Editor’s note: This article was originally published on March 9, 2022, and has been updated to include additional celebrities donating and showing support for Ukraine.
Musicians, actors, and reality stars are using their platforms to support the unfolding humanitarian crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb 24.
More than 3 million refugees, many of them women and children, have fled the violent attacks with few belongings and now need basic necessities like food, water, and shelter.
While there are many ways to support, from joining a protest to staying informed, celebrities are spreading solidarity and mobilizing funds for organizations delivering humanitarian aid to refugees on the ground.
Here’s a list of stars making significant monetary contributions to help people impacted by the crisis in Ukraine.
1. Mila Kunis and 2. Ashton Kutcher
The couple kickstarted a GoFundMe campaign for Ukraine with a $3 million donation on March 4. The fundraiser has since raised over $18 million. The former That 70s Show co-stars launched the initiative in a video where Kunis — who was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, and came to the US in 1991 — shared her pride in her heritage. Kutcher jumped in to share how their fundraising efforts will help.
"And while we witness the bravery of the people of the country that she was born in, we're also witness to the needs of those who have chosen safety,” Kutcher said in the video. “We're raising funds to support a relief effort that will have immediate impact and supply much needed refugee and humanitarian aid to the area.”
The funds raised will support vacation rental company Airbnb in providing housing for Ukrainian refugees in partnership with freight company Flexport, which will ship supplies to refugees.
3. Gigi Hadid
The supermodel announced on Sunday that she would donate all of her earnings from participating in Fall 2022 Fashion Week shows this month to support humanitarian relief efforts for people impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Hadid, whose father is Palestinian, will also donate funds to people in Palestine who have been affected by the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“Having a set Fashion Month schedule has meant that my colleagues and I often present new fashion collections during heartbreaking and traumatic times in history,” Hadid wrote in an Instagram caption.
4. Bethenny Frankel
The Real Housewives of New York City star’s nonprofit BStrong raised $4 million in cash donations, in addition to the $10 million the organization already pledged to support Ukraine. BStrong started helping Ukrainian refugees relocate to Poland in February and delivered 100,000 crisis kits packed with sleeping supplies, toiletries, food, water, and generators. BStrong plans to continue assisting Ukraine over the next few months and is still accepting donations.
Frankel expressed gratitude for the support her organization has received.
"These are $50 donations because a $50 donation could be a train ticket for someone to get where they need to get to,” she said. “So, it's been all about small donations, that's the thing that's been really inspiring.”
The outreach for 🥜 🇺🇦 art is overwhelming and astounding. We are working on a way to make a larger quantity to keep up with the demand. More soon. Xo
— Bethenny Frankel (@Bethenny) March 7, 2022
5. Leonardo DiCaprio
The actor and climate advocate donated $10 million to support Ukraine through the International Visegrad Fund. DiCaprio’s grandmother was born in Odesa, Ukraine, and migrated to Germany in 1917.
6. The Weeknd
Singer-songwriter and Global Citizen artist Abel Tesfaye, also known as The Weeknd, has committed $1 million to the World Food Programme to support the organization’s efforts against hunger around the world. In addition to an initial $500,000 direct donation, the artist will match up to $500,000 from his upcoming tour. The funds will be used to support Ukrainian refugees and people in other humanitarian crises around the world.
7. Blake Lively and 8. Ryan Reynolds
The actors Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds announced that they will be matching up to $1 million in donations to UNHCR, the United Nations’ Refugee Agency. Since the conflict began, more than 2 million people have fled Ukraine and tens of millions have been internally displaced within the country. The UN has called for $1.7 billion in emergency humanitarian aid to support relief efforts.
In 48 hours, countless Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes to neighboring countries. They need protection. When you donate, we’ll match it up to $1,000,000, creating double the support.⬇️ https://t.co/xCFL1Lptuwhttps://t.co/CHp48E1KLQ
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) February 26, 2022
9. Kit Harington
The Game of Thrones star joined a host of other actors, including Adrian Lester, Simon Pegg, Hugh Bonnevile, and David Tennant, in videos and radio ads to help raise $120 million for the Disasters Emergency Committee — a coalition of 15 leading humanitarian nonprofits in the UK — which is supporting the Ukrainian relief effort.
10. David Beckham and 11. Victoria Beckham
The couple donated £1 million to support aid to Ukraine through UNICEF, where David Beckham is an ambassador. On March 20, David also handed his Instagram account over to Iryna, the head of the Regional Perinatal Centre in Kharkiv, Ukraine, who posted videos throughout the day. The soccer star encouraged followers to join him in donating to UNICEF, and highlighted the "amazing work Iryna and health workers like her are doing to save lives in Ukraine."
Iryna shared footage of newborns being treated in basements to stay clear of bombings, and she said her staff is working around the clock to help patients.