Afterpay Offers COVID-19 Support to the Retail Community and Customers

SAN FRANCISCO, May 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Afterpay (ASX:APT), the leader in "Buy Now, Pay Later" payments, announced that it is helping communities recover from COVID-19 through two new partnerships. The company is teaming up with A Common Thread, an initiative led by Vogue and the CFDA, that raises funds and awareness for the American fashion community, and Baby2Baby, which provides children living in poverty with diapers, clothing and all the basic necessities that every child deserves.

Afterpay has launched a "top-up" program that allows customers using Afterpay to "top-up" their purchases by adding a $1 donation to participating charitable organizations.  The program will launch with A Common Thread and Baby2Baby as Afterpay's initial top-up program launch partners.  Afterpay has also committed to donating more than $200,000 to several COVID-19 related charities around the world, including A Common Thread and Baby2Baby.

Afterpay is donating directly to these organizations because of their strong contributions to helping our community recover from this challenging economic climate. The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, originally established as a response to the tragedy that took place on September 11^th, has been repurposed to A Common Thread, an initiative that raises both funds and awareness for those in the American fashion community who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants made by A Common Thread are being awarded to small and medium size businesses including designers, retailers, factories, and other fashion companies.

Over the last 10 weeks, Baby2Baby has distributed 15 million essential items including diapers, formula, soap, shampoo, baby food and more to children and families across the country impacted by COVID-19.  They have distributed over 100 million items over the last 9 years to children in homeless shelters, domestic violence programs, foster care, hospitals and underserved schools.

"We're thrilled to participate in Afterpay's new top up program,' said Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Co-Presidents of Baby2Baby. "Their recent donation to our Mother's Day Instagram Live will go such a long way in supporting our ongoing COVID-19 relief efforts, and future contributions from their customers will help us even more as we continue providing basic essentials to some of the most vulnerable families across the country."

"The CFDA is very grateful for Afterpay's support of A Common Thread," said Steven Kolb, President and CEO of the CFDA. "The American fashion industry continues to face unprecedented challenges, and Afterpay's contribution will help us raise additional funds to help our businesses."

"I know I speak for the entire Afterpay team in sharing my excitement and commitment to these two important organizations which are providing critical resources as we re-emerge from this challenging time," said Nick Molnar, Co-Founder and U.S. CEO of Afterpay. "Together, with our Afterpay community, we can make a difference through funding and awareness that will deliver real relief and benefits to both the retail community and moms and children in need."

To support participating organizations, shoppers simply buy any product via Afterpay and tick the $1 donation box at checkout.

About Afterpay Limited
Afterpay Limited (ASX: APT) has transformed the way people pay by allowing shoppers to receive products immediately and pay in four simple installments over a short period of time.  The service is completely free for customers who pay on time - helping consumers spend money responsibly without incurring interest, fees or revolving and extended debt.  Afterpay is offered by more than 48,400 of the world's best retailers and is used by more than 8.4 million active customers globally.  Afterpay is currently available in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom where it is called Clearpay.  Afterpay is on a mission to be the world's most loved way to pay.                                       

ABOUT THE CFDA/VOGUE FASHION FUND  
The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund was established in 2003 to help emerging American design talent find continued success in the business of fashion. With growing industry support, the prize was raised to $400,000 for the winner and $150,000 to the two runners-up in 2015. It is expected that the awards will be used to further develop each designer's business in such areas as marketing, public relations, production, and sales. In addition to the cash prizes, the award also includes mentorship from an esteemed group of industry professionals whose expertise is tailored to the designers' needs and future goals. Past mentors include Howard Socol, Rose Marie Bravo, Millard "Mickey" Drexler, Mark Lee, Maureen Chiquet, and Domenico de Sole. 

Since its inception, the program has granted $6.6 million to 45 design companies, including winners Pyer Moss, Telfar, Brock Collection, Brother Vellies, Gypsy Sport, Jonathan Simkhai, Paul Andrew, Public School, The Elder Statesman, Altuzarra, Billy Reid, Sophie Theallet, Alexander Wang, Rogan, and Proenza Schouler, and runners-up Jonathan Cohen, Bode, Ahlem, Chromat, Adam Selman, Krewe, Eva Fehren, Ryan Roche, Marc Alary, Juan Carlos Obando, Jennifer Meyer, Tabitha Simmons, Pamela Love, Creatures of the Wind, Eddie Borgo, Prabal Gurung, Monique Péan, Patrik Ervell, Albertus Swanepoel, Vena Cava, Philip Crangi, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Rodarte, Thakoon, Thom Browne, Derek Lam, and Alexandre Plokhov.

About Baby2Baby
Baby2Baby is a non-profit organization led by Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein that provides children living in poverty, ages 0-12 years, with diapers, clothing and all the basic necessities that every child deserves. In the last 9 years, Baby2Baby has distributed over 100 million items to children in homeless shelters, domestic violence programs, foster care, hospitals and underserved schools as well as children who have lost everything in the wake of disaster. Every year, Baby2Baby serves hundreds of thousands of children across the country. To learn more about Baby2Baby please visit www.baby2baby.org.

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SOURCE Afterpay