Justin Bieber, Rihanna, a member of BTS, NBA stars, Mark Cuban and other celebs are aiding the novel coronavirus relief efforts.
The deadly virus has killed thousands of people in more than 150 countries since it was first discovered late last year in Wuhan, China. This strain of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has also particularly affected Italy, South Korea, Iran, Spain, Germany and the United States, where testing is scarce due to bureaucracy.
The coronavirus has shut down major Hollywood productions and big festivals such as Coachella. Movie releases have been postponed. Broadway, other theaters, comedy clubs and many schools have shut down temporarily. Many jobs have allowed employees to work remotely and millions of people around the world have been ordered or encouraged to self-isolate at home to lower their risk of contracting or spreading the virus.
These celebs have been making a positive impact and giving back to those in need.
Justin Verlander and Kate Upton
“Recently the @mlb announced they will be continuing to send paychecks to players while the season is suspended. @kateupton and I have decided to donate those funds to a different organization each week so that we can support their efforts and highlight the great work they’re doing during the COVID-19 crisis,” Verlander said on Instagram on April 4.
“Everyone around the world is affected by this virus, and we hope to contribute to the families and jobs affected, the healthcare workers and first responders on the front lines and the many others in need of basic necessities, medical supplies and support at home,” he continued. “As soon as the first paycheck is received we will be highlighting the first organization. We know everyone is impacted by this crisis, but for those who are able, we encourage you to stay home to help flatten the curve and look to those around you who need a helping hand. #covid19 #flattenthecurve”
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Chris Hemsworth
The Thor star is offering meditation exercises for kids to alleviate their stress and anxiety during the pandemic, through his app Centr.com, with a 6-week free trial offer that expires on April 5.
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Leonardo DiCaprio
The Oscar-winning actor, Laurene Powell Jobs and Apple—along with the Ford Foundation—helped launch America’s Food Fund with $12 million in response to the global coronavirus pandemic. According to a press release, the new initiative will be hosted by GoFundMe and benefit World Central Kitchen and Feeding America.
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Oprah Winfrey
Winfrey announced on Instagram that she’s donating $1 million to America’s Food Fund “to support those facing food insecurity.” But that’s not all. “I am donating $10 million overall to help Americans during this pandemic in cities across the country and in areas where I grew up,” she continued.
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Dolly Parton
The country music icon pledged a $1 million donation to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville towards COVID-19 research. “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 research of the Coronavirus for a cure,” Dolly shared on Instagram. “I am making a donation of $1 million to Vanderbilt towards that research and to encourage people that can afford it to make donations.”
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Jay-Z
The Clara Lionel Foundation has announced that an additional $1 million in grants towards COVID-19 response efforts will be matched by Jay-Z’s Shawn Carter Foundation. The funds, which total a combined $2 million, will support undocumented workers, the children of frontline health workers and first responders, and incarcerated, elderly and homeless populations in New York City and Los Angeles.
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Emilia Clarke
On March 30, the Game of Thrones star announced her plan to host a virtual dinner party for those who donate to her SameYou charity, which is raising funds to provide equipment and resources for hospitals treating brain injury and stroke patients.
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SKIMS
“To support Mothers and Children in need during this time, SKIMS is committed to donating $1M to families affected by COVID-19. On Monday, we’re restocking the collection we first launched with, and in doing so, are able to help bring relief to those affected by this pandemic,” Kim Kardashian West announced in a press release. “I am so grateful to all of you who have supported SKIMS since we first started 6 months ago. It’s been a dream of mine for so long, and has only been possible because of your love for what we do. Our six-month anniversary has fallen in the middle of a Global crisis so more than ever, it’s our responsibility to give back and do what we can to help others.”
Alex Reside
Drew Brees
“[My wife] Brittany and I are committing $5,000,000 to the State of Louisiana in 2020. The priority now is helping our communities get through this tough time,” the New Orleans Saints quarterback shared on Instagram. “We will be mobilizing our partnerships with Second Harvest Food Bank, Ochsner Health Systems, Walk-Ons, Jimmy Johns, Smalls Sliders and Waitr to prepare and deliver over 10,000 meals per day throughout Louisiana for as long as it takes to children on meal programs, seniors, and families in need. Let’s all do our part, maintain hope, and get through this together.”
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Bruno Mars
The Las Vegas headliner is donating $1 million to the MGM Resorts Foundation to support MGM employees impacted economically by the Coronavirus. “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,” his rep said in a statement.
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Kylie Jenner
The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star donated $1 million to Coronavirus relief efforts. “A beautiful Living Angel just donated $1,000,000 to help us buy hundreds of thousands of masks, face shields, and other protective gear which we will have delivered directly to our first responders,” Kylie’s doctor shared on Instagram when confirming the news.
