Beyonce Donates $6 Million to Fight COVID-19

Pop Star Beyoncé Knowles donated a $6 million relief fund as her pledge to help essential workers in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

BeyGOOD

Beyonce's foundation BeyGOOD teamed up with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, using the #startsmall initiative. The initiative donated to community organizations like the United Memorial Center, Bread of Life, Matthew 25, and others.

Knowles said she also emphasized how minority communities, especially those of color, have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

"Many families live in underserved areas with homes that make it harder to practice social distancing. Communities that were already lacking funds for education, health, and housing are now faced with alarming infection rates and fatalities," the letter stated. "And these communities lack access to testing and equitable healthcare," it added.

Beyonce also notes that there are immense mental and personal health challenges facing essential workers, many of whom were Blacks. She added that they need psychological and personal health support, including testing, and this can be done in the midst and after the pandemic.

The donation will be used to provide food and water supplies, deliveries, medical equipment, and services like face masks, medicine, cleaning supplies, and personal hygiene kits. Knowles and Dorsey partnered with UCLA and the National Alliance in Mental Illness to give mental wellness services in four major cities in the country that were severely hit by the pandemic like Detroit, Houston, New York, and New Orleans.

She donated after other celebrities also pledged to donate enough financial aid. Some of the stars who donated include her husband Jay-Z, Rihanna, Demi Lovato, and Dorsey.

Knowles also performed in two singalongs. She performed on the Disney Family Singalong, where she covered the song "When You Wish Upon A Star." She also participated in the concert "One World: Together At Home" along with other stars. Both shows were dedicated to all people who face the challenges of the pandemic.

Other Celebrities and Companies Who Helped Fight COVID-19

Jay-Z and Meek Mill donated more than 130,000 face masks to correctional facilities, jail officers, and health care workers. The donation was an initiative of REFORM Alliance, Jay-Z, and Mill's organization. Popstar Madonna teamed up later on, according to Billboard.

Rihanna donated personal protective equipment to hospitals in New York.

Rapper Future's foundation FreeWishes provided more than 100,000 masks to healthcare workers battling the virus.

Pop star Taylor Swift donated stimulus checks to her fans amidst the coronavirus pandemic. One fan said that she was given $3000 as a gift from Swift.

Companies were also pledged to make donations to help fight COVID-19. Social Media Site TikTok pledged $375 million relief to fight the virus, including direct funding to MusiCares.

Sony Corporation also launched a $100 million fund to support COVID affected communities. Streaming sites Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music, and Pandora, donated more than $4 million to MusiCares relief fund. The fund will be used for music workers who were affected by the pandemic.

Many live production companies like LNKBOX, Choura Events, and many others switched from building stage facilities for concerts to building healthcare facilities after their planned events were canceled due to the pandemic.

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