Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields received a major financial boost thanks to a multimillion-dollar donation from Melinda French Gates.
After the inaugural all-women music festival announced Friday (Aug. 28) that it had raised $10 million for women’s charities, French Gates doubled that amount, bringing the total to $20 million.
“What @daisychainfields set in motion will last far beyond a single night,” French Gates wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of herself with Rodrigo. “I was so inspired by @oliviarodrigo’s vision, which is why I couldn’t be prouder to contribute $10 million through @pivotaldotcom, doubling the amount this extraordinary community already raised for organizations supporting women & girls.”
During her Daisy Chain Fields headlining set Saturday night (Aug. 29) at Great Park in Irvine, California, the 23-year-old pop star welcomed French Gates onstage to announce the philanthropist’s massive donation.
“Melinda is one of the most inspiring women I’ve ever met. She’s devoted her life to empowering women and girls that might have otherwise been forgotten,” Rodrigo told the crowd. “She’s generous and brave and has done so much good in this world, and I’m totally floored because as well as being in attendance here tonight, she’s pledged to double every dollar that we made here today to a grand total of funds being donated to $20 million. I’m so grateful!”
The partner organizations benefiting from the festival’s initial $10 million include Baby2Baby, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Center for Reproductive Rights, FreeFrom, Jhpiego, Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health, National Domestic Workers Alliance, National Institute for Reproductive Health, National Women’s Law Center and Planned Parenthood.
Rodrigo revealed during a press conference Friday that the one-day festival had raised $10 million for its beneficiary organizations. During the show, she also thanked the artists on the lineup for performing their sets for free.
Rodrigo personally curated the lineup, which included Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, Garbage, The Breeders and Bikini Kill, as well as “special guests” Stevie Nicks and Sarah McLachlan.
