The couple has donated almost $2 million since last year to food banks, charities for homeless young folks, and other causes.
We should all give back to our communities, as much as we are able to. There could be someone whose life we save by donating food, money, or clothes. Altruism has been a large part of our culture as a nation for generations. Today, celebrities have embraced this as an important part of their careers. They endorse causes and donate to help make the voices of marginalized people heard. Many celebrities like Dolly Parton have donated for several causes for years. Younger celebrities like Ryan Reynolds and his wife, Blake Lively, have also stepped up to take care of their community by giving back.
Reynolds, 44, and Lively, 33, have a fun relationship but they are very serious when it comes to doing good. The couple, who are parents to 3 kids, have donated again to food banks during the pandemic. The couple is giving $1 million to Feeding America and Food Banks Canada.
"When #COVID19 first hit in early 2020, @VanCityReynolds and @BlakeLively generously donated $500K (USD) to US sister organization @FeedingAmerica and to Food Banks Canada helping kickstart our COVID-19 Response Funds. It was an act that inspired so many Canadians to donate to their local food banks and show their support to their neighbours during these critical times. Our heartfelt thanks and gratitude ONCE AGAIN to Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively for pledging another $500K in support of our COVID-19 Response Funds!" said Food Banks Canada in a statement. "You continue to be not only our favourite Canadian, but also our favourite superhero 😉 (sorry, Hugh Jackman)," they added.
According to Good Morning America, the couple wrote in an Instagram story of Feeding America, "Many of our neighbors faced hunger last year for the first time and the struggle is still not over. We're honored to continue supporting Feeding America and Food Banks Canada in their mission to keep food on the table for families in need."
In March 2020, the couple had donated $1 million to the two charities in the USA and Canada. They also donated $400,000 to help New York hospitals amid the pandemic. The Elmhurst, NYU, Mount Sinai, and Northern Westchester hospitals received $100,000 each from them, as per Harper's Bazaar. The couple also encouraged others to donate to the hospitals.
"Covid-19 has brutally impacted older adults and love income families," Reynolds began his message at the time. "Blake and I are donating $1 million to be split between FEEDING AMERICA and FOOD BANKS CANADA."
"If you can give, these orgs need our help," he continued. "Take care of your bodies and hearts. Leave room for joy. Call someone who's isolated and might need connection." wrote Reynolds.
In June 2020, the couple donated $200,000 to the NAACP's legal defense fund in response to the death of George Floyd, writes Elle. They donated another $200,000 in aid of Canada's National Indigenous History Month. They donated to St. Francis Xavier University's Coady Institute's initiative, the Circle of Abundance, which intended to give a platform to indigenous women.
The Deadpool actor and the Gossip Girl alum have opened their hearts and pockets many times over the years. In November 2020, the couple donated $500,000 to help young people struggling with homelessness in Canada. They gave $250,000 each to Covenant House Vancouver and Covenant House Toronto, reported CNN.
"The young people who pass through the doors of Covenant House more often than not have a story marked by extraordinary trauma. They are so much more than that trauma," Reynolds said in a statement. "They have so much to offer the world. Matching this gift is saying you believe in them. You believe in the power of compassion to transform the trajectory of a human being," he added.
References:
https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/a33007912/ryan-reynolds-blake-lively-donate/
Cover Image source: Getty Images | Photo by Steven Ferdman
