Just days after Donald Trump announced he’d be pulling funding from the World Health Organization, musical artists around the world came together to help. The “One World: Together At Home” concert on Saturday raised $127.9 million for the WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. The money will, in part, help healthcare workers. Global Citizen points out:
Donations to the fund will also support the vaccine development alliance Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and UNICEF. The Together At Home effort will also aid over 100 additional local and regional charities that will also receive funds, including Education Cannot Wait, Direct Care, Feeding America and United Way, among others. Changemakers, investors, and foundation leaders came together to contribute quickly to related efforts, like strengthening health care systems and investing in vaccine development.
The concert was organized by Global Citizen and Lady Gaga. The singer said this about the event:
“It is a love letter to our doctors, a love letter to our nurses, and other healthcare professionals, who are risking their own lives for the sake of ours. To the delivery drivers, grocery store workers, factory workers, public transportation workers, postal workers and restaurant workers doing the same. We celebrate your bravery and your heroism.”
The eight-hour event featured appearances by Beyonce, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Lizzo, Billie Eilish and more.
Thank you to all the essential workers who are getting up every day and risking their lives on our behalf. @LauraWBush and I were honored to show our support for their heroic efforts during tonight's @GlblCtzn’s One World: #TogetherAtHome Special. https://t.co/Q3saUkv36h
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) April 19, 2020
The messages from leaders and artists on #GlobalCitizen #TogetherAtHome :
-act selflessly & think of others
-bring communities together
-trust science
-solidarity with other nations
-celebrate the WHOA departure from the messages at daily White House coronavirus briefings
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) April 19, 2020
Thanks: @ladygaga, @Hughcevans & @GlblCtzn for bringing the 🌍 #TogetherAtHome to support those fighting #COVID19 24/7 on the frontlines;
to all artists for their participation; & everyone who contributed to the Solidarity Fund.
This is how powerful we can be when we are united! https://t.co/hoRQRuiIR0— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 19, 2020
If you missed the concert, you can check out the performances here.