Taylor Swift has donated $5 million to aid those affected by Hurricane Milton, which hit the Florida coast with devastating impact. The storm is threatening widespread destruction across a region that had already been battered by Hurricane Helene just a few weeks prior.
Swift’s donation was made to Feeding America, a non-profit organization focused on ending hunger in the U.S., which will use the funds to help communities in need. Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, the CEO of Feeding America, expressed her gratitude on social media, thanking Swift for her generosity and support.
Swift, the world’s richest female musician with an estimated fortune of $1.6 billion, is no stranger to charitable giving. Her latest donation comes just as she prepares to continue her Eras Tour in Miami next week.
Swift has a history of supporting food banks and charitable causes. Earlier this year, during her Eras Tour in the UK, she donated to 1,400 Trussell Trust food banks in cities where she performed, including Edinburgh, Liverpool, Cardiff, and London.
Swift’s philanthropy extends beyond disaster relief, as she recently donated $100,000 to a fundraiser for the family of a woman killed during a mass shooting at a Kansas City Chiefs celebration.
The singer was at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl celebration to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, who plays for the team. Swift’s personal life and her relationship with Kelce have drawn attention, but her focus on charitable efforts remains steadfast.
In addition to her individual efforts, the music industry has rallied to support hurricane relief efforts. On Wednesday, country stars like Keith Urban, Luke Combs, and Eric Church announced they would perform at a Concert for Carolina later this month in Charlotte, North Carolina, to benefit victims of Hurricanes Milton and Helene.
Other celebrities have also contributed to the relief efforts. Country artist Morgan Wallen was seen in Knoxville, Tennessee, collecting supplies and taking photos with fans at a food drive. Earlier, Wallen had donated $500,000 to the American Red Cross to assist with the hurricane relief. His actions, along with those of other celebrities, demonstrate a broader commitment from the entertainment industry to help those affected by the storms.
Legendary country superstar Dolly Parton also stepped up, donating $1 million of her personal funds to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a non-profit in Tennessee. The foundation is providing immediate assistance to victims of Hurricane Helene, which caused significant flooding in the area.
Parton’s businesses, including the Dollywood theme park, matched her donation, doubling the amount available to help those in need.
Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm, with winds exceeding 100 mph (160 kph). The storm wreaked havoc across Florida, producing multiple tornadoes and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
The National Hurricane Center reported maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (205 kph) when the storm hit Siesta Key at around 8:30 p.m. local time. As a result, more than two million households across the state were left without power.
Officials in St. Lucie County, located on Florida’s Atlantic coast, reported that two people had died after tornadoes touched down in the area. These tragic deaths add to the toll of destruction caused by Milton, which left many communities struggling to recover.
Emergency services and relief organizations are working around the clock to assist those affected by the storm.
In addition to the high winds, forecasters warned of a potentially deadly storm surge along much of Florida’s Gulf Coast. The storm surge, combined with heavy rains, threatens to exacerbate the damage already done by the hurricane, with flooding and further infrastructure damage likely.
The recovery process will be long and challenging for the communities impacted by both Hurricanes Milton and Helene.
As Florida and surrounding areas continue to deal with the aftermath of these destructive storms, efforts from celebrities like Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen, and Dolly Parton will play a crucial role in supporting relief operations. Their contributions, along with those of other public figures, highlight the power of collective action in times of crisis.
