at North Shore University Hospital, Lilling was discharged.

Lilling was inspired to make an impact on Northwell’s response to the pandemic and took to social media and reached out to his networking group, The Roslyn Dads.  In one week after returning home, Lilling raised more than $10,000 via a donation page through Northwell’s community fund-raising website.

Northwell, New York state’s largest nonprofit healthcare organization with more than 72,000 employees and 23 hospitals, has been on the front lines of the fight against against the pandemic.  

From converting rooms and other facilities into temporary stations for hospital beds to transforming sleep apnea machines into ventilators for patients, Northwell’s efforts have been integral in the state’s response to the coronavirus.

“While much is uncertain, one thing that remains constant is our courageous care team and support staff on the front lines who are working tirelessly each and every day to diagnose, treat and prevent the spread of this outbreak while supporting each other,” Northwell Health’s President and CEO Michael Dowling said.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo praised the work of Dowling and all of Northwell’s staff for their response throughout the pandemic during a visit to Northwell’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research Center in Manhasset Sunday.

“They’ve done an extraordinary job all through this situation,” Cuomo said of the entire Northwell staff. “I want to say to all the people of Northwell who have done extraordinary jobs, thank you so, so much. Thank you for having us today.”

Northwell also spearheaded the efforts for testing, establishing the first drive-thru testing facility throughout the state in New Rochelle.  The organization has also launched three clinical trials for patients who are moderately and severely ill with the coronavirus through Feinstein Institutes, and has provided behavioral health services to front line healthcare workers.

“From the outset, our team members and communities reached out asking how to support our front line caregivers, patients and research,” Lally said. “Now more than ever, the support from our communities is helping us care for the people that need us most,”

More information regarding what others have done to support Northwell and donations can be submitted to https://give.northwell.edu/ or https://www.northwellcovid.com/.