What began as a birthday celebration five weeks ago has grown into a virtual fundraising phenomenon that's raised $1 million to support COVID-19 relief efforts
What started simply, and privately, as a fun way to connect while celebrating a 17-year-old’s birthday five weeks ago has grown into a virtual fundraising phenomenon that crossed the $1 million mark Friday night during a concert event that featured the mayor of Atlanta, R&B superstars and Hollywood power players teaming up to raise money to support COVID-19 relief efforts.
Well over $250,000 was raised during the four-plus hour event, funds that will be distributed to provide food assistance, education resources for kids, preventative healthcare, and financial support for families in need. Tonight’s showing followed a series of events over the past four weeks that featured more than 100 top artists showing off their talents to the tune of $850,000 for previous beneficiaries the Saban Community Clinic, Cedars-Sinai Hospital, United Way L.A.
The Mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms, then appeared, the second mayor after L.A.'s own Eric Garcetti. She thanked the Weitz family and then offered an update about efforts on the ground in Georgia. She addressed the unique situation her city is in as home to a large population of black residents.
"I was in that hair salon for hours and hours on end. It is the place where I met the most incredible people who changed my life. They encouraged me and inspired me … and they are on the front end of this pandemic," she explained. "To think that these are the people who are being sent back out first, in so many ways, as guinea pigs to see if its OK for rest of us to venture back out — they are the last ones who need to go back out.
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