PRESS RELEASE: REFORM Alliance Receiving $10 Million from Jack Dorsey’s #startsmall to Provide COVID-19 Protection to Every Prison and Jail In America
New York, NY — Today, REFORM Alliance announced that it will receive a $10 million donation from Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey’s #startsmall. The funds will help bolster COVID-19 relief efforts and deliver personal protective equipment (PPE) to every prison and jail facility in America.
With the donation, REFORM will purchase and deliver more than 10 million masks — along with other PPE — to prisons across all 50 states. The goal is to help ensure that the incarcerated population, correctional officers, healthcare workers and personnel working in state, federal and private facilities are protected from COVID-19 exposure. REFORM will work with each state to identify specific PPE needs and allocate them accordingly.
Of the Top-10 COVID-19 hotspots in the United States, eight are linked to prisons and jails. The largest COVID-19 cluster in the country is at Marion Correctional Institution in Marion, Ohio, where there are 2,197 infected inmates — more than 80 percent of the prison’s population. To date, over 5,000 correctional officers nationwide have tested positive for the virus as well.
The donation coincides with the release of REFORM’s moving #AnswerTheirCall film that can be viewed by clicking here. The short PSA highlights how COVID-19 is ravaging prisons and threatening to turn prison sentences into death sentences for the 2.3 million people behind bars. Of that total, there are roughly 95,000 people incarcerated for nonviolent, technical probation violations, such as being late to a probation appointment or filing inaccurate paperwork. REFORM partnered with creative agency Droga5 to develop the film, which amplifies the voices of real people behind bars.
Dorsey will be among several influencers that will post the video throughout the day, urging their followers to sign a digital petition and calling for elected officials to enact legislative change.
“I’m grateful REFORM exists,” Dorsey said. “The criminal justice system needs to change. COVID-19 adds to the injustices, and REFORM is best suited to help.”
“This generous donation from Jack and #startsmall is an absolute game-changer,” REFORM Alliance CEO Van Jones said. “Not only will this gift help us protect millions from the threat of COVID-19, but this level of support from a tech titan marks a turning point for the criminal justice reform movement. It’s truly an honor to call Jack an ally in this fight, be able to provide masks to every prison in America and potentially save tens of thousands of lives.”
#startsmall’s donation will be included in its opensource document, which publicly highlights the financial grants that the organization has provided to groups combatting the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, REFORM will create and unveil a similar public log, outlining the number of masks allocated to each state and the state representative responsible for disseminating the masks to all prisons.
REFORM previously partnered with Madonna’s Ray of Light Foundation, apparel company Pair of Thieves, New York Times-bestselling author Shaka Senghor, The Bail Project, The Dosberg Fund, Operation LIPSTICK and #cut50 to send and distribute 200,000 surgical masks to Rikers Island, the Tennessee Department of Corrections, the Louisiana Department of Corrections, the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, Vacaville Prison, FCI Ray Brook and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department in Massachusetts.
“Jack Dorsey is a hero — he’s helping give the incarcerated population a megaphone and REFORM the resources to answer their call,” REFORM President and Chief Growth Officer Bob Pilon said. “#startsmall’s investment in REFORM is bigger than REFORM — it’s a statement that the criminal justice reform movement is gaining momentum. Today, we can imagine a much more fair and just America because of #startsmall and our team can’t be more grateful.”
Additionally, the REFORM Alliance’s SAFER plan has provided the policy framework to help free more than 30,000 people who were incarcerated to create space for social distancing inside. REFORM is working closely with two dozen governors and their Departments of Corrections to adopt and implement the plan to protect those living inside and those working inside prisons and jails.
About REFORM Alliance
The REFORM Alliance is committed to advancing criminal justice reform and eradicating laws and policies that perpetuate injustice in the United States. To achieve that objective, REFORM will pass probation bills at the state level, use media to amplify the need for comprehensive reform and build an inclusive, bipartisan alliance of leaders who share a vision for ambitiously and efficiently transforming the criminal justice system.
REFORM’s founding partners include award-winning recording artist Meek Mill; Philadelphia 76ers partner and Fanatics Executive Chairman Michael Rubin; entrepreneur and business mogul Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter; Kraft Group CEP and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft; Brooklyn Nets co-owner and philanthropic investor Clara Wu Tsai; Third Point LLC CEO and founder Daniel S. Loeb;Galaxy Digital CEO and founder Michael E. Novogratz; Vista Equity Partners founder, chairman, and CEO Robert F. Smith; Arnold Ventures co-founder Laura Arnold. CNN host, author and activist Van Jones serves as the organization’s CEO.
About #STARTSMALL
#startsmall is Jack Dorsey’s philanthropic initiative to fund global COVID-19 relief, girls health and education, and efforts towards Universal Basic Income (UBI). Dorsey transferred $1 billion (28% of his wealth) to #startsmall in 2020.
