Billy Joel and wife Alexis have announced that their Joel Foundation will be making a series of donations amounting to $500,000 for aid and relief for the Coronavirus pandemic. The couple issued a statement explaining in part, "We searched for an organization that would be able to immediately purchase equipment and deliver it to the hospitals that are in dire need. As New Yorkers, we have personal ties to so many of these heroic healthcare workers that are risking their own lives. We cannot begin to express our gratitude for them and our concern for their well-being."
The Joels went on to write, "Our first donation will be $500,000 in the form of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). BStrong (Bethenny Frankel’s disaster relief initiative) will immediately purchase masks, corona (virus test) kits and hazmat suits for the doctors and nurses in hospitals that are in dire need. B Strong in partnership with the Global Empowerment Mission sourced equipment and is distributing it in real time to these hospitals. 75 percent will go to the New York City and Long Island area and 25 percent will be allocated to the rest of the hospitals in New York State."
They closed by saying, "Please continue to practice all the guidelines that have been put in place to protect us all. Our thoughts are with every person fighting this illness. Please continue to practice all the guidelines that have been put in place to protect us all. Our thoughts are with every person fighting this illness. Love, Billy & Alexis"