Notre Dame Football: Start up pivots model to benefit frontline workers
By Andrew Hall
Irish fans may not have a chance to support the Notre Dame football team in person this year but they can support another great Notre Dame effort.
Pier White and the Tradelasts team are making lemonade out of the lemons that is the coronavirus pandemic.
White, a ’94 Notre Dame graduate, started Tradelasts to create a community of vacation homeowners who wanted to utilize unused time at their vacation homes to create lasting memories with their families. The startup emerged from the Idea Center at Notre Dame. As the company began to raise capital, White shifted the objective of the company to benefit frontline workers who are fighting COVID-19.
Tradelasts has received over 1500 nominations for doctors and nurses to receive free vacations. Several Notre Dame undergraduate students are volunteering their time to match up deserving healthcare providers with a homeowner. Tradelasts is even partnering with high end travel companies such as Norwegian Cruise Lines to fulfill the vacation needs for these nominees.
These frontline workers witness the devastation caused by the coronavirus. In many cases, the doctors and nurses are working overtime to help save lives. Due to hospital restrictions, these people are the only point of contact for patients. Long hours and heartbreak take their toll.
Although it may not heal the psychological wounds, a vacation with their loved ones will help frontline workers begin to decompress.
How can you help these selfless healthcare workers? Tradelasts is in need of homeowners who might have extra, unused time in their vacation home. If you own a vacation home (or know someone who does) and are interested in learning more about the program, you can submit information about your home on the Tradelasts website.
Vacation homes are not the only way someone can contribute. Monetary donations can be made on their GoFundMe page as well. Volunteers are also needed to process the numerous first-responder applicants. A contact form can be filled out on their webpage.
Next. Notre Dame has the opportunity to dominate on defense in 2020. dark
Notre Dame produces championships on the field and in the classroom. Join Pier White and the Tradelasts team in championing this worthy cause for our nation’s incredible and selfless healthcare workers.