UNIQLO DONATES 15,000 FACE MASKS TO THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS & RECREATION

Uniqlo is donating 15,000 AIRism face masks to NYC Parks, following a donation of 50,000 single-use masks to the department in May 2020, bringing the total donation to 65,000 units in the last year. This infusion of free, protective AIRism face masks will go to NYC Parks workers, who serve as the stewards of more than 30,000 acres of land (14 percent of New York City) throughout Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.

NYC Parks is responsible for maintaining the City’s parks by increasing greenery, improving access to recreational opportunities, and driving community and economic development through its areas. As lockdown measures in the last year have contributed to an increased dependence on public spaces, Uniqlo’s donation of AIRism masks will provide all NYC Parks workers with the personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to maintain their health and wellbeing as they fulfill their mission to keep New York City’s parks running.

“Throughout this difficult year, Parks employees have been on the front lines ensuring our parks remain accessible, clean, and safe,” said Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP.  “Thanks to Uniqlo’s generous donation we are able to equip our hardworking staff with PPE to keep them, and our park users, safe. We are grateful for our partners at Uniqlo, who we’ve been working closely with for the last eight years. With this donation of AIRism face masks to NYC Parks, we will be able to enhance the safety and wellbeing of our team as they continue to keep our parks beautiful.”

“In support of NYC Parks’ mission to create resilient and sustainable public spaces in New York, it is of the utmost priority for Uniqlo to protect the people behind them,” commented Daisuke Tsukagoshi, CEO of Uniqlo USA. “We want to thank the department for their dedication to the city. As our first home in the United States, New York holds a special place in our heart. To help our partners at NYC Parks bring joy and beauty to the city, we’ve also launched plant installation at our 5th Avenue Flagship store that immerses the sales floor, created in partnership with plant artist Satoshi Kawamoto to celebrate the new spring season.”

Uniqlo USA has amplified its support of New York City this year through a donation of 25,000 AIRism Face Masks to District 75 students with disabilities in October 2020 and a donation of 20,000 units of AIRism Innerwear to Montefiore Health System and NYC Health + Hospitals. Globally, Fast Retailing has provided close to 16.8 million surgical masks, the state of New York, almost 1.4 million isolation gowns, 470,000 AIRism innerwear, 600,000 AIRism masks, and other medical supplies free of charge.