Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively donate $500k to support homeless and at-risk youngsters

26 November 2020

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have donated $500,000 to help homeless, at-risk and trafficked youngsters.

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively

The showbiz power couple have pledged $250,000 to Covenant House in Vancouver and another quarter of a million to the Toronto branch, both of which offer housing and support services to young people in need.

Ryan said: "Covenant House provides love, hope and stability for at-risk youth who’ve fled physical, emotional and sexual abuse.

"They do the work of heroes. For us, helping Covenant House this way isn’t a donation, but an investment in compassion and empathy; something the world needs more of.

"The young people who pass through the doors of Covenant House more often than not have a story marked by extraordinary trauma.

"They are so much more than that trauma. They have so much to offer the world. Matching this gift is saying you believe in them. You believe in the power of compassion to transform the trajectory of a human being."

Krista Thompson, CEO of Covenant House Vancouver, thanked Ryan and Blake for their "generous donation and compassionate support".

In a post about their gesture on the Covenant House Vancouver website, she said: "Ryan and Blake truly understand that young people who are facing homelessness deserve unconditional love and absolute respect.

"Their generous donation and compassionate support mean so much to Covenant House and we are truly grateful for their continued friendship.

"Just like Ryan and Blake, we hope this gift highlights the value of each and every youth; and inspires others to open their hearts to those struggling with the crisis of homelessness."

The blog post also revealed Ryan, who has been a "long-time friend to Covenant House", is hoping his donation will encourage others to give to the cause.

Ryan, 44, and 33-year-old Blake's latest act of generosity comes after they pledged $1 million towards coronavirus relief, and they also donated $200,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, a leading US legal firm fighting for racial justice.