Celebrities and influencers all over the world are helping in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, from donating to causes on the front line battling coronavirus in Italy to assisting organisations that are helping those impacted by coronavirus in the US.
Famous faces are offering financial help, giving through their business, offering up acts of kindness in new and novel ways, as well as raising awareness, from how to stay safe to helping keep people entertained in self isolation.
Here’s just a snapshot of how some of the world’s most famous people are helping.
From coronavirus in Italy to the US: Celebrities doing good
Chiara Ferragni and Fedez
The famed Italian influencer and her musician husband have donated €100,000 to a GoFundMe campaign which they started to help hospitals battling coronavirus in Italy. The money is earmarked to specifically help provide new hospital beds in Milan’s San Raffaele hospital intensive care unit. The campaign has been developed in collaboration with the head of the hospital’s cardiovascular and general intensive care department professor Alberto Zangrillo and has attracted donations from across the globe. So far more than €4 million has been raised. You can donate here.
In a joint statement, the couple said: “We hope that this initiative will raise awareness among people in Italy and abroad of the current coronavirus crisis, which is affecting all of us.”
Ferragni has also used her social media platform to encourage everyone to be cautious and take the necessary precautions against Covid-19.
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively
Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds took to Twitter to announce that he and his American actress wife Blake Lively are donating US$1 million to Feeding America and Food Banks Canada. As people lose their livelihoods due to coronavirus in the US and across the globe, there is an increasing demand on food banks.
“If you can give, these orgs need our help,” Reynolds wrote on his Twitter.
Blake Lively is also offering free unlimited high-speed data for customers of Mint Mobile, a company that the actor has an ownership stake in.
Lady Gaga
American pop star, fashion icon, and actress Lady Gaga announced on Twitter that her beauty brand, Haus Laboratories, will be supporting the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and the Food Bank for New York City in the pop star’s native home, directly helping those in need due to coronavirus in the US.
“We believe this is a time to choose compassion over fear,” the Haus Laboratories post read. “Just like our fearless leader, Lady Gaga, we know we will get through this together if we remember to continue to lead with kindness.”
Justin Timberlake
Singer Justin Timberlake is also helping America’s food banks struggling to feed those impacted by coronavirus in the US, opting to make a donation to the Mid-South Food Bank, which helps people assemble and deliver non-perishable food to those most in need. He made the announcement on his Twitter feed, ending the post with “Every. little. thing. Helps.” Wise words indeed.
Josh Gad
Helping keep youngsters occupied during social distancing is no easy task. Josh Gad, who voices the loveable snowman Olav in the Disney franchise Frozen, is reading children’s books each night to keep little ones entertained. He started his live-streaming nightly reading with Ian Falconer’s book Olivia Goes to Venice. Other books he has read include The Day the Crayons Quit and The Giving Tree.
“I’ll try to provide at least 10 minutes of daycare to you and your families a night while we’re going through this unprecedented global event,” Gad said.
Check out his nightly broadcast on his twitter feed @joshgad.
The Versace family
Donatella Versace and her daughter Allegra Versace have donated €200,000 to the intensive care department of the Italian hospital San Raffaele. The hospital is located in Milan, one of the hardest hit parts of coronavirus in Italy.
“This is when we, as a society, need to stand together and care for one another,” Donatella said on her Instagram.
Russel Wilson and Ciara
The celebrity duo announced recently that they are donating 1 million meals to Seattle Food Lifeline, helping those affected by coronavirus in the US. On their respective Instagram accounts the duo said: “The world needs us ALL. These are unprecedented times. Rally with us and support your local food bank.”
Vanessa Hudgens
The former Disney Channel actress announced recently that she is donating to Feeding America, a hunger relief organisation that operates a network of food banks feeding the hungry, including those impacted by coronavirus in the US.
On her Instagram she wrote: « 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 aged 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. »
Bong Joon-Ho
South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-Ho recently shot to the world’s attention as the Oscar-winning director of the film Parasite. He has donated just over US$80,000 to South Korea’s Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association. The money will be used to purchase and distribute face masks and hand sanitizer.
Jose Andres
The famed award-winning Michelin-starred celebrity chef is transforming eight of his fine-dining restaurants in New York and Washington DC into community kitchens for those struggling to make ends meet in the wake of coronavirus in the US. Meals start from US$6 for those who can afford it, while others will be encouraged to pay what they can or receive them for free. People are also being encouraged to donate a meal to someone who might need it.
Andres said at a news preview: “People have to eat. We have millions of Americans that, if you go to their kitchens, their kitchens are empty. Not everybody has money to fill up for a month. That’s the reality.”
Massimo Bottura
Another famed Michelin-starred chef, Italian Massimo Bottura, of restaurant Gucci Osteria, is keeping cooking enthusiasts entertained during lockdown with a new nightly show called Kitchen Quarantine, which he is live-streaming on IGTV. It airs nightly at 8 p.m. CET on his Instagram account. In it, he cooks a full dinner using store-cupboard staples along with ingredients from his fridge in his home kitchen. Kitchen Quarantine not only features chef Massimo, but also his entire family, who all get in on the kitchen action, offering some fun-filled light relief. Whether you are impacted by coronavirus in the US, or by coronavirus in Italy, anyone in the world can enjoy this light-hearted show.
Ed Bastian
He may not be a celebrity, but to his employees, this man sure is. Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Airlines announced recently that he is forgoing his salary for six months in an effort to avoid staff layoffs. The airline has had to cut more flights than it did after 9/11, due to the impact of coronavirus in the US and across the world.
We hope these stories of giving back will inspire you to do what you can, whether it be helping in the battle against coronavirus in the US, coronavirus Italy, or anywhere else in the world. Remember, even small acts of kindness all add up, whether it is simply helping an elderly neighbour with their shopping, donating to a food bank, or volunteering your time with a community group focused on assisting the most vulnerable in society. For more feel-good inspiration, discover some of the world’s luxury brands helping in the fight against Covid-19.