Kitchener's ApplyBoard raises cash to buy oxygen machines for hospitals in India

Kitchener's ApplyBoardhopes to raise$250,000 to buy oxygen machines for hospitals in India.

The company, which connects international students with educational institutions for various programs, has started off the fundraising campaign with $100,000.

ApplyBoard co-founder and chief marketing officer Meti Basiri saidmany of their employees have a personal connection to India. He saida third of staff members are from India and are either working thereor in Canada.

"I think it goes to our heart when something that terrible happens," he said. "We have to step in and support it."

He said over the last four weeks, they've heard more stories about how the growing number of cases in India has impacted employees.

Last weekend, he saidone staff member's father died after going to 18 hospitals in search of oxygen.

"We took the initiative immediately for our own internal staff to create an emergency fund ... I think anyone, if you can, you should put humanity first and no one should lose their life because of the money," Basiri said.

Basiri said the first shipment of machines left China Thursday morning. He said as they raise more money, more machines will be ordered.

David Tubbs, director of marketing for the company, saidthey haven't publicized the fundraising yet, but they've already received a lot of support from groups they work with around the globe.

"Some of our partners are very passionate about helping as much as they can," he said."We're trying to make sure that we can do this as quickly as possible. And we're spending the money now that we have and hopefully we can do that next step."