Novak Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, are donating 1 million Euros about $1.1 million to buy ventilators and other equipment for hospitals in their native Serbia to assist in the fight against the coronavirus.
“The fight is not easy, numbers are not pleasant, but I am convinced that we will manage to make it out of this stronger than before,” Djokovic said Friday in comments released by his foundation.
“It is important to remain united in this fight, to help each other, so we can defeat this virus faster and easier. We would like to use this opportunity to invite everyone else to join us and help numerous families and people who need help to survive and get healthy again.”
The foundation’s focus is on preschool education for children in Serbia, but Djokovic has shifted gears in recent days. He said his team has researched how to procure the equipment, especially ventilators, and will be “overseeing the whole thing and ensure that there are no problems.”
The Djokovic donation follows that of Roger Federer and his wife, Mirka, who earlier this week donated about $1 million to families in Switzerland left in need because of the coronavirus.
“These are challenging times for everyone, and nobody should be left behind,” Federer wrote on Instagram. “Mirka and I have personally decided to donate one million Swiss Francs for the most vulnerable families in Switzerland.
“Our contribution is just the start. We hope that others might join in supporting more families in need.”
