Leonardo DiCaprio Helps Launch Food Fund for COVID-19
Written by SOURCE on April 2, 2020
Leonardo DiCaprio is stepping up to help with the launch of America’s Food Fund in support of those affected by the novel coronavirus.
“Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 37 million people struggled to know where their next meal might come from on a daily basis, a number that we are seeing rise at an exponential rate,” an explainer on the initiative’s GoFundMe page states. “We have an opportunity to come together to support our neighbors in this critical time of need.”
America’s Food Fund—the launch of which sees DiCaprio joined by Laurene Powell Jobs, Apple, and the Ford Foundation—will provide assistance for the frontline work of both the World Central Kitchen and Feeding America. As America’s Food Fund has outlined for those who wish to contribute, both groups have been facing new daily challenges ranging from responding to rising in-need numbers to the distribution of meals in a way that keeps the safety of volunteers and recipients in mind.
In a statement to the Associated Press, DiCaprio—who co-founded AFF with Jobs—thanked World Central Kitchen and Feeding America for their “unwavering commitment” to feeding the vulnerable during times of crisis.
Feeding America, meanwhile, thanked DiCaprio and company for their generous assistance while pointing out a few of the sobering stats behind the need for continued COVID-19 containment efforts.
“On behalf of Feeding America, I would like to thank Leonardo DiCaprio, Laurene Powell Jobs, and Tim Cook for their generosity and support, which will help our network of food banks provide food and other resources to communities impacted by this crisis,” Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, said in a press release. “Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 37 million people in this country did not have consistent access to nutritious meals—including 11 million children and 5.5 million seniors. These numbers are quickly rising, and it is critical that we rally together as a nation to support our neighbors during this time of great need.”
For more information on America’s Food Fund, which has already stacked up $12 million, click here.
