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Lady Gaga is no stranger to activism and promoting messages of love—and in the wake of the recent string of mass shootings in the United States, the “Shallow” singer found an incredible way to show support for and directly help the cities of Dayton, Ohio; El Paso, Texas; and Gilroy, California—communities that have all experienced horrific massacres in recent weeks. On Friday (August 9), Gaga posted a heartfelt letter to the survivors of the shootings on Facebook, sharing that she will fully fund classroom project needs in those cities.
“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,” she wrote. “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.”
She then directed her readers to visit the website DonorsChoose.org, a nonprofit organization that allows people to donate directly to public school classroom projects in select communities.
Gaga explained that her Born This Way Foundation is partnering up with the organization to “fully fund the next classroom project needs” in the cities of Ohio, Texas, and California. “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,” she wrote in her message.
“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,” Gaga continued. “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.”
“In loving memory of the victims of the tragic shootings in Dayton, OH, El Paso, TX, and Gilroy, CA,” she ended the post.
Read Gaga’s full post, below—she also included a link to a fundraiser page for the public.
