After recently donating protective equipment and supplies to the state of New York, and following last week’s news that nine-time GRAMMY-winner Robyn Rihanna Fenty would pledge a donation of $5M in COVID-19 relief support through her Clara Lionel Foundation, it has been confirmed that 22-time GRAMMY-winning rapper Shawn Carter or Jay-Z will match her support in the amount of $1M through the Shawn Carter Foundation.

By joining forces, the two entrepreneurs and philanthropists will commit a total of $2M to aiding financial crises for undocumented workers in New York City and Los Angeles, children of healthcare professionals and first-responders, as well as elderly and homeless populations, who are most directly impacted by the unprecedented effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a statement, the grants previously announced by CLF will support on-the-ground efforts in marginalized communities throughout the United States, Caribbean and Africa. Funding provided by the artists will go specifically towards organizations including the Mayor’s Fund for L.A, Fund for Public Schools, the New York Immigration Coalition and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Further, CLF announced specific steps of action that the deployment of the grants will help to facilitate, namely being advocacy for free COVID-19 testing for all New Yorkers regardless of status, expanding home delivered meals for the elderly and providing meals for the homeless or those displaced into shelters. Other measures include providing emergency economic support for immigrants and undocumented workers, in addition to offering daycare, learning material and meals for children of healthcare workers and virtual mental health support for parents. CLF will also encourage voting and civic engagement within marginalized populations and the release of people from jail and detention during periods of quarantine.

Named in honor of her grandparents Clara and Lionel Braithwaite, Rihanna founded the Clara Lionel Foundation in 2012, which works to improve the quality of life of young people around the world with global advocacy efforts in education and emergency response and preparedness. Named one of Fast Company’s most innovative companies in the world, CLF has been one of the first organizations to respond to numerous natural disasters in recent history, including hurricane relief in the Bahamas. Rihanna and the foundation are committed to “getting ahead of the outbreak in order to protect as many frontline health workers and marginalized communities as possible.”

Noting the importance of community support at this time, CLF Executive Director Justine Lucas commented on the grants saying “There are a number of populations who are especially vulnerable during this pandemic… Now more than ever, we need to support organizations prioritizing the health and rights of these individuals.” 

Corroborating the statement was Gloria Carter, Jay-Z’s mom and the CEO and Co-Founder of the Shawn Carter Foundation, saying “In times of crisis it is imperative that we come together as one community to ensure that everyone, especially the most vulnerable, has access to critical needs:  shelter, health, nutrition and education.  The only way to get through this pandemic is with love and action.”

The Shawn Carter Foundation was established as a charity organization in 2003 with the mission of propelling socio-economically disadvantaged individuals into post-secondary education and opportunities for social and economic growth.

For more information on each foundation and how you can contribute to their causes, visit https://claralionelfoundation.org/ and https://www.shawncartersf.com/. Additionally, you can support the well-being of artists and music industry workers during this time by donating to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund here.