We were so excited to connect with Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals, and his wife, Heather Zimmerman, to discuss their newly launched organization Pros for Heroes, a campaign to assist healthcare workers on the frontline fighting COVID-19.
Heather and Ryan were at home wondering how they could help people during the pandemic, and after asking a doctor friend what they could do to help, the Zimmermans learned that one of the biggest needs for hospitals right now is meals for the ICU staff. So on Easter weekend, they provided 150 meals a day to healthcare workers in the Northern Virginia region, and then quickly ramped up to now providing 500 meals a day. The couple and other professional athletes have also been conducting Zoom calls with healthcare workers to say thank you for the work they are doing.
At the time of our taping, Pros for Heroes was only 72 hours old, and they had raised over $300,000. The campaign has spread so fast that now Pros for Heroes is able to also provide health care professionals with tools they need to stay safe, including supplies, reliable equipment, and more.
"The outpouring of support from the local community has been absolutely amazing," said Heather. "You see that there are so many people in this area that are looking for a way to help and obviously our frontline healthcare workers are number one. They are putting their lives at risk every day to keep the COVID patients healthy and keep themselves healthy as well."
The Zimmermans have big goals for Pros for Heroes and hope to expand beyond the DC region soon. They are accepting donations for anyone from anywhere, and are willing to put money towards a hospital that people request. They recently partnered with First Responders First in an effort to spread the Pros for Heroes Program nationwide.
You can learn more about Pros for Heroes by clicking here.