Rihanna pledged $15 million through her charity, the Clara Lionel Foundation, to help fight climate change.
The 33-year-old singer’s foundation will provide grants to several organizations to aid in climate justice for underserved communities, as reported by TheGrio.
Rihanna Has A Big Heart
Rihanna, born Robyn Fenty, announced on Instagram that she’s partnering with former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s #StartSmall initiative. The donation should aid in the climate justice movement happening in both the US and the Caribbean. They hope to help create policy change and equitable systems by offering grants to specific organizations.
“We are partnering with 18 organizations across the U.S. and Caribbean to support the climate justice movement,” the nine-time Grammy-winning singer wrote in the caption. “These grants support entities focused on and led by women, youth, Black, Indigenous, people of color and LGBTQIA+ communities.”
Rihanna then mentioned 18 organizations that will be receiving grants. Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN), Indigenous Environmental Network, The Black Feminist Fund, Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund, Movement 4 Black Lives, and The Solutions Project were among those mentioned.
Rihanna Is Sharing Her Blessings
“At the Clara Lionel Foundation, much of the work is rooted in the understanding that climate disasters, which are growing in frequency and intensity, do not impact all communities equally, with communities of color and island nations facing the brunt of climate change. This is why CLF prioritizes both climate resilience and climate justice work across the U.S. and Caribbean,” Rihanna said in a statement.
Executive director of the Clara Lionel Foundation, Justine Lucas, echoed the Fenty Beauty founder’s sentiment by saying: “CLF believes strongly that funders must build partnerships with organizations and acknowledge their deep understanding of what is necessary to achieve climate justice in their own communities.”
Fans React To The News
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Fans commended the singer for her generous act.
“Shame on anyone telling you you’re just anything. You’re continuing to change the d*mn world and inspiring billions of people. Thanks for being you,” one commented under her share.
“Congratulations and a job well done. This is the type of celebrity kids these days need to look up to. Not influencers who just show off their bodies. PROUD OF YOU RI!” added another user.
“Climate justice 👏👏👏 you make the world better Rih,” remarked the third follower.
Helping The World
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This is not the first time Rihanna has donated through her foundation.
In March 2020, during the height of the pandemic, she dropped $5 million to various organizations assisting with coronavirus relief efforts.
The CLF announced the donation in a statement.
“When we first began this year, never could we have imagined how (the coronavirus) would so dramatically alter our lives,” the foundation said. “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, this pandemic will affect us all. And for the world’s most vulnerable, the worst may be yet to come.”
The Foundation’s Goal
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As per CNN, the foundation donated the money to Feeding America, Partners in Health, Direct Relief, The World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, and the International Rescue Committee, among others.
According to the foundation, their goal is “to immediately mobilize a broad response working with on-the-ground partners.”
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Lucas also issued a statement at the time, saying, “Never has it been more important or urgent to protect and prepare marginalized and underserved communities — those who will be hit hardest by this pandemic.”
Rihanna founded the Clara Lionel Foundation in 2012 and named it in honor of her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Braithwaite. The charity has funded education efforts and emergency preparedness worldwide. In a past interview, she talked about the inspiration behind the charity’s work.
“When I think of my grandmother, I think of a very strong woman. I mean very strong, very independent,” she said, adding, “But the most caring woman. Very giving, very selfless; all the women in my family strived to be like her. And that’s why I’m here. She has battled cancer, and she passed away. So I care about fighting this disease. I care about getting giving people a chance.”
