Griffin’s Citadel Sending Aid to Chicago to Help in Pandemic

(Bloomberg) -- Partners at the hedge fund and securities firms founded by Ken Griffin are donating $2.5 million for public schools and food insecurity relief efforts in Chicago as the effects of the coronavirus pandemic take hold.

In early February, Citadel and Citadel Securities donated $7.5 million to help contain the virus in China. The money helped send medical supplies to a hospital in Wuhan, support humanitarian aid there and fund the development of a vaccine.

The firm’s latest effort is in partnership with Chicago Public Schools and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. As of 3 p.m. Central Standard Time, there had been 422 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Illinois and four deaths.

The economic impact of the virus will likely increase food insecurity, according to the city’s food bank. Citadel’s donation includes $1 million for schools, which will be closed through April 20, and $1.5 million for the food bank, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday. The donations will help make meals available at more than 500 temporary school food distribution sites for 355,000 students.

“Ken and others are exhibiting extraordinary civic leadership at its finest,” Lightfoot said.

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