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


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

Apple HomeView lineup feature1

Apple Announces 'HomeView' Smart Home Hub

Tuesday October 13, 2026 6:00 am PDT by
Apple today announced the "HomeView," an all-new kind of smart home hub featuring a 7-inch Liquid Retina display and Siri AI. Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak said: Apple HomeView is designed to be shared by everyone in the home yet feel completely personal to each user. It recognizes your face to shift from a household screen to your own experience,...
Apple TV 4K 4th Generation feature4

New Apple TV 4K Announced With A19 Chip, Updated Siri Remote, More

Tuesday October 13, 2026 6:08 am PDT by
Apple today announced the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, with key features including an A19 chip, Siri AI support, an updated Siri Remote that has Find My support with Precision Finding, built in far-field microphones, support for surround sound with four HomePods in front and rear pairs, and more. The A19 chip in the new Apple TV 4K delivers up to 50% faster CPU performance and up to twice...
iOS 26 Home Feature

RIP, homeOS

Tuesday October 13, 2026 9:39 am PDT by
MacRumors was first to reveal the name "HomeView" last week, after discovering a trademark filing from a secretive shell company that we correctly suspected was linked to Apple. Apple was likely behind a "homeOS" trademark filing as well, but the company ultimately decided to stick with generic "HomeView software" naming, just like it refers to the HomePod's operating system as "HomePod...

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
iPhone 18 Pro vs. iPhone Duo Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Choose?
iPhone 18 Pro vs. iPhone Duo Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Choose?
30 minutes ago
Apple Store Down Ahead of iPhone Duo Pre-Orders
Apple Store Down Ahead of iPhone Duo Pre-Orders
47 minutes ago
Oops, Apple's Website Just Hinted at iPad Mini 8
Oops, Apple's Website Just Hinted at iPad Mini 8
10 hours ago
OLED MacBook Pro Won't Get M7 Chips Until Late 2027
OLED MacBook Pro Won't Get M7 Chips Until Late 2027
12 hours ago
Apple Pledged $25 Million to Trump's White House Ballroom
Apple Pledged $25 Million to Trump's White House Ballroom
14 hours ago
Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Launch on November 6
Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Launch on November 6
15 hours ago
New Withings Users Must Pay $99/Year for Apple Health Syncing
New Withings Users Must Pay $99/Year for Apple Health Syncing
15 hours ago
Meta and Apple Bring Muse Spark Open AI Model to Mac Studio
Meta and Apple Bring Muse Spark Open AI Model to Mac Studio
17 hours ago
iPad Mini 8: Apple Has Tested Both 60Hz and 120Hz ProMotion Displays
iPad Mini 8: Apple Has Tested Both 60Hz and 120Hz ProMotion Displays
17 hours ago
Apple TV 4K 2022 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared
Apple TV 4K 2022 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared
18 hours ago
Apple CEO John Ternus on Early Foldables: 'Kind of Cheap and Crappy'
Apple CEO John Ternus on Early Foldables: 'Kind of Cheap and Crappy'
19 hours ago
Greg Joswiak Says Apple Isn't Focused on Making AI for 'Lunatic Fringe'
Greg Joswiak Says Apple Isn't Focused on Making AI for 'Lunatic Fringe'
19 hours ago
Amazon Offers $120 Discount on AirPods Max 2, $50 Off AirPods Pro 3
Amazon Offers $120 Discount on AirPods Max 2, $50 Off AirPods Pro 3
20 hours ago
Apple CEO John Ternus Featured on Cover of TIME Magazine: 'New Era'
Apple CEO John Ternus Featured on Cover of TIME Magazine: 'New Era'
21 hours ago
Apple Announces Deadline to 'Get Ready' to Pre-Order the iPhone Duo
Apple Announces Deadline to 'Get Ready' to Pre-Order the iPhone Duo
21 hours ago
MKBHD is 'Not Convinced' About Apple's New HomeView, Here's Why
MKBHD is 'Not Convinced' About Apple's New HomeView, Here's Why
22 hours ago
Apple's Wall-Mounted HomeView Ships Without a Power Adapter
Apple's Wall-Mounted HomeView Ships Without a Power Adapter
22 hours ago
Rare Apple-1 With Steve Jobs Letter Sells for $1.15 Million
Rare Apple-1 With Steve Jobs Letter Sells for $1.15 Million
22 hours ago
Apple Now Inviting Media to October 28 'Launch Experience'
Apple Now Inviting Media to October 28 'Launch Experience'
23 hours ago
iPhone Duo's A20 Pro Chip Benchmarked Ahead of Launch
iPhone Duo's A20 Pro Chip Benchmarked Ahead of Launch
1 day ago
10 HomeView Features You Might Have Missed
10 HomeView Features You Might Have Missed
1 day ago
Apple Becomes Second Company to Close Above $5 Trillion
Apple Becomes Second Company to Close Above $5 Trillion
2 days ago
Which Apple Home Devices Get Siri AI, and When
Which Apple Home Devices Get Siri AI, and When
2 days ago
Apple's Long-Delayed HomeView Was Already Being Tested in 2024
Apple's Long-Delayed HomeView Was Already Being Tested in 2024
2 days ago
Apple Intelligence Coming to China in December With iOS 27.3
Apple Intelligence Coming to China in December With iOS 27.3
2 days ago
Apple Invites App Updated With Two New Features
Apple Invites App Updated With Two New Features
2 days ago
OpenAI Says Ex-Employee Showed Its Device Plans to Apple
OpenAI Says Ex-Employee Showed Its Device Plans to Apple
2 days ago
Discover the Best Cases and Screen Protectors for Your New iPhone Duo
Discover the Best Cases and Screen Protectors for Your New iPhone Duo
2 days ago
Apple Store Near Los Angeles Closed Due to 'Events Beyond Our Control'
Apple Store Near Los Angeles Closed Due to 'Events Beyond Our Control'
2 days ago
No, HomePod Mini 1 Won't Support Siri AI as CNET Reported
No, HomePod Mini 1 Won't Support Siri AI as CNET Reported
2 days ago