Proving that she truly is the Queen of the people, Rihanna just donated 5 million dollars in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Rihanna is loved by many around the globe—whether it’s because of her iconic music, Fenty beauty brand (as well as the fashion brand), or just simply her fierceness when it comes to body-positivity and self-love. However, she’s constantly proving to us why she’s really worth the adulation she receives, especially in this time of crisis.
Recently, The Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF), named after the singer and business mogul’s grandparents, announced a donation on Sunday, March 22, 2020. According to the press release by the foundation, “when we first began this year, never could we have imagined how COVID-19 would so dramatically alter our lives.”
“It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, this pandemic will affect us all. And for the world’s most vulnerable, the worst may be yet to come,” the foundation added. So, as the CLF has been one of the first organizations to always respond to some of the world’s most devastating disasters, they saw it fitting to provide USD5 million to various organizations.
By doing so, it will help the immediate mobilization of a broad response working with on-the-ground partners that include Direct Relief, Partners in Health, The World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, the International Rescue Committee, and others.
In addition, the funds will help communities have medical supplies and equipment, and most importantly, access to food across multiple regions. It was also mentioned that the sum would help protect native communities by providing them with resources to fight the virus.
The CLF was founded by Rihanna back in 2012 that funds education and emergency response programs around the world. In fact, its famed annual Diamond Ball in 2019 raised more than $5 million to support its work in climate resilience and education around the world.
Other local and foreign celebrities who have donated in response to the coronavirus are Ryan Reynolds together with Blake Lively pledging USD1 million, actress and host Maine Mendoza launching DoNation drive for daily wage earners, and Bela Padilla who raised PHP3.3 million (exceeding her initial target of PHP1 million).
