Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have donated $26 million to charities this week ahead of their Friday wedding at Madison Square Garden, with $1 million going to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. The donation is part of a wider effort that spans 20 local and national charities, many in places where the couple has deep ties.
Why Rhode Island got part of the gift
Swift owns a mansion in Watch Hill in Westerly, R.I., and has often spent the Fourth of July there. The Providence-based food bank said the $1 million donation will help pantries across the state buy more food for families and support 137 member agencies fighting hunger.
Melissa Cherney, chief executive of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, called the gift “extraordinarily generous and unexpected” in a press release Thursday.
What the donation means for local food access
Cherney said the timing matters because summer is usually slower for food donations. The food bank is using the season to buy fresh produce, meat and protein items, and milk, while also making sure children are fed over the summer.
The organization serves about 500 meals to children every day during the summer, according to Cherney. She also said Swift has a longstanding relationship with food banks and Feeding America and continues to recognize hunger as a serious concern in communities.
| Donation Recipient | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island Community Food Bank | $1 million | Supports pantries, member agencies, and food purchases across Rhode Island |
| 20 local and national charities | Part of $26 million total | Includes groups tied to places important to the couple |
Other charities in the sweep
According to Swift’s publicist, the couple’s donations also included Feeding America and Harvesters, which serve Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri. Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., where Kelce plays tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, was also among the recipients.
www.bostonglobe.com reported that the donations were spread across communities linked to the couple’s personal and professional lives. Cherney said that gesture can also draw attention to hunger and encourage others to give.
“I think that this really challenges the entire community to make sure that people know that hunger exists, that there are needs out there, and they are showing so much generosity and kindness, and challenging others,” she said.
With reports from the Associated Press.