▲ SK Battery America’s representatives deliver the masks at Habersham Medical Center on August 24^th (Georgia local time). Bo Hatchett, a Senator of Georgia State (fourth from left) and Tyler Williams, CEO of Habersham Medical Center (fifth from left) attend the event.

The new wave of COVID-19 is endangering the whole world, and the U.S. is not excluded. In the last week of July, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a guidance that recommended indoor mask use in counties with high transmission rates, even for those who were vaccinated.

In Georgia, where SK Innovation’s EV battery gigafactory is located, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has also been surging since the end of July. To help the Georgian communities combat with the ongoing pandemic situation, on August 24^th (Georgia local time) SK Battery America, the U.S. subsidiary of SK Innovation’s battery business, has donated 4,000 face masks to 4 medical centers and hospitals in the state.

▲ (Left) Georgia Senator Bo Hatchett (third from left), and CEO of Stevens County Hospital Ray Leadbetter (second from right) take a commemorative photo with the representatives of SK Battery America, who deliver the masks to Stephens County Hospital in Georgia, USA, on August 24^th (local time) / (Right) A representative of SK Battery America delivers the masks to Elbert Memorial Hospital in Georgia.

The four centers and hospitals that received SK Battery America’s KF94 (the South Korean equivalent of the N95) masks on this day are Elbert Memorial Hospital, Habersham Medical Center, Mountain Lakes Medical, and Stephens County Hospital. Compared to other large chain hospitals, these four were facing more difficulties in obtaining funds to fight against Coronavirus, so the supply of quarantine items including masks was also challenging. Therefore, SK Battery America’s donation of 1,000 masks to each center and hospital is believed to be a timely support from the company.

Ray Leadbetter, CEO of Stephens Country Hospital, who represented the hospital to receive the masks from SK Battery America said, “We are so thankful for our partnership with SK Battery and for their donation to our hospital.” “We’re seeing record high patient volume in our hospital, much of which are patients with COVID-19, and we need every bit of support we can get,” he added.

On behalf of Harbersham Medical Center, CEO Tyler Williams shared his thought after receiving the masks as follows:

Bo Hatchett, a Senator of Georgia State Senate, also met the representatives of SK Battery America during the donation ceremony at the Habersham Medical Center and gave some comments after the event:

This is not the first time that SK Innovation and SK Battery America take part in local supporting activities to battle the pandemic together. Earlier, during the first half of this year, through SK Battery America, the company delivered a total of 6,000 masks to medical institutions and fire stations to prevent COVID-19 in the Georgia community. The beneficiaries of the previous donations include Coweta Fire Rescue, Phoebe Sumter, Wayne Memorial Hospital, and Liberty Regional Medical Center.

Aside from the masks, in May last year, SK Innovation also donated USD 400,000 to Augusta University in Georgia. The contribution was used to support expenses related to physicians at the Medical College of Georgia, and the virtual telehealth COVID-19 screening through the AU Health ExpressCare online application and drive-thru testing locations around Georgia.

▲ (From left) President of SK Battery America Junho Hwang, Augusta University President Brooks A. Keel, and Georgia Department of Economic Development Commisioner Pat Wilson

Ever since SK Innovation started its business in Georgia, the U.S, the company has been actively participating in various local community contribution programs that include not only COVID-19 related support but also donations to educational institutions, the Commerce Public Library, etc. The company promised to keep strengthening their bond with the government, residents, and organizations of Georgie as part of its responsibility to build a better community at where its business site is located.