Philanthropist Melinda French Gates has announced a substantial matching gift to support the inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival in Irvine, California. Gates revealed on stage that she would double singer Olivia Rodrigo’s original $10 million commitment to nonprofit organizations dedicated to women and girls, bringing the total contribution to $20 million.
Rodrigo initially pledged all proceeds from the music festival to benefit ten selected organizations, funded through ticket sales, artist participation, and sponsorships. Gates, along with her organization Pivotal, joined the effort to amplify the impact of the event. In her statement, Gates praised Rodrigo’s initiative, noting that the festival’s influence would extend far beyond a single occasion by creating long-term opportunities for women and girls worldwide.
The ten benefiting organizations span multiple areas of support for women and vulnerable populations. Recipients include Baby2Baby, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, and the National Women’s Law Center, alongside groups focused on reproductive rights such as Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights. Additional partners include FreeFrom and the National Domestic Workers Alliance, which support survivors of gender-based violence and domestic workers respectively.
Rodrigo emphasized the collaborative nature of the festival’s mission, expressing gratitude for Gates’ partnership and highlighting her enthusiasm for the expanded impact on the supported organizations and the communities they serve.
Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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