Taylor Swift donated $1 million to help those affected by the Nashville tornado
On Tuesday, March 3rd, two tornadoes hit the Tennessee counties of Benton, Davidson, Putnam, and Wilson, killing at least 24 people and destroying hundreds of homes and businesses. There has been an outpouring of support for the residents and the victims’ families in the aftermath, and now, pop singer Taylor Swift has contributed in a major way.
As confirmed by her spokesperson to CNN, Taylor Swift donated $1 million to the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund. Donations to the emergency fund “support the affected communities and nonprofits helping victims address their ongoing needs.”
Swift posted about her donation to her Instagram Story and included a link to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, to which fans can also donate.
“Nashville is my home and the fact that so many people have lost their homes and so much more in Middle Tennessee is devastating to me,” she wrote. “I’ve made a donation to the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund. If you’d like to do the same, swipe up.”
Swift is originally from Pennsylvania, but moved with her family to Nashville at age 13 when she was offered a development deal from a studio, as she explained to Time in 2014. “It’s hard to describe why you consider a town your home base, except that when people ask me ‘Where’s home?’, I don’t even think before I say ‘Nashville,’” she said in the interview.
My heart is with everyone in Tennessee who has been affected by the tornados. Sending you my love and prayers.
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) March 3, 2020
As noted by the Tennessean, Swift has long been a huge supporter of Nashville. Notably, she gave $4 million to support the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s educational efforts, donated $500,000 after the Nashville flood in 2010, and gave $113,000 to the Tennessee Equality Project last year.
While Swift is able to make such large donations because of her celebrity status, anyone can pitch in to help victims of a natural disaster regardless of who they are or whether they have money to give. Check out the The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to see how you can get involved and help the cause.