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Roger Federer
“These are challenging times for everyone and nobody should be left behind. Mirka and I have personally decided to donate one million Swiss Francs for the most vulnerable families in Switzerland,” the tennis star wrote on Instagram. “Our contribution is just a start. We hope that others might join in supporting more families in need. Together we can overcome this crisis! Stay healthy!”
Paul Nassif/The Mask Movement
Dr. Paul Nassif
The Botched doctor partnered with clothing company LA Made to provide reusable masks to healthcare providers and caregivers in L.A. and NYC as part of The Mask Movement. Find out how you can help with donating masks to those in need here.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger
The actor and former governor of California donated $1 million to the Frontline Responders Fund, which was launched by an organization call Flexport, to address the shortage of protective equipment and medical supplies.
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Gwyneth Paltrow
The Goop founder donated $100,000 to the Frontline Responders Fund.
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Shawn Mendes
In partnership with the singer’s eponymous foundation, Mendes announced a donation was made to the SickKids Foundation, the fundraising charity for the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
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Nina Dobrev
On March 24, the actress announced her partnership with BStrong and the Global Empowerment Foundation and pledged $10,000 to COVID-19 relief efforts.
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Jenni “JWoww” Farley
The Jersey Shore: Family Vacation star teamed up with Eat Clean Bro to donate 500 prepared meals to Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center. “I wanted to do something to help during this time, since hospitals are our front line, and they are forced to be in harms way to protect everyone else,” Jenni shared in a statement. “I wanted to help them directly to show appreciation for them, so they know we are truly thinking of them during these very difficult times for everybody.”
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Jamie Lynn Spears & Britney Spears
Stassie Karanikolou and Timeline Management CEO Alexis Fleischer launched the #Doyourpartchallenge with the help of Britney Spears, Jamie Lynn Spears, Chantel Jeffries, Jana Kramer, Bazzi, Victoria Villarroel, Shawn Johnson, Stassi Schroeder and more celebs. This initiative aims to unite communities by delivering food and necessities to those in need while also supporting local restaurants and businesses.
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Ryan Reynolds & Aviation Gin
“Until May 1st, for every bottle of Aviation ordered online, we’ll donate 30% of proceeds as a tip to your bartenders – who REALLY miss you btw,” Reynolds announced on his social media Tuesday, March 24.
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Eva Mendes
The fashion mogul and actress revealed she donated to the LA Regional Food Bank in light of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Katie Jones for Cadillac
Elizabeth Chambers Hammer
“NO WORDS! There’s no way to adequately thank the doctors, nurses, volunteers and healthcare providers on the frontlines for their dedication and commitment at this time. @whitney and @bumble made a generous donation to @birdbakery for these deliveries. We matched the donation and the response was more than we could have imagined,” Elizabeth wrote on Instagram alongside a series of photos. “Our healthcare workers and our communities deserve this and so much more. We love you all and hope you know that we’re here for anything you need during this very trying time.Thank you, thank you, thank you…for your sacrifice, dedication and for your service.”
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Rihanna
The singer and fashion mogul’s Clara Lionel Foundation announced on March 21 that it has donated $5 million to COVID-19 rapid response efforts in the United States and across the globe.
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Christian Siriano
On March 20, the Project Runway star’s design team volunteered to produce protective masks for medical workers in New York.
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Kerby Jean-Raymond
The Pyer Moss designer announced on Instagram that he is turning the New York City office of his luxury label into a donation center for the N95 masks and latex gloves medical staff are in need of. Additionally, he’s setting aside $50,000 for “minority and women owned small creative businesses who are currently in distress.”
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Bethenny Frankel
The former Real Housewives star’s BStrong organization is donating around a million medical masks to hospitals across the U.S., including Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and Mount Sinai Hospital and the NYU Langone Health centers in New York. It is also donating kits to healthcare workers who need hydration, sanitization, and immune building supplies.
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Kelly Ripa & Mark Consuelos
On March 19, the couple donated $1 million to coronavirus relief efforts. E! News has learned that part of the donation will benefit WIN, the largest provider of shelter and supportive housing to women and children in New York City.
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Kanye West
The rapper made a donation to L.A.’s Dream Center, a faith-based organization that provides services to underserved communities.
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Kim Kardashian
Kim’s SKIMS undergarment line will donate 20 percent of its profits from the Cotton Collection, which will be re-stocked on March 23, to Baby2Baby.
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Miley Cyrus
The pop star partnered with brand Emi Jay for a “Care Together” campaign to support Feeding America. When you buy hair ties from the brand and use the code “BrightMinded” at checkout, 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the organization.
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Rita Ora
The British pop star partnered with the United Nations to design merch to benefit the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund powered by UN Foundation and the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation.
