Taylor Swift And Her Mom Donated $50,000 To A GoFundMe For A Family Whose Father Died Of COVID-19

“I would like to especially say thank you to Andrea and Taylor Swift for your thoughtfulness and generosity.”

By
Ellie Bate
by Ellie Bate

BuzzFeed Staff

Hot Topic
🔥 Full coverage and conversation on Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift and her mother, Andrea, provided a helping hand to a family in need this week, donating $50,000 to a GoFundMe for a woman and her five daughters, who lost their father to COVID-19 in December.

Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

The GoFundMe was set up by a friend of the family of Theodis Ray Quarles, a Memphis man who died on Dec. 18 last year, after falling ill with COVID-19.

GoFundMe / gofundme.com

“Just as superstars and legends are seldom replaced, Theodis’ transition will forever leave a void on the Quarles team,” DeQuanda Smith wrote on the fundraising page.

“Alyssa, Anaya, Asia, Allie and Aryah will miss him at breakfast, at their class plays, proms, recitals, graduations, college entries...and ultimately their weddings.”

Speaking to Yahoo News earlier this month, Vickie Quarles, Theodis’s wife, described him as “an outstanding man” who would “give his shirt off his back for you.”

“I feel like a piece of my soul left with him,” Vickie said of her husband’s death.

On Tuesday, a donation of $50,000 appeared on the fundraising page, credited to Taylor and her mom.

Cooper Neill / Getty Images

DeQuanda Smith, who originally created the page on Dec. 22, reportedly confirmed to E! News that the donation had been made by the singer.

The page’s goal was set at $50,000. It has now surpassed $62,000.

In a message posted to the GoFundMe page, Vickie Quarles expressed her gratitude to everyone who had donated, and shouted out the Swift family specifically.

“I would like to especially say thank you to Andrea and Taylor Swift for your thoughtfulness and generosity from our homestate of Tennessee,” Vickie said. “I appreciate the sweet personal note, it warmed my heart.”

She went on: “The road ahead will definitely not be the same without Theodis but with each day I am humbled and anchored in hope that I can continue to raise the girls to be as compassionate and caring as all of you.”

This is by no means the first time Swift has offered financial help to someone in need. Just last year, she donated $30,000 to the GoFundMe of an aspiring student who wasn’t able to pay her tuition fees.

Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

The student, Vitoria Mario, wanted to study mathematics at Warwick University in the UK, but said she was ineligible to receive student loans as she had only lived in the country for four years.

“I came across your story online and am so inspired by your drive and dedication to turning your dreams into reality,” Swift wrote alongside her GoFundMe donation. “I want to gift you the rest of your goal amount. Good luck with everything you do! Love, Taylor.”

Hot Topic
Think you’re Blondie’s biggest fan? Put your ~reputation~ to the test.
See our Taylor Swift Discussions

In fact, Swift has a history with GoFundMe. The company changed its donation limit policy after she gave $50,000 to an 11-year-old fan battling leukemia in 2015.

Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic

At the time, GoFundMe had implemented a donation limit of $15,000, meaning Swift had to make four separate transactions in order to give $50,000.

The crowdfunding website ended up raising its limit following Swift’s donation.

And in March last year, at the beginning of the pandemic, Swift spent a few days donating to fans whose incomes had been affected by the coronavirus.

holly turner @ittybittyholly

i made a post on tumblr about how i was scared i wouldn't be able to stay living in NYC because of what corona has done to the music industry. @taylorswift13 literally single-handedly saved my ability to stay here. i cannot even believe my eyes right now

Reply Retweet Favorite
Twitter: @ittybittyholly

She also announced on her Instagram story at the time that she had “been donating” to the World Health Organization and Feeding America.

“If you have the ability to, please join me in donating during this crisis,” Taylor wrote.

Hot Topic
🔥 Full coverage and conversation on Taylor Swift

Topics in this article

We see you lurking 👀
Join a Taylor Swift conversation instead.
See the Discussions
Skip to footer