Cash, Concerts, and Soup: How Celebrities are doing their part amid COVID-19

Homemade Soup to

Local Shelter

In times of crisis, fans turn to their favourite celebrities for a guiding light and glimmer of hope. With their sizeable audiences and powerful online platforms, celebrities and public figures have the opportunity to spread messages of safety and kindness, while advocating for important causes. Now, amid the on-going coronavirus pandemic, high-profile celebrities are using their notoriety to raise awareness for and donate to charities and programs fighting the spread of the virus. From large donations, to organized benefits, to homemade meals, these celebrities are showing their heroism in a multitude of ways.

Pop-rock star P!nk shared a photo on her Instagram of a stack of containers filled with homemade vegetable soup, which she revealed was to be donated to her local shelter. She said that it is her pleasure to cook for others, and encouraged her fans to do the same for their local churches or shelters.

P!nk recently went public regarding her own battle with the virus, which she and her 3-year-old son both contracted, and have since recovered from. In an Instagram post detailing her symptoms, she stressed to fans the importance of staying home and practicing social distancing during this time. She also revealed two sizable donations of $500,000 each; one to the Temple University Hospital Emergency Fund in Philadelphia, and one to the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Emergency COVID-19 Crisis Fund. By donating her time, her money and her platform to advocate for safety and kindness, P!nk is truly a philanthropic hero.

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Lady Gaga

Pop queen Lady Gaga has been relentless in her efforts to raise awareness and funds to support those affected by the virus. The singer spent her birthday, at the end of March, in talks with the WHO about the best way to spread awareness and help fight the spread. Most recently, Lady Gaga collaborated with Global Citizen and the WHO to curate a star-studded charity benefit. The at-home concert featured celebrities like Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Andrea Bocelli, Oprah Winfrey, and more. While the aim of the concert was to raise awareness and spread positive messaging, more than $127 million was raised for the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 solidarity response fund!

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LIONEL MESSI AND PEP GUARDIOLA

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has donated one million euros ($1.08 million) to the fight against coronavirus. His donation will be split between the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona and another medical center in his home country.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola took his donation to a campaign launched by the Angel Soler Daniel Foundation, which aims to collect materials and financial support to obtain medical equipment that is lacking in Catalonia medical centers.

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ANDREA BOCELLI

World-renowned opera singer Andrea Bocelli performed a special concert at Italy’s historic Duomo di Milano this past Easter Sunday. The performance, entitled “Bocelli: Music for Hope” was accompanied by cathedral organist Emanuele Vianelli, and performed over live-stream due to the lockdown in Italy.

The singer’s Andrea Bocelli Foundation has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Italian hospitals purchase supplies to protect medical staff from the virus. At the time of writing, he has also raised €256,798 of his €300,000 goal.

MICHAEL CHE

Saturday Night Live cast member Michael Che has paid the rent for all 160 apartments in the block his late grandmother lived in. Che’s grandmother passed last month, after contracting the novel coronavirus. In her memory, the star has decided to ease the financial pressure on some New York residents during a time when many are out of work and unable to keep up. Che also urged the city of New York to do more about the rent crisis, offering his own services as well.

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively

Ever the philanthropists, Blake Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds have made multiple donations since the start of the global pandemic. Back in March, the couple donated $1 million, split between Food Banks Canada and Feeding America. Most recently, the couple donated $400,000 to New York hospitals amid the on-going pandemic. They are reportedly donating $100,000 to Elmhurst, NYU Hospital, Mount Sinai, and Northern Westchester Hospital.

—Source: Reuters

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