Apple Donates $10 Million to 'One World: Together At Home' Special to Support WHO's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Donates $10 Million to 'One World: Together At Home' Special to Support WHO's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund

Lady Gaga has teamed up with the World Health Organization and Global Citizen for a "One World: Together At Home" special to raise money to battle the ongoing pandemic, and Apple is donating money to the cause.

Watch on YouTube

Apple CEO ‌Tim Cook‌ announced the donation in a video shared on the YouTube channel for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Lady Gaga called Apple's $10 million donation "quite sizable."

In the video, Jimmy Fallon and Lady Gaga ‌FaceTime‌ Cook, who confirms Apple's plans to donate to the initiative. According to Gaga, more than $35 million has already been raised by tech companies ahead of the special.

"One World: Together at Home" is set to air on Saturday, April 18 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time/8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. It will be available on major cable networks and it will be live streamed by Apple, Amazon, FaceBook, YouTube, and more. Funds raised both ahead of and during the event will support the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

The event will feature appearances and musical performances from Alanis Morissette, Andrea Bocelli, Billie Eilish, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Burna Boy, Chris Martin, David Beckham, Eddie Vedder, Elton John, FINNEAS, Idris and Sabrina Elba, J Balvin, John Legend, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Kerry Washington, Lang Lang, Lizzo, Maluma, Paul McCartney, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Shah Rukh Khan, and Stevie Wonder.

Apple has also sourced and donated over 20 million N95 masks to healthcare professionals, and its design, engineering, operations, and packaging teams are working to design, produce, and ship millions of face shields to medical workers.

Popular Stories

Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature

Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design

Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:36 am PDT by
Apple's long-rumored smart home hub will have an iMac G4-style design and a host of unique features, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. The smart home hub is said to feature a square 6-inch display, with variants that can be placed on a countertop or mounted on a wall. It features a single FaceTime camera on the front, with microphones and speakers in its connected base. Gurman described the...
HomePod minis on gradient feature 1 1

Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13

Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:04 am PDT by
Apple plans to introduce a series of new smart home products on Tuesday, October 13, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple reportedly plans to debut its long-awaited smart home hub device, a new HomePod mini, and a new Apple TV on the date. The new HomePod mini and Apple TV are set to retain their existing designs, but tout faster chips to support Siri AI. The new HomePod mini will...
iPhone Duo Open

iPhone Duo Reportedly Facing Production Problems Ahead of Launch

Tuesday September 29, 2026 6:16 am PDT by
The iPhone Duo is reportedly facing production difficulties ahead of its October launch, with early output expected to be limited. A person said to be close to Foxconn's supply chain told China's Jiemian News that final assembly yields for Apple's first foldable iPhone were only slightly above 60% as of September 17. The source said that, under Apple's current quality standards, it could...

Top Rated Comments

85 months ago
WAIT... WHAT?

They are going to donate to WHO? The same WHO who until January 27th told us that COVID-19 wasn't very communicable and that flight and border monitoring and restrictions are not necessary? The same WHO who parroted and spread false information from the origin country for two months?

Sorry, but most of the reason this bug spread to Italy, Spain, German, Iran the US... the rest of the world... is because WHO was completely incompetent.

They do not deserve any money or attention. They should be disbanded and tossed on the rubbish heap of history along with Yamamoto, Chamberlain and Gavrilo Princip.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iRutherford Avatar
85 months ago
I don't wanna be negative, but COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund? What do they do with it?

I hope it's not just one of those questionable Lady Gaga partnerships/donation drives designed to raise money to make people feel better (e.g. her Born This Way Foundation who chalked up millions of the money they raised as "administrative costs" and only spent $5,000 on actual charity ('https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/mar/14/lady-gaga-denies-born-this-way-foundation-funds')) instead of actually helping them.

Apple, as usual, is generous when it comes to social causes, but I hope they didn't blow money on a yet another "YAAAASSSS KWEEN!!!!!111 SLAY!" Lady Gaga scam.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iRutherford Avatar
85 months ago

Making people feel better is not helping people nowadays? Do you know how many people, especially young LGBTQ youths, don't have access to mental health professionals?

Through the BTW Foundation many got help. Not every charity has to be about giving money or food to the needy. Some need psychological support and that can save lives, literally.

Anyway, good on Gaga for asking money from corporations instead of people who are already hit by this virus and the recession.
Except she didn't even do that. Here's the breakdown of the expenses of her Born This Way "Foundation".

Money raised: $2.1 million in net assets + $2.6 million in donations

Expenses:

* $5,000 in charity work and grants to individuals and organizations
* $348,000 on an outreach bus
* $300,000 in strategic consulting (web design)
* $50,000 in social media
* $62,836 on stage productions
* $50,000 on event coordination
* $406,552 in legal fees
* $150,000 in "philanthropic consulting", whatever that is
* $58,768 in publicity fees
* $60,000 in research
* $78,000 in travel
* $72,000 in salaries
* $10,000 in other foundation expenses
* $808,661 in others - unspecified

This led to a reporter questioning where the money went. Roger Friedman said, "It’s unclear that anyone was really helped by the Born this Way Foundation other than lawyers, consultants, publicists and travel agents." (Source ('https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/mar/14/lady-gaga-denies-born-this-way-foundation-funds'), Source 2 ('https://www.celebitchy.com/355142/lady_gagas_born_this_way_foundation_wasted_15_million_is_it_fraud/'))

When Gaga was "raising awareness" in a bus during this Born This Way "Foundation" thing, she was already on tour, so there's literally nothing they needed to spend on this other than time, and maybe speeches. It's a scam.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
85 months ago
Wow. That’s pretty amazing! Much respect to her for putting this all together, and thank you to Apple for a VERY generous donation!

