Academy Award winner Lady Gaga is putting her money where her mouth is. After the recent string of mass shootings in Gilroy, CA; El Paso, TX; and Dayton, OH, Gaga announced that she and her Born This Way Foundation are teaming up with DonorsChoose.org to fund 162 classrooms in communities affected by the devastating violence and loss of life.
Gaga shared the news last week in a Facebook post. “A note to Dayton, El Paso, and Gilroy,” her message begins. “My heart goes out to those who were taken from us too soon and to their families, loved ones, and communities who are left to grieve. Everyone has the right to laws that make them feel safe in their communities. In this moment, I want to channel my confusion, frustration, and fury into hope. Hope that we are there for each other and for ourselves.”
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“Today, I find hope in the work of DonorsChoose.org and I’m proud to partner with them and with Born This Way Foundation to fully fund the classroom project needs in Dayton, OH, El Paso, TX, and Gilroy, CA. 14 classrooms in Dayton, 125 classrooms in El Paso, and 23 classrooms in Gilroy will now have access to the support they need to inspire their students to work together and bring their dreams to life.”
Gaga continued: “Surviving and recovering from these tragedies also means prioritizing your mental health and checking in on your loved ones. If you’re struggling, please be brave and tell a trusted someone. Don’t be scared to ask for help, I beg you. If you see a loved one struggling, please be brave and reach out, remind them it’s ok to not be ok, and listen to them. We cannot turn away from ourselves. We cannot turn away from our loved ones. We need each other. Don’t turn away.”
She concluded her announcement with a dedication to victims of the recent shootings. “In loving memory of the victims of the tragic shootings in Dayton, OH, El Paso, TX, and Gilroy, CA.”
Gaga has long been an outspoken advocate for mental health issues, and one of the Born This Way Foundation’s main missions is to promote better mental health practices among young people. As gun control debates rage on (and ultimately go nowhere), it is good to see someone working to provide affected communities with resources that will, hopefully, help them get through this trauma.
Gaga encourages others to further support this project by donating via DonorsChoose.org. So far, the fundraiser has already brought in more than $10,000 for school projects in Dayton, El Paso, and Gilroy.