Less than three weeks after pledging $5 million for coronavirus relief, Rihanna is back with another multimillion-dollar donation. As Billboard reports, she and Twitter/Square CEO Jack Dorsey are teaming up to provide $4.2 million to victims of domestic violence impacted by the COVID-19 lockdowns.
The joint grant will be funneled into the Los Angeles Mayor’s Fund, with an eye on the city’s overcrowded shelters. Reportedly, the LA Housing Authority has been forced to turn away 90 people per week since Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Safer at Home Order. This $4.2 million is enough to provide shelter, food, and counseling for up to 90 people a week for the next 20 weeks.
Dorsey is quickly establishing himself as America’s foremost pandemic philanthropist. Earlier this week the tech baron pledged $1 billion in COVID-19 aid, although some of that is earmarked for girl’s education and a new lobbying LLC that will back a universal basic income. Comparatively, this $4.2 million is small potatoes, but it’s another sign of his commitment to helping America through the pandemic.
As for the Barbados Ambassador, she’s never been afraid to part with money for her ideals, and even turned down the Super Bowl Halftime Show to support Colin Kaepernick. Otherwise she’s been kicking around potential titles for her new reggae album, and last month she guested on PartyNextDoor’s “Believe It”.
jessinofly on April 10th, 2020 at 17:06 UTC »
Hope this goes to.the people who need it... I am in lockdown with my ex.. its been the biggest test Ive faced yet. Learning new ways to deflect and not engage or in rage him so my kids dont have to witness anything . If i can get through this, I think I can get through anything. I am moving in to a new apartment on the 20th, and thank the powers that be for relief checks coming. Ill be so glad to be out of this. I feel lucky as hes not physical unless really really angry. My heart goes out to the women who are walking on even more shakey grounds🥺
Halostar on April 10th, 2020 at 14:55 UTC »
The domestic violence increase is a huge issue that's flying a bit under the radar in all this. Props to Rihanna and Dorsey.
antifatlogic on April 10th, 2020 at 14:10 UTC »
Rihanna is incredible. She has done so much. - Donated PPE to New York - Paid for $700k worth of ventilators to send to Barbados, her home country - Donated $5 million to organizations providing direct support to fight the virus in the US and beyond. - Donated an additional $1m to support frontline workers, the homeless, and undocumented workers, and incarcerated people in LA and NYC.
Meanwhile, fuck Jeff Bezos.