As Greater Boston faces one of the biggest public health crises in its history — with schools shuttering, businesses running remotely, and health care workers bracing for a spike in patients — leaders in the city’s business and philanthropic communities are stepping up to help those who stand to be hurt the most. On Monday, the City of Boston will announce a new fund to assist families affected by the sprawling coronavirus outbreak.
According to sources familiar with the plans, the city has already tapped Jack Connors, one of Boston’s most prolific fund-raisers; Partners, the state’s largest health care provider; and one of the city’s most prominent executives, Vertex CEO Jeff Leiden, to help drive the effort. Leiden has been working with Mayor Martin J. Walsh of Boston to launch the fund over the last few days, sources close to the plans said, and Vertex will commit $1 million to help seed the fund. Connors and Partners also committed $1 million, and other donors, including Mass Mutual, the Gross Family Foundation, Bain Capital, John and Cindy Fish did as well.