Rihanna and Her Foundation Donates to Help Defeat Covid-19
Singer and Businesswoman Robyn Rihanna Fenty, or better known by her stage name, Rihanna, is one of the celebrities that has donated a fairly great amount towards aiding against the spreading of the COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. It has become one of the deadliest diseases in the U.S. (NewsWeek). The Clara Lionel Foundation, Rihanna’s nonprofit organization, has donated $5 million to multiple organizations that aid towards battling the pandemic. These organizations include Partners in Health, Feeding America, the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, Direct Relief, and the International Rescue Committee. Rihanna founded the Clara Lionel Foundation in 2012 and created it in honour of Clara and Lionel Braithwaite, Rihanna’s grandparents. According to Fenty Beauty’s website, the organization’s goal is to improve “the quality of life for young people everywhere.” The donation for the organizations will be used to help support food banks in communities that are at-risk and for the elderly in the U.S. It will be used towards testing and other essential necessities in Malawi, Haiti, and Native communities. In addition, the money will provide diagnostic labs and healthcare workers with respiratory supplies, training, and personal protective gear (PPE). According to Clara Lionel Foundation’s website, they state, “We know that one of the most powerful weapons we have against COVID-19 is preparedness.” They go on to say, “Over the past five years CLF has been on the first organizations to respond to some of the world’s most devastating natural disasters…that’s why Clara Lionel Foundation has provided $5 million to the following organizations to immediately mobilize a broad response working with on-the-ground partners…”
In addition to all this, Rihanna and her foundation was personally thanked by Andrew Cuomo, the New York Governor, after having donated personal protective equipment to New York. Cuomo tweeted, “We’re so appreciative of your help and that of so many others who have stepped up,” (Shaffer). It has not been disclosed how much supply has been donated, however, it includes anything from gloves, bodysuits, masks, respirators and other supplies that reduce exposure to the virus. New York has been known to be the state hit the hardest. According to the New York Times, over 202,000 cases of coronavirus are identified and the state consists of more than one-third of the entire United States’ deaths that are related to the coronavirus.
Rihanna herself has dealt with a family member diagnosed with COVID-19. During an interview with The Sun, Ronald Fenty, Rihanna’s 66-year-old father, expressed how he feared for his life when he tested positive for COVID-19. Fenty stated that Rihanna had an unused ventilator sent to his Caribbean home. He needed to stay in a facility separate from civilians. Fortunately, he was able to recover.
Rihanna has definitely been a helping hand throughout this deadly coronavirus war. She not only has been helping her family, but also others that have been suffering due to the pandemic. She has been a great role model to others and shows how a helping hand could be useful during these difficult times.
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