Here’s What You Need to Know: Record numbers of healthcare workers are experiencing distress, anxiety and depression as they work to battle COVID-19. The VF Foundation will match your donations for HERO RECHARGE, an outdoor adventure program specifically designed to bring a welcome, healing break to frontline workers.

Frontline healthcare workers and first responders have become our heroes in the fight against COVID-19. They toil daily among the critically ill to help save lives, watch too many patients die and put their own safety and health at risk to help others.

It is no surprise that a new study by the Journal of the American Medical Association found the pandemic has taken a heavy toll on healthcare employees' psychological health. About 72% of those surveyed reported symptoms of distress. Depression was reported by 50%, followed by anxiety (45%) and insomnia (34%). Female healthcare workers have been particularly impacted.

To offer a moment of relief, the VF Foundation is working to give healthcare workers an opportunity to decompress in the great outdoors.

The Foundation is matching every associate donation, up to $50,000, to support HERO RECHARGE, an outdoor adventure program designed specifically for healthcare workers and first responders on the front lines of the pandemic.

“Now more than ever our healthcare heroes deserve the opportunity to experience beautiful, wild places and decompress from this months-long crisis,” said Gloria Schoch, Director of the VF Foundation. “VF and its family of brands firmly believe in nature’s power to nurture us all, physically and psychologically. The VF Foundation is excited to support a program that extends the healing power of adventure to these devoted caregivers.”

Developed by First Descents (FD) of Denver, HERO RECHARGE a is non-profit global leader in adventure programs. For 20 years, FD has provided young adults impacted by cancer and other serious illnesses with exhilarating challenges such as riding the rapids and climbing rock walls.

Now FD is tailoring a program for COVID’s front line workers. Since launching in late April, HERO RECHARGE has received more than 10,000 inquiries from healthcare workers and first responders nationwide.

“We are thrilled to have the VF Foundation join First Descents and the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation to help accelerate this important crowdfunding campaign,” said Ryan O’Donoghue, Executive Director of FD. "The need is great, and this generous challenge match will help drive the grassroots funding needed to serve more healthcare workers.”  

Learn more about the program and how you can help, click here.