Shawn Johnson East Joins Former NFL Linebacker Dhani Jones to Support COVID-19 Financial Relief through #GiveTogetherNow

ARLINGTON, Va., April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

When: Today, April 3, 2020 at 12pm ET/9am PT

Where: Instagram @standtogether

Who: NFL-athlete-turned social entrepreneur Dhani Jones will host U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Shawn Jonson East on Stand Together LIVE ? the organization's new Instagram live series?where Johnson East will discuss motherhood, family, how to discover one's unique give, what it takes to chase a dream, and the importance of helping others.  

Shawn Johnson East is a gymnast, U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist, New York Times best-selling author and new mom. Bursting into the national spotlight in 2008, Johnson East is one of the most well-known Olympians of all time.  After her heroic performance during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Johnson East became a household name in the US as one of the greatest Olympians in American history.

Off the mat she has remained in the public's eye making many appearances on national television, including taking home the championship title on Dancing with the Stars in 2009. All of her many titles pale in comparison to the one she currently holds: mom. Johnson East and her husband Andrew welcomed their first child Drew in November and have shared their family adventure with the world to see on social media.

Dhani Jones is partnering with Stand Together to connect people across the country with some of the world's most interesting people who want to share their stories, experiences, and talent to inspire and contribute to others around the globe through a new Instagram Live series of conversations called "Stand Together Live."

What: Stand Together LIVE features livestreamed interviews, performances, and masterclasses designed to help people thrive during these challenging times. Proceeds go to #GiveTogetherNow ? a COVID-19 rapid response effort for families struggling during this crisis. In just one week, #GiveTogetherNow has raised over $15 million, enough to reach more than 30,000 families. One hundred percent of the donations go directly to families in need. 

Why: The COVID-19 global pandemic has forced the world to exercise social distancing and that has had severe economic consequences for families. With so much change and uncertainty, people are creating ways to connect with each other and meaningfully contribute to those around them by sharing advice, stories, inspiration, practical support and resources for those coping with the fallout of the coronavirus.

Stand Together believes that every single person has something unique to contribute and that when people come together, we all can rise. That's why Stand Together launched #GiveTogetherNow, a rapid-response effort to get cash directly to individuals and families struggling as a result of the coronavirus and ensuing economic crisis.

About #GiveTogetherNow
Stand Together and the Family Independence Initiative partnered to create #GiveTogetherNow, which offers families access to a direct and immediate cash transfer to help offset financial burdens caused by the measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. The online platform allows anyone to make a contribution to families who will receive cash deposits to their bank accounts. #GiveTogetherNow has raised over $15 million providing more than 30,000 families each with a $500 emergency fund deposited directly into their bank accounts to help them with any financial burden caused by the global pandemic.

About Stand Together
Stand Together is a philanthropic community that empowers people dedicated to helping others improve their lives. We identify, vet, and create organizations that discover innovative ways to remove barriers in education, business, communities, and government so every person can rise. We partner with these groups by offering tools and resources to dramatically increase their effectiveness and scale. Learn more at StandTogether.org.

Contact: [email protected].

SOURCE Stand Together