EVENT SPOTLiGHT

AN “ART IN ISOLATION: RESPONSE TO COVID-19” SUBMISSION, DOING OUR PART BY TINA FRY

EIDE BAILLY created a webinar series to answer questions and ease concerns for businesses about taxes and business solutions, from Payroll Protection Plan information, minimizing financial impacts, and things for non-profits to consider.

EXXON MOBILdonated 84 buckets of liquid hand sanitizer to Yellowstone County’s disaster and emergency services department, made a call for PPE donations from employees, partners, and other organizations, and donated $32,000 in fuel— an estimated 16,000 gallons—for various community front line workers, first responders and healthcare workers.

HOWL FOR BILLINGS is a Facebook Group created by Misti Gaub as a way to thank and recognize health care workers. The group encouraged residents from the region to howl or cheer loudly from their windows or private yards beginning at 8 p.m. every evening. The page was filled with videos documenting tears, laughter, cheers, howls and togetherness from their over 21,000 members.

GIRL SCOUTS OF MONTANA AND WYOMING donated 8,000 boxes of cookies to 13 hospitals in both Montana and Wyoming through their “purchase to donate” program for “hometown heroes.”

GRAPHIC FINESSE created a Billings Takeout Bingo card featuring 25 locally owned restaurants to encourage community members to continue to support local restaurants during the shut-down. Participating restaurants and businesses donated over $900 in gift cards for the weekly and grand prize winners.

KAREN GROSZ OF CANVAS CREEK

TEAM BUILDING offered ways for businesses and entrepreneurs to pivot their goals during the time of crisis through videos on social media, “By Damn” calls, and webinars. Grosz had over 2,000 participants and businesses from 5 states that tuned in, and has now created an online training program because of the popularity of her series.

MICHAEL HASS ALLSTATE INSURANCE returned 15% of policy costs back to all of his policy holders in an effort to be a small part of fiscally giving back to the local community.

JONNA JONES AND DAN CARTER OF THE BILLINGS STRONG CAMPAIGN. COURTESY DANIEL SULLIVAN, YELLOWSTONE VALLEY WOMAN MAGAZINE

SCHOOL DISTRICT 2 TEACHERS navigated the challenges of remote learning and how to keep their students engaged and supported. They spent hundreds of hours on video chats, phone calls, texting and emails to continue academic instruction with their students, as well as participate in creative parades through students’ neighborhoods in order to say connected.

SIMPLY LOCAL MAGAZINE compiled a list of area restaurants that are offering pickup/take-out options, food delivery services, and online gift card sales on one handy landing page.

TRAILHEAD SPIRITS joined the ranks of distilleries nationwide helping to fill the hand sanitizer shortage by developing hand sanitizer from distilled ethyl alcohol used to make vodka or gin.

WESTERN HERITAGE

CENTER sought submissions of art created by Montanans in response to the COVID-19 Crisis for an online exhibit, “Art in Isolation: Response to COVID-19.” The exhibit went live on April 24th with 145 submissions totaling 166 separate artworks, from artists ranging in age from 5 months to 91 years old.

MAINTAINING CHAOS BY ATHENA RENOVA. AN "ART IN ISOLATION: RESPONSE TO COVID-19" SUBMISSION,"

We would be remiss if we did not also extend a huge thank you and shout out to all of the first responders of our community, who put themselves at risk each and every day as they gave extraordinary amounts of time, energy and resources to fight the COVID-19 virus and take care of those that were infected. Our community can never thank you enough – you are true heroes!

Sometimes we forget or don’t notice, but all you have to do is look. When we, as a community, band together for the betterment of our city, we are truly Billings Strong.