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Eric Stonestreet
On March 18, the Modern Family star announced his decision to donate 200,000 meals to Harvesters Community Food Network in Kansas City, Miss.
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
Ciara & Russell Wilson
The singer and NFL star donated one million meals to the Seattle-based food banks supported by Food Lifeline. “We can all make a difference together. Let’s all keep the faith during this difficult time,” Ciara shared on Instagram.
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Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively
The couple pledged $1 million to Feeding America and Food Banks Canada. “Take care of your bodies and hearts,” Reynolds wrote on social media in part. “Leave room for joy. Call someone who’s isolated and might need connection.”
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Chiara Ferragni
The Italian influencer, who has a following of nearly 19 million Instagram followers, donated 100,000 euros to a GoFundMe campaign they launched to aid hospitals in Italy. It has since raised more than 4 million euros.
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Lady Gaga
On Monday, March 16, the pop star’s cosmetics company Haus Labs announced its plan to donate 20 percent of its online profits from the previous week to local food banks in Los Angeles and New York City.
Zach Belcher
Dierks Bentley
After Nashville, Tenn. bars were ordered to shut down, the country music superstar said he planned to give each of his 90 employees at his bar, Whiskey Row Nashville, $1,000 to “help in the short run as our community and country try get a handle on the situation.”
JJ Watt & Kealia Ohai
The newly weds donated $350,000 to the Houston Food Bank as a way to help during the coronavirus pandemic, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Twitter.
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Justin Timberlake
On Sunday, March 15, the singer announced on his Instagram Story that he is donating to the Mid-South Food Bank in his hometown of Memphis. The group helps people assemble and deliver nonperishable food to families in need.
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Rudy Gobert
Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert is donating more than $500,000 to support both the employee relief fund at Vivint Smart Home Arena and COVID-related social services, according to the NBA.
AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors ownership, players and coaches pledged to donate $1 million to a disaster relief fund benefitting Chase Center employees impacted by the loss of NBA games.
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New York Giants
The New York Giants are funding a new program at the Meadowlands YMCA to provide childcare at no cost to emergency response personnel for the next 10 weeks, the organization announced on March 20.
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Vanessa Hudgens
The former Disney Channel actress announced her plan to donate to Feeding America, writing on Instagram, “It’s a crazy time out there in the world. School closures, job disruptions, lack of paid sick leave and the coronavirus’ disproportionate impact on adults age 60 and older and low-income families are all contributing to the demands placed on food banks across the country. Join me in supporting @feedingamerica today. Let’s help each other out rather than freaking the f–k out.”
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Stephen & Ayesha Curry
On Friday, March 13, the couple said they plan to support Feeding America as well as a local food bank, writing on Instagram, “Oakland just announced they’re closing schools until April because of the COVID-19 crisis. While we support this decision, we’re scared about what this means for childhood hunger in our hometown. More than 18,000 students in Oakland rely on their school for 2+ meals each day and our foundation @eatlearnplay is making a donation to @accfb and @feedingamerica to help ensure no child has to worry about where their next meal is coming from while schools are closed. Please join us by donating to @ACCFB or a food bank near you.”
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Justin Bieber
In February, the pop star pledged to donate 200,000 RNB ($29,000) to the Beijing Chunmiao Charity Foundation, a children’s charity in China, to help with the coronavirus relief efforts. The virus originated in the country in late 2019 and the majority of deaths have been recorded there.
“Watching the news I couldn’t imagine how scary it would be if a new disease was effecting my wife and my family and friends,” Bieber said on Instagram, alongside a video. “China we stand with you as a collective humanity and have made a donation to support. Whether it be this or the fires of Australia we all need to be there for eachother. Shout out to my friend @kriswu for the conversation.”
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Donatella Versace
Versace’s chief creative officer and her daughter Allegra Versace Beck have donated 200,000 euros to the intensive care department of San Raffaele hospital in Milan, Italy. The country is the second hardest-hit country after China, where the virus originated.
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Zion Williamson
The New Orleans Pelicans player has plans to cover the salaries of all Smoothie King Center employees for the next 30 days.
“This is a small way for me to express my support and appreciation for these wonderful people who have been so great to me and my teammates and hopefully we can all join together to relieve some of the stress and hardship caused by this national health crisis,” he wrote on Instagram. “This is an incredibly resilient city full of some of the most resilient people, but sometimes providing a little extra assistance can make things a little easier for the community.”
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Sheryl Sandberg
In partnership with her local Silicon Valley, Calif. food bank, the Facebook COO pledged $5.5 million to launch the COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Feeding Families.
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See More From Celebs Giving Back Throughout the Coronavirus Pandemic
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(This story was originally published on Friday, March 13, 2020 at 3:22 p.m. PST)