They may end up raising nearly 100 million (I’m guessing) after the show airs on April 18th.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
85 months ago
Yesterday my hometown received a 5 millon dollar donation in kind (ventilators, masks, suits, the works) from a single individual (a Taiwanese business woman, Ming Chu Hsu)
It wasn't even on the news until the cargo had arrived and was being unloaded on the tarmac (something not to be discounted on the current times)
Apple could do more.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Agent OrangeZ Avatar
85 months ago

I’m sure I’m gonna be raked over the coals for this, but Apple has hundreds of billions of dollars in cash. They won’t even notice that this money is gone.

To those whom much has been given, much is expected. This isn’t much.
There is it is. The person that says $___ Million isn't enough. When in reality any "million" is far more than most people can do... and it is substantial.

Also... though... not to completely trash their intentions.... but in addition to the help the money goes to... this appearance with Fallon and Gaga is the best damned iPhone commercial Apple could ever do. They just showed two stars use Facetime to video chat with Apple's CEO. That is going to make all sorts of people feel warm and fuzzy about the iPhone... in a time for social distancing and on the (damn near) eve of the new $399 iPhone. WIN WIN for Apple.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
AT&T Acknowledges iPhone 18 Pro Max Issues: 'Update Immediately'
AT&T Acknowledges iPhone 18 Pro Max Issues: 'Update Immediately'
6 hours ago
New 'AirFly Drive' Accessory Turns Wired CarPlay Into Wireless CarPlay
New 'AirFly Drive' Accessory Turns Wired CarPlay Into Wireless CarPlay
12 hours ago
Apple Shares Photos Shot on iPhone Duo
Apple Shares Photos Shot on iPhone Duo
13 hours ago
Apple Says iPhone Duo Has Replaceable 'Cover Layer'
Apple Says iPhone Duo Has Replaceable 'Cover Layer'
14 hours ago
Apple's Smart Home Camera Will Apparently Have 'No Video Recording'
Apple's Smart Home Camera Will Apparently Have 'No Video Recording'
16 hours ago
Apple TV Just Updated Its Selection of 'Bonus' Movies
Apple TV Just Updated Its Selection of 'Bonus' Movies
18 hours ago
iPhone 18 Pro Colors Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Choose?
iPhone 18 Pro Colors Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Choose?
18 hours ago
Early Prime Big Deal Days: Best Discounts on Accessories, TVs, and More at Amazon
Early Prime Big Deal Days: Best Discounts on Accessories, TVs, and More at Amazon
18 hours ago
MacBook Pro With OLED Touch Screen Rumored to Launch in October or November
MacBook Pro With OLED Touch Screen Rumored to Launch in October or November
19 hours ago
Apple's All-New Home Hub Rumored to Launch in These Four Colors
Apple's All-New Home Hub Rumored to Launch in These Four Colors
20 hours ago
iPhone 18 Pro Aperture Control Goes Fully Manual in Halide 3.2
iPhone 18 Pro Aperture Control Goes Fully Manual in Halide 3.2
21 hours ago
Apple Stores Receive 'Do Not Open' Boxes Ahead of Smart Home Products Launch
Apple Stores Receive 'Do Not Open' Boxes Ahead of Smart Home Products Launch
22 hours ago
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Jump in China Ahead of iPhone Duo Launch
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Jump in China Ahead of iPhone Duo Launch
22 hours ago
Apple TV Still Down for Some Users Following Apple Services Outage
Apple TV Still Down for Some Users Following Apple Services Outage
23 hours ago
PSA: Apple Mail on Mac May Stop Syncing Microsoft 365 Accounts Today
PSA: Apple Mail on Mac May Stop Syncing Microsoft 365 Accounts Today
23 hours ago
Apple's Smart Home Hub: Everything We Know So Far
Apple's Smart Home Hub: Everything We Know So Far
1 day ago
Apple's Home Hub Borrows From the iPhone Duo's StandBy Mode
Apple's Home Hub Borrows From the iPhone Duo's StandBy Mode
1 day ago
Apple Invites App Updated With Three New Features
Apple Invites App Updated With Three New Features
2 days ago
Apple Event on October 13?
Apple Event on October 13?
2 days ago
Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?
Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?
2 days ago
iPad Mini 8 to Offer These 10 New Features
iPad Mini 8 to Offer These 10 New Features
2 days ago
DoorDash Unveils AI Food Ordering Through Apple's Messages App
DoorDash Unveils AI Food Ordering Through Apple's Messages App
2 days ago
Amazon Takes Up to $150 Off Select M5 MacBook Air Models
Amazon Takes Up to $150 Off Select M5 MacBook Air Models
2 days ago
Apple Still Plans to Release a New Full-Sized HomePod
Apple Still Plans to Release a New Full-Sized HomePod
2 days ago
Apple Working to Expand HomeKit
Apple Working to Expand HomeKit
2 days ago
Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design
Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design
2 days ago
Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13
Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13
2 days ago
Apple Pay Now Available in India With Axis Bank Cards
Apple Pay Now Available in India With Axis Bank Cards
2 days ago
OpenAI Launches Always-On 'Dots' Agents to Rival Meta's Muse
OpenAI Launches Always-On 'Dots' Agents to Rival Meta's Muse
2 days ago
AirPods 5 Teardown: Batteries Removable, Case Still Tough
AirPods 5 Teardown: Batteries Removable, Case Still Tough
3 days ago

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors