Ottawa Citizen

From cash, to quirky, to concerts

Celebritie­s are stepping up to help the vulnerable during this pandemic

- SONIA ELKS

LONDON Famous faces are stepping up to help the world’s most vulnerable people during the coronaviru­s pandemic, ranging from donating cash to more quirky offers of support.

From walk-on film parts to vegan burger drop-offs, here are eight ways that celebritie­s are working to support those struggling to cope with COVID -19:

1

Pop singer Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation has joined forces with Jay-Z’s Shawn Carter Foundation and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to donate $6.2 million (all figures in U.S. dollars) to 11 organizati­ons including some helping victims of domestic abuse and homeless or trafficked youth affected by the coronaviru­s lockdowns.

2

Film director Martin Scorsese is offering a walk-on part in a film featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro for the winner of a raffle held as part of the All In Challenge raising millions to feed vulnerable groups during the crisis.

3

Rapper Snoop Dogg has sent vegan Beyond Meat burgers to a Los Angeles hospice. Model Karlie Kloss and comedian Kevin Hart are also among the brand’s ambassador­s and supporters backing its pledge to donate more than a million burgers.

4

DJ Fatboy Slim will show his praise for health-care workers by hosting a free club night in Britain for thousands of medical staff and other front-line responders so they can dance away their stresses.

5

Pop star Britney Spears has been hailed an unexpected campaigner for workers and the vulnerable after sharing a post on social media that called for redistribu­tion of wealth to help others.

6

Country music star Dolly Parton is hoping to help find a cure for the coronaviru­s, donating $1 million toward medical research after hearing of “exciting developmen­ts” in the field. 7

Pop star Lady Gaga hosted a star-studded One World: Together At Home concert together with the Global Citizen group on April 18 that raised approximat­ely $127 million for health-care workers responding to the global coronaviru­s outbreak.

8

U2 musician and veteran campaigner Bono has made a diplomatic interventi­on by writing to South Korea’s president Moon Jae-in asking him to help Ireland as it battles with shortages of medical supplies.

Reuters

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Lady Gaga

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