Rihanna just donated $2.1 million to domestic violence survivors at home during quarantine

For those already coping with bad situations, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has likely only heightened their hardship. When it comes to survivors of domestic violence specifically, stay-at-home orders can be dangerous, and shelters are running out of space. To do her part, Rihanna donated $2.1 million directly to aid domestic violence survivors during coronavirus.

Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) teamed up with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to donate a total of $4.2 million to the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles. According to the CLF website, the money will provide 10 weeks of support for domestic abuse survivors—some of whom have been turned away at shelters due to increased need during this time. Rolling Stone reports that, according to the Los Angeles Housing Authority, an estimated 90 people per week have been turned away from shelters in the area since the stay-at-home order began.

The money from Rihanna and Dorsey will cover meals, shelter, and counseling for both domestic violence survivors and their children.

This is not Rihanna’s first large donation toward coronavirus relief. On March 20th, CLF donated $5 million to be split among organizations, including Direct Relief, Feeding America, the International Rescue Committee, Partners in Health, and the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. The money went toward food banks, testing, supplies, and more.

We're joining forces with Twitter/Square CEO @Jack today by co-funding $4.2 million grant to the @MayorsFundLA to address the current crisis for domestic violence victims in Los Angeles as a result of the COVID-19 Safer at Home Order. #startsmall #CLF pic.twitter.com/JKoKb60N3n

— Clara Lionel Fdn (@ClaraLionelFdn) April 9, 2020

Then, on March 31st, CLF partnered with Jay-Z’s Shawn Carter Foundation to give $2 million to organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, New York City’s Fund for Public Schools, the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, and the New York Immigration Coalition. This round of donations was meant to help high-risk and vulnerable communities, such as undocumented workers, children of frontline healthcare workers, and the elderly, homeless, and incarcerated.

Additionally, Rihanna’s Fenty beauty line is offering a special makeup case and a highlighter, with 100% of proceeds going to CLF.

With these donations, Rihanna’s foundation—which is named after her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Braithwaite—is living up to its mission of funding “groundbreaking and effective education and emergency response programs around the world.” While a coronavirus pandemic is probably not what Rihanna had in mind when starting the organization, she is certainly stepping up to the moment.

As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, HelloGiggles is committed to providing accurate and helpful coverage to our readers. As such, some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, we encourage you to use online resources from CDC, WHO, and local public health departments, and visit our coronavirus hub.