Taylor Swift made headlines this week when she donated $5 million to Feeding America to support relief efforts for Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Feeding America’s CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot told Newsweek that the charity is “incredibly grateful” for the pop star’s “generous” gesture.
“This contribution will help communities rebuild and recover, providing essential food, clean water and supplies to people affected by these devastating storms. Together we can make a real impact in supporting families as they navigate the challenges ahead,” Babineaux-Fontenot added in her statement.
“Thank you, Taylor, for standing with us in the movement to end hunger and for helping communities in need.”
In addition to her donation to Feeding America, Swift has pledged $1 million to the Mountain Ways foundation, a registered charitable organization dedicated to providing immediate assistance to Hurricane Helene’s flood victims.
According to information gathered from news reports of her public donations, Swift has donated around $6.5 million to charity this year. But the total amount will be higher as some charities have chosen to keep the amount of money that Swift has donated private, and this figure is based only on donations that have been reported in the media.
Taylor Swift performs on stage during the The Eras Tour” at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on August 15, 2024. Swift made headlines this week when she donated $5 million to Feeding America.
Kate Green/Getty Images
Newsweek has reached out to a representative for Swift for comment.
Throughout her career, Swift has made a number of philanthropic contributions to a wide range of causes.
Early in her career, she donated $4 million to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to establish the Taylor Swift Education Center, providing children with opportunities to explore music and the arts.
She has also supported disaster relief efforts, including significant donations following events like the 2016 Tennessee wildfires and Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Swift is also a vocal advocate for women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights, using her platform to raise awareness and contribute to organizations such as the Joyful Heart Foundation and GLAAD.
In recent years, Swift’s charitable focus has extended to combating hunger and food insecurity. During her recent Eras Tour, she donated to numerous food banks across the United States, supporting organizations like the Arizona Food Bank Network and Feeding Tampa Bay.
Her philanthropy includes contributions to educational programs, cancer research and COVID-19 relief, underscoring her commitment to a broad spectrum of social causes. Additionally, she has personally supported some fans, including paying college tuition for struggling students and offering financial assistance during the pandemic.
In February, Swift donated $100,000 a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for the family of the woman killed in a shooting following a parade to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl win.
Swift also made a number of donations to food banks across the U.K. and Ireland during The Eras Tour. Food banks are non-profit organizations that collect and distribute food to those struggling with food insecurity. They typically rely on donations to carry out their work.
Swift made a donation to The Trussell Trust charity, which runs 1,400 food banks and community organizations across the U.K. Swift’s donation, the exact amount of which was not disclosed, comes at a critical time when demand for food bank services is high.
In a statement shared with Newsweek, Sophie Carre, director of public engagement at The Trussell Trust, said: “We are extremely grateful to Taylor Swift for her generous donation to Trussell.”
“We are delighted that she has chosen to support the work of food banks and this, alongside the other donations she has made directly to food banks across the country, will help people facing hunger and hardship during their toughest moments, while working towards a more just future where everyone can afford the essentials.”
“Taylor has put a spotlight on the need for emergency food at a time when our food banks are providing more support to people facing hardship than ever before. We believe it’s not right that anyone needs to use a food bank and while we work together to right this wrong, this donation will go a long way in supporting the vital work of food banks to help people facing hunger,” Carre added.
The Trussell Trust said that Swift’s donation is expected to have a nationwide impact by supporting the charity’s emergency grants program, which focuses on community initiatives in need. The charity said the publicity that Swift’s donation brings to the organization is important, as it may inspire others to get involved and donate.
In Liverpool, England, Swift covered a full year’s worth of food bills for 11 food banks and eight community pantries, though the exact amount was not disclosed. Her donations in Cardiff, Wales, provided over 10,800 meals for local communities.
In Dublin, Ireland, Swift donated $27,320 to a local food bank.
The pop star’s efforts to spotlight food insecurity have been praised as crucial, especially with food banks expecting to face increasing demand as winter approaches.
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