March 30, 2020

Nevada COVID-19 Response, Relief and Recovery Task Force Chair Jim Murren Announces Additional Members, Efforts to Date

Las Vegas, NV — Jim Murren, chair of the Nevada COVID-19 Response, Relief and Recovery Task Force, today announced the Nevadans who have joined the Task Force to fulfill its vital mission. The group was formed by Governor Steve Sisolak, who enlisted Murren to serve as the primary liaison between the public and private sectors to secure desperately needed medical supplies and monetary donations for the State’s battle against the COVID-19 corona virus.

The additional Task Force members are:

  • Yvanna Cancela, Nevada State Senator
  • Doug Cannon, President and CEO of NV Energy
  • Alex Dixon, President of the West Region for PureStar
  • Dr. Rob McBeath, MD, President of OptumCare Mountain West Region
  • Steve Menzies, President of Focus Companies
  • Scott Nielson, President of Nielson Consulting
  • Phil Satre, Chairman of the Board of Wynn Resorts, Ltd.

The mission of the Task Force is to mobilize the private sector in securing supplies, equipment and funding to meet the community’s most urgent needs and remove barriers to facilitate direct and efficient collaboration between community partners and the appropriate authorities.

“I am heartened by the energy and determination of these Task Force members,” said Murren. “All have risen to the challenge and are driven to meet the State’s needs through their private sector expertise and relationships. It is in tough times like these that I am most proud to be a Nevadan.”

Murren noted that in just one week the Task Force had already made significant progress in their efforts. The NV Energy Foundation donated one million dollars to nine organizations across Nevada to support those in need. Additionally, Wynn Resorts announced on Friday the procurement of 240,000 N95-equivalent CDC-approved respirator masks, 600,000 surgical masks, 500,000 pairs of medical gloves and 2,000 medical gowns. Also, MGM Resorts International has donated 100,000 surgical masks, 1,000 KN-95 masks and 800 units of goggles to the Nevada healthcare system, in addition to hundreds of thousands of pounds of meals and food to community nonprofits.

Murren said the Task Force has several global leads on sourcing additional personal protective equipment (PPE), and will report on those as the supplies are secured.

In addition to the medical supplies and equipment, the Task Force has secured $3.9 million in monetary donations as of March 29, with several other donations in progress. The Nevada Community Foundation has agreed to provide the vehicle for accepting monetary donations, which will be used to assist organizations serving the most immediate needs of the community, including food and shelter nonprofits.

“I applaud those who have joined the Task Force to take on one of the toughest challenges in our great State’s history,” said Governor Steve Sisolak. “The support of the private sector in meeting our State’s needs is vital. Together, as one Nevada, we will get through this.”

The Task Force launched a new web site, www.nvc19.org, where the group will post updates on their efforts and successes. Donations to the Nevada Community Foundation may also be made through the web site.

Media inquiries should be sent to mediainquiries@nvc19.org.