Celebrities who have stepped up during the global COVID-19 crisis
They have been urging their fans to stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic but some celebrities around the world have taken it even further — donating funds to help others through the crisis. Here’s our list of star ‘Lockdown Leaders’.
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Some A-listers are singing, some are weeping – and the best are putting their hands in their pockets to make a difference. Here’s a few of the Lockdown Leaders.
BLAKE LIVELY AND RYAN REYNOLDS
The couple gave $1.6m to Feeding America and Food Banks Canada.
“If you can give, these orgs need our help,” Ryan wrote on Instagram, before taking a swipe at Hugh Jackman.
“Call someone who’s isolated and might need connection. Hugh Jackman’s # is 1-555-(crying emoji)-HUGH.”
The pair also donated $600,000 to New York hospitals.
GEORGE AND AMAL CLOONEY
Well-known for their charity work, George and Amal donated $1.6m to six funds helping those affected by coronavirus, including film industry charities, the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, the Lebanese Food Bank and the British NHS.
LADY GAGA
Gaga raised $55 million in a week with Global Citizen and WHO for her star-studded One World: Together at Home concert this weekend.
“We want to highlight the gravity of this historical, unprecedented cultural movement … and we want to celebrate and encourage the power of the human spirit,” she said.
ROGER FEDERER
The tennis ace posted on Instagram that he and wife Mirka have given $1.6m for those in need.
“These are challenging times for everyone and nobody should be left behind,” he said.
PINK
The singer tested positive for COVID-19 and when she recovered announced she’s donating $1.6m to the Temple University Hospital Emergency Fund in Philadelphia in honour of her mother who worked there, and the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles.
“Thank you to all of our healthcare professionals and everyone in the world who are working so hard to protect our loved ones,” she said.
KYLIE JENNER AND KIM KARDASHIAN
Beauty queen Kylie gave $1.6m to buy PPE for LA medics and Kim Kardashian pledged the same from her Skims brand, for struggling families. Kanye West has also made undisclosed sizeable donations to food banks.
LEONARDO DICAPRIO
The actor, who also has a charity foundation, set up America’s Food Fund with Laurene Powell Jobs and Apple and the Ford Foundation, raising $22m to date, to provide food for the vulnerable.
OPRAH WINFREY
The talk-show queen has pledged $16m, giving $1.6m of it to Leo’s Food Fund and the rest to various initiatives across the USA.
“My thoughts are with those who are the most vulnerable among us – those who need just the basics of shelter and food,” she said.
U2
The Irish rock band donated $17m for Personal Protective Equipment for health workers in Ireland, with the first shipment arriving by private plane earlier this month.
ELTON JOHN
Elton revealed his charity foundation is launching a $1.6m COVID-19 emergency fund for frontline workers in HIV care around the world.
“We’re with you, we’re thinking of you, we will not leave anyone behind,” he said.
ANGELINA JOLIE
The Hollywood actor gave $1.6m to No Kid Hungry, which provides meals for children from low-income families missing their school dinners.
“Nearly 22 million children in America … rely on food support,” she said.
RIHANNA
The singer turned fashion mogul stumped up $8m through her foundation for food banks, PPE, vaccine research and testing.
CARDI B
Alongside retailer Fashion Nova the outspoken star is donating $1600 every hour to fans in need until she hits $1.6m.
“Sometimes you gotta motherf***ing ask for help,” she said.
CAPTAIN TOM MOORE
He wasn’t a celebrity before, but now he’s a legend – 99-year-old British WWII hero Tom has captured the world’s hearts with his campaign to walk 100 times around his garden with his Zimmer frame before his 100th birthday, to raise money for the NHS.
At the time of going to press he has raised $18m.
Pointing to his medals, he said: “If you look at this, it says fortune favours the brave, and that’s what they are, they are brave.”
THE BILLIONAIRES
Some of the world’s wealthiest have opened their wallets too. Twitter’s Jack Dorsey has committed $1.6 billion to coronavirus initiatives and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest person, gave $160m to Feeding America.
Gina Rinehart gifted $6m to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Anthony Pratt $1m for a COVID-19 drug trial. Mining magnate Andrew Forrest has given $680m for COVID-19 relief through his foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates $160m for coronavirus vaccine research – to which Madonna pledged $1.6m – adding they expect it to take “a few billion dollars”. Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg also committed $39m.
Apple launched America’s Food Fund and CEO Tim Cook gifted $16m for Lady Gaga’s concert fund.
In the UK, Prince George’s godfather, Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, also gave $25m to the NHS after being “humbled” by the dedication of doctors and nurses.