As India faces one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the world, more celebrities are stepping up to use their platforms to raise funds and drive relief efforts.
On the heels of reports that India set a single-day record for most new COVID-19 cases with 412,262, the GO Campaign has announced that its COVID Relief Fund will mobilize to provide assistance in India in a variety of ways that include vaccinations, PPE, medicine, food deliveries, daily health checks, pulse oximeters, self-inflating resuscitators, education resources for children, and other potentially life-saving items.
GO Campaign has been on the ground in India over the past eight years through partnerships with grassroots organizations like Dharavi Diary, Red Brigade and Bal Ashram Trust. As such, founder and CEO Scott Fifer says that the org is “fortunate in that we are in a position to cut out the red tape often associated with many aid organizations” to bring fast and immediate relief. “The more we raise, the more children, women and families we can protect,” Fifer said.
GO Campaign ambassadors Robert Pattinson, Lily Collins and Ewan McGregor have joined the fight to help spread awareness of India’s critical situation while also raising money to support the COVID Relief Fund. “India is facing a devastating second wave of COVID-19, and their healthcare system does not have enough resources to care for everybody,” explained Collins. “They are in dire need of protective equipment, oxygen, medicine and food to save lives. I have such beautiful memories of my time in India and the country will always hold such a special place in my heart.”
Added McGregor: “Any donation amount can make a difference and can help save lives.”
GO Campaign has set a goal of raising $250,000 from grassroots donors in the next two weeks to further fund relief efforts. In doing so, it will also rely on a roster of Hollywood activists who partnered with GO in 2020 as “Changemakers,” people like Minka Kelly, Brandon Flynn, Nikki Reed, Max Carver, Alex MacNicoll and Abigail Cowen, among others. Ambassador Pattinson said, “Think of GO as a really meaningful investment fund — they take your dollars and invest them in children, in a diverse portfolio, for maximum results. And the common thread is those heroes, their proven track record, their commitment to serving children.”
Meanwhile, the cast and creators of Netflix’s Never Have I Ever are coming together May 8 for a live table read and sneak peek at the upcoming second season of the comedy series as a benefit for GiveIndia. The event will stream live on YouTube at 2:30 p.m. PT. “We are coming together to try to help our brothers and sisters in India,” shared co-creator Mindy Kaling on Instagram.
They are the latest initiatives announced this week following a slew of efforts led by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who has been using her platform to drive funds and relief efforts, also through GiveIndia. “People are dying in record numbers. There is illness everywhere, and it’s only continuing to spread and kill at great speed and scale,” she posted, later adding, “No one is safe until everyone is safe.”
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