Alumna Michelle Sparrow ’13 EMBA Helps Organize Supplies for the Navajo Nation

Michelle Sparrow ’13 EMBA is an executive working with Navajo Hopi Health Foundation and Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation on a long-term project to bring cancer care to the Navajo Nation. However, within the past few weeks, her focus has pivoted to help mobilize collections of critical supplies for the Navajo Nation’s fight against COVID-19. Navajo Nation is a community of approximately 200,000 natives, less than 80 miles from Flagstaff, Ariz., and is the largest reservation in the country in both size and population, spanning three states. The challenges of the pandemic are magnified for communities like the Navajo Nation, where access to resources and infrastructure is limited; 38 percent of households do not have access to running water, 32 percent of households do not have electricity and 60 percent of households do not have internet services. The Navajo Nation was in immediate need of supplies including hand sanitizers, PPE materials, food, water and household cleaning items after  the area quickly became the third highest infection rate in the country – behind New York and New Jersey  – and the U.S. Department of Health and Human services has described the pandemic as a threat to the survival of the native tribe.

Sparrow reached out to her EMBA Class of 2013, asking her former classmates for their support of the Navajo Nation through personal donations and donations from their companies. By the end of April, she had gathered 75 cases of hand sanitizer; 200 face shields; 40 handsewn masks; 500 surgical masks, gloves and kN95 masks; and 7,000 frozen pizzas for the staff of Tuba City Hospital.  Sparrow said, “I am so proud that VSB has brought together spirited and generous individuals who embrace Villanova’s Augustinian values to help others.” To make a donation, please refer to the Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation.