Celebrities provide coronavirus pandemic relief with donations
Find out which celebrities are taking charge to fight coronavirus with charitable donations, including Lady Gaga and Justin Timberlake.
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Hunkered down at home or not, celebrities all over the world are stepping up to do what they can to combat the coronavirus pandemic by making charitable donations to those in need.
As the numbers of those infected with COVID-19 rose to over 3.3 million worldwide as of Friday evening, the world's biggest performers have either made sizable donations or have utilized their already-existing businesses to provide relief.
One of country music's biggest stars, Brad Paisley, and his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, own a free grocery store in Nashville they are using to deliver groceries.
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Called The Store, the Paisleys' volunteer delivery service plans to deliver a week's worth of groceries to elderly individuals in specific neighborhoods in the city, according to the Tennesseean.
Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio announced that they're donating 500 daily meals for 30 days -- amounting to 15,000 meals -- to several Miami-area hospitals and first responders.
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The food will come from the couple's restaurant, Estefan Kitchen, and the donations could possibly stretch beyond 30 days, a rep for the restaurant confirmed to Fox News.
Kerry Washington and various cast members of "Scandal" are sponsoring a meal for healthcare workers via Frontline Foods, a rep for the organization told Fox News.
The food will come from restaurants in Chicago, New York and Flint, Mich., and will be delivered to the staffs of local inner-city hospitals.
Meanwhile, Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson gave thanks and brought 120 tacos to a local hospital for its hard-working staff.
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"Tacos for the incredible healthcare workers at our local hospital," Simpson wrote on Instagram. "So grateful for these true legends of our time dedicating their lives to battling this pandemic. Show some love to yours in your community!"
Lizzo also spread some love for the healthcare workers at the Boston Medical Center by sending them surprise lunch deliveries.
"Lizzo sent lunch to several hospitals throughout the country yesterday to thank them for all their hard work, bravery and dedication amid the coronavirus pandemic," a rep for the singer told Fox News.
The 31-year-old singer also sent a video to the staffers, thanking them for their hard work.
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Meanwhile, singer Ciara and her husband, Russell Wilson, announced they have donated $1 million to a food bank called Food Lifeline in their community in Seattle, Wash.
"The world needs us ALL. These are unprecedented times," Ciara captioned a video of the couple announcing their donation, adding, "We can all make a difference together. Let's all keep the Faith during this difficult time."
"Jersey Shore" star Jenni "JWoww" Farley is also helping to bring food to those in need.
Farley, 34, has partnered with Eat Clean Bro, a meal delivery service, to donate 500 prepared meals to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, according to a statement obtained by Fox News.
'Jersey Shore' star Jenni 'JWoww' Farley teamed up with Eat Clean Bro, a meal delivery service, to donate 500 prepared meals to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. (Reuters)
Angelina Jolie has also donated $1 million to an organization called No Kid Hungry, per an online statement. No Kid Hungry focuses on feeding the children of low-income families and has mobilized in recent weeks, donating $2 million to charities across the country and issuing emergency grants to schools, food banks and more.
Ryan Reynolds also took to his Twitter with the news that he and wife Blake Lively are donating $1 million total to be split between two organizations.
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"Covid-19 has brutally impacted older adults and low income families. Blake and I are donating $1 million to be split between FEEDING AMERICA and FOOD BANKS CANADA," Reynolds wrote on Twitter. "Take care of your bodies and hearts. Leave room for joy. Call someone who's isolated and might need connection."
The couple also promoted Canadian nonprofit Conquer COVID-19.
“We’re asking every Canadian to purchase this t-shirt, and as you can see, it is boring as f—k,” Reynolds joked.
“100% of the proceeds of this horrific shirt are gonna go to buying PPE for frontline personnel in our most vulnerable communities,” he added. “Now, I know that’s not an exciting prospect or point, but the faster we get those guys protected, the faster they get us back to boring.”
Kylie Jenner has also donated $1 million in order to purchase protective gear for medical professionals.
"I have never felt more blessed to be a doctor, as helping our brave ER and ICU workers feels just as gratifying as helping my own patients," wrote Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi. "From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU @kyliejenner ❤️. You are my hero."
Jenner and her mom, Kris Jenner, have also committed to manufacturing hand sanitizer for health care workers through her Kylie Skin brand and its parent company, Coty, per a press release obtained by Yahoo.
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The COVID-19 outbreak also hit close to home for Lady Gaga, a native New Yorker who also splits her time between her home state and Los Angeles. The pop star's beauty brand, Haus Laboratories, announced it will be supporting the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and the Food Bank for New York City "in order to get food to those affected by the closing of schools & other places that offer this critical resource."
In just seven days, Gaga has helped raise $35 million with advocacy organization Global Citizen, which will benefit the World Health Organization.
The 34-year-old singer and Global Citizen have also partnered to create the televised event "One World: Together at Home." The event is aimed at fighting the viral outbreak and aired on April 18 at 8 p.m. EST simultaneously on ABC, NBC, CBS, iHeartMedia and Bell Media networks.
Memphis, Tenn., native Justin Timberlake reminded his Twitter followers to stay healthy and "stay calm" while stressing the importance of making sure everyone is fed.
The "Suit and Tie" singer revealed Sunday he is donating to Mid-South Food Bank in his hometown to help assemble and deliver non-perishable food in the mid-south.
"Every. little. thing. helps," Timberlake added.
Country singer Dierks Bentley announced the closing of his Nashville bar, Whiskey Row Nashville, along with plans to give his 90 hourly employees $1,000.
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"@riothospitalitygroup and I encourage all bar owners on Lower Broadway to take care of their bartenders, bar backs, waitresses, security, dishwashers etc the best they can," he wrote on Instagram.
Bruno Mars has elected to donate $1 million to MGM employees that have been affected by the outbreak.
According to a statement obtained by ET Canada, the 34-year-old singer chose to donate to the organization because he has often performed at The Park Theater at Park MGM in Las Vegas since 2016.
Bruno Mars has pledged $1 million to MGM employees amid the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
"With the closures across Las Vegas, Bruno wanted to show his appreciation to the amazing employees who help make these shows possible in hopes that we’ll all be out of this situation and having fun together again very soon,” the statement said.
Selena Gomez has also joined the fight against coronavirus, making a donation to Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles for an undisclosed amount.
Gomez, 27, announced her contribution on Twitter.
"So thankful for every single medical professional who is putting their health on the line to take care of others I’m donating to @CedarsSinai as they are low on masks and ventilators," she said online. "They’ve taken such good care of me so it’s my turn to show my gratitude."
Halsey has also announced a large donation of masks -- 100,000 to be exact, which will go to four hospitals in California.
"I have acquired and purchased 100,000 FDA certified 3 ply masks (with the help of Orange International Inc who sourced the masks for me from a factory in Guangzhou, China)," Halsey wrote on Instagram. "These masks will be distributed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Providence Saint Joseph, LAC+USC Medical Center, and Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital; for the medical professionals and non medical hospital staff who are working to put a stop to this pandemic and help millions of strangers they will never meet."
The 25-year-old musician also said she "will be making a sizeable donation" to Give Directly, a non-profit that offers aid to households in at-risk communities.
Back in February, Justin Bieber centered his efforts on China, saying at the time that he "couldn't imagine how scary it would be if a new disease was effecting my wife and my family and friends."
Bieber said he made a donation to the country and urged his followers to join in on the conversation.
Meanwhile, other celebrities are doing their part by encouraging creative kids all over the world to interact with them on social media. "Frozen" actor Josh Gad, who voices the loveable snowman Olaf in the Disney franchise, has vowed to read children's books each night to keep them entertained.
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Jennifer Garner has also joined in on the fun by creating the hashtag #heyjenlookatme to inspire her followers to perform for her at home.
She also praised Broadway star Laura Benanti, who had a similar idea with the hashtag #SunshineSongs.
George and Amal Clooney reached deep into their pockets and donated more than $1 million overall to various coronavirus relief efforts, Fox News has learned.
Amal and George Clooney donated more than $1 million to various foundations. (AP)
First reported by Deadline, the philanthropic pair was specific about where their contributions landed, with the outlet reporting on April 8 that the couple sent $250,000 each to The Motion Picture and Television home, the SAG-AFTRA FUND and the Los Angeles Mayors Fund.
Furthermore, they gave an additional $300,000 to three separate charities; Lebanese Food Bank, Lombardo Italy Region, and the NHS, respectively.
Ryan Seacrest donated $1 million to help first responders in New York and Los Angeles -- two cities that are very close to his heart
Ryan Seacrest helped first responders in NY and LA with his $1 million donation. (Reuters)
"After seeing a news report about first responders sleeping in their cars in New York to avoid putting their loved ones at risk, I wanted to do something to help make sure these New Yorkers stay safe while they're away from their families busy taking care of ours," he told People magazine.
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"New York and Los Angeles are very special places to me," he said.
About 75 percent of his donation is going to First Responders Children's Foundation, which will help feed and house FDNY members for the next several weeks as they help fight the virus.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Buca di Beppo sent 1,000 meals to feed the entire medical staff at Keck USC Medical Center in Los Angeles as they work to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arnold Schwarzenegger teamed up with a restaurant chain to deliver meals to medical workers in Los Angeles. (Getty)
"There are a lot of people fighting in the front lines facing this coronavirus, especially the people working in the hospitals like Keck USC School of Medicine. They are unbelievable. I said to myself that we need to do something special for them besides providing masks. I should send them some food. So I partnered with my favorite restaurant, Buca di Beppo to provide meals for the entire hospital," the actor said in a press release.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle used some of the proceeds from their royal wedding broadcast to give to the charity Feeding Britain, which helps feed families struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend The Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House on March 05, 2020 in London, England. (Karwai Tang/WireImageGetty)
The couple pledged over £90,000 (about $100,000) to help the nonprofit provide "hot meals and food packages are being made available, through a combination of home deliveries and collection points in the community, to ensure families on low incomes can put breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the table each day."
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also joined Project Angel Food, an organization dedicated to providing food to those impacted by serious illness, to make two food deliveries around Los Angeles since moving there.
Country music star Dolly Parton announced she made a $1 million donation to help find a “cure” for the coronavirus and is encouraging her fans to donate if they can.
Dolly Parton performs in concert at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. (AP)
“My longtime friend Dr. Naji Abumrad, who’s been involved in research at Vanderbilt for many years, informed me that they were making some exciting advancements towards that research of the coronavirus for a cure,” she wrote on social media. “I am making a donation of $1 million to Vanderbilt towards that research and to encourage people that can afford it to make donations.”
Singer Shawn Mendes through his foundation, The Shawn Mendes Foundation, donated $175,000 to The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).
"For the next month, all donations to The Shawn Mendes Foundation will go towards SickKids Hospital & relief efforts around the world by the @WHO," he wrote on Instagram.
Billy Joel and his wife, Alexis, made a $500,000 donation through their foundation. The money was used to buy personal protective equipment for health care workers.
Billy Joel and his wife Alexis made a substantial donation. (AP)
"So many of these heroic healthcare workers are risking their own lives," the two said in a statement on Joel's website. "We cannot begin to express our gratitude for them and our concern for their well-being."
Jay-Z and Rihanna announced in late March that through their respective foundations -- The Shawn Carter Foundation and The Clara Lionel Foundation -- they each donated $1 million towards coronavirus relief efforts.
Ellen DeGeneres revealed in April she's donating $1 million to charity amid the coronavirus pandemic after being challenged by Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio as part of the All-In campaign.
On Wednesday the 62-year-old comedian and talk show host highlighted the campaign, which was started by DiCaprio after he made a video offering a walk-on role in the upcoming Martin Scorsese film, starring himself and De Niro, to one charitable fan who donates to the campaign.
All the proceeds will be divided among Meals on Wheels, No Kid Hungry, The World Central Kitchen and America’s Food Fund.
Actor Matthew McConaughey joined the challenge as well. He took to Twitter to announce that he’s offering one lucky fan a chance to join him at a University of Austin football game next season.
The Oscar-winner, along with his wife, model Camila Alves, also donated N-95 masks to the AFD Station 32 in West Austin. In total, they pledged 80,000 masks to frontline workers, firefighters, and police officers in Austin and New Orleans.
New Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady announced in March that he teamed with private plane company Wheels Up to donate 10 million meals to families in need.
The donation equates to a $1 million contribution to Feeding America. The NFL star also accepted the All In Challenge, where he's auctioning off a chance to attend his first game in Tampa Bay, plus spend the day with him.
"I've accepted the #ALLINCHALLENGEGo to allinchallenge.com/tom-brady to get involved and have the opportunity to experience my first @buccaneers home game. Let’s all make a positive impact during this time," he said.
Avril Lavigne announced that she has a new single "'We Are Warriors" for charity which will drop on April 24. She will be donating the proceeds to Project Hope which helps medical staff around the world acquire supplies.
Taking to social media, the 35-year-old singer wrote: "Ever since our world was turned upside down a few weeks ago I've seen everyday people put on their armor and go into battle. Simple tasks like delivering mail has become a heroic effort. Overnight everyone was asked to battle. Overnight everyone became Warriors."
"I wanted to get involved and contribute so I got to work in the studio and I want to dedicate this to all of you. I re-recorded 'Warrior' to reflect our current world and all the amazing heroic things you're all doing," she added. "To all the hospital workers, postal service people, grocery store workers, police and firemen, every single one of you who has had their world shaken. This is for you."
Actress Lily Collins donated $20K to Bethenny Frankel's charity B Strong which helped provide frontline workers the necessary PPE they need to keep safe and healthy while treating coronavirus patients.
“Just wanted to send a note to all our the healthcare workers on the frontlines… you are heroes, and we are so incredibly grateful for all of your time and sacrifices,” Collins wrote alongside a photo of hospital workers receiving the equipment.
“I’m beyond honored to join @bethennyfrankel’s #BSTRONG initiative to support the doctors and nurses at @yourmlkch by providing masks and much needed PPE during this time. While Bethenny and her partners are working to supply hospitals all over the country with supplies, I chose to start local – remembering that if we all do our part where we can, we can make a greater impact as a whole,” Collins added.
Former big-league slugger Alex Rodriguez and his fiancée Jennifer Lopez crashed country crooner Brad Paisley's Pub Crawl on Zoom to reveal that together, they would be donating 2,000 meals to Paisley and wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley's free grocery store in Nashville.
"Yesterday A-Rod and J-Lo... wait a minute, that's how you know you're a big star, when you have a name and like a letter and then a dash," Paisley quipped before sharing the news. "So, A-Rod called in to my B-Rad Zoom Pub Crawl. He and J-Lo are donating 2,000 meals to The Store."
"You and J-Lo gave 2,000 meals to The Store," Paisley continued. "They're part of a company Kim and I love called Tiller and Hatch."
"You get the trifecta," Rodriguez responded. "You get a great meal, affordable and easy to make with some great, great options."
Fox News' Tyler McCarthy contributed to this report
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