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During the current pandemic we’re facing, everyone’s doing what they can to try and help one another. That means we’re (hopefully) practicing social distancing and staying at home. It means we’re avoiding hoarding groceries and supplies from stores. It means our generosity, leadership and good will is being shown when can — and the sportswear company Fanatics is stepping up in a big way to show some of theirs.
Known for being an officially licensed retailer of things like NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB gear, among other stuff, Fanatics is taking a step back from producing some of their typical things to give back during the coronavirus outbreak. With masks and gowns in hospitals limited — putting those on the front lines at risk of contracting the virus — the company decided to use some of the fabric they had been using for MLB uniforms to make essentials for doctors and nurses helping patients.
Obviously, this is an all-time dope move, and the founder of the sports retailer, Michael Rubin, shared on Twitter how the idea came to be, and how they plan to donate the masks and gowns to those needing them the most in hospitals.
(Thread):
Woke up in the middle of the night last week with idea of converting our @Fanatics factory in PA that makes official @MLB jerseys into a facility that makes much needed masks and gowns and then donating them to help fight this horrendous virus. pic.twitter.com/r6FAxUdlgH
— Michael Rubin (@michaelrubin) March 26, 2020
This past weekend PA Governor @GovernorTomWolf and Attorney General @PAAttorneyGen each called me saying they desperately needed help getting masks and gowns to the frontline workers across PA.
— Michael Rubin (@michaelrubin) March 26, 2020
Fast forward to today – @Fanatics and @MLB have halted production of all MLB jerseys and instead using that same fabric we make the jerseys with to make masks and gowns!! We have approx 100 associates working (extra distanced and in a very clean and safe environment of course) pic.twitter.com/E8ewI0REfn
— Michael Rubin (@michaelrubin) March 26, 2020
and plan to make one million masks and gowns then immediately donate and distribute them to hospitals and emergency management personnel across PA with the goal of extending this to NJ and NY – the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the US!!
— Michael Rubin (@michaelrubin) March 26, 2020
Thanks to @MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred for not only agreeing to halting production of MLB jerseys, but also doing everything possible to make this happen as quickly as possible!!
— Michael Rubin (@michaelrubin) March 26, 2020
And thanks to our incredible associates who raised their hands and wanted to be part of the effort to help the frontline heroes in this war stem the spread of the virus!! pic.twitter.com/GcZXTTcraq
— Michael Rubin (@michaelrubin) March 26, 2020
An absolute brilliant plan by Fanatics, and an A+ gesture that speaks to the leadership of the entire company. Here’s to hoping these masks and gowns can help keep those in hospitals safe while they’re treating patients with the deadly virus.
Of course, the only dilemma now is which MLB team’s colors hospital workers want to wear most, the Philadelphia Phillies or the New York Yankees, as this is the official fabric that Fanatics will use when making the masks and gowns. Assuming we’ve got a near-outbreak on our hands, something tells me team allegiances will be put aside in order to stay safe and healthy.