Billy Joel and wife Alexis have made an initial donation of $250,000 to aid the Ukrainian war effort and suffering refugees. The “Piano Man” posted a message on his official website and social media platforms revealing that via the couple's Joel Foundation, they've donated the money to through Bethenny Frankel’s B Strong Foundation, which is part of the Global Empowerment Mission.
The official statement reads in part:
The Joel Foundation was founded with the purpose of funding programs in music and music education. At times of catastrophic suffering, we pivot to help those that cannot help themselves. We have previously assisted with those experiencing food insecurity, PPE for healthcare workers during the initial COVID surge and now, our focus is to help the Ukrainian people.
Our initial donation will be $250,000 to the BStrong Foundation started by Bethenny Frankel and in partnership with Global Empowerment Mission. BStrong has been instrumental in providing direct and immediate aid to refugees at the Ukrainian/Polish border.
Through BStrong's coordinated infrastructure, our donation will supply critical evacuee aid, including food relief, short and long-term shelter, transportation to points throughout Europe, and survival supply kits (blankets, sleeping bags, toiletry kits, non-perishables and water, plus generators). 100% of donations go to the relief.
We are closely monitoring this situation and will see what will be needed in the weeks to come.
Billy Joel admits that his life and the decisions he's made have pretty much been formulated from being a Long Islander: “My perspective of things all come from a Long Island point of view. I've realized that. I've traveled all around the world. I've traveled a lot in the United States. But, the more I traveled, the more I felt like 'This is where I'm from. I'm from this island that sticks out to the east of New York City.' There's a little bit of an inferiority complex here, which I feel is charming. Y'know, you go to the city, '(Adapts New York accent) Oh, you're from the Oi – land.' We don't say 'Lawng Oi – land.' People from the Bronx say, 'Lawng Oi – land.' We say, 'Long Island.'”
