While the 'Nothing Else Matters' rockers give the New South Wales Rural Fire Service and the Country Fire Authority in Victoria $500,000, the 'Senorita' hitmaker encourages others to follow his footsteps.
- Jan 8, 2020
AceShowbiz - Metallica and Shawn Mendes have become the latest big names to donate to the relief efforts following the horrific bushfires in Australia.
The "Nothing Else Matters" rockers announced that they're donating $500,000 (£380,000) to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service and to the Country Fire Authority in Victoria in a bid to help battle the blazes that have devastated much of the country.
"We are totally overwhelmed by the news of the wildfires sweeping through millions of acres across Australia, with major impact in New South Wales and Victoria," they said in a statement. "The resulting destruction and devastating effects on all residents, animals, the environment and the incredible land in Australia is truly heartbreaking."
Further explaining their donation in a string of posts on Twitter, the band wrote, "@NSWRFS is the world's largest volunteer firefighting organisation and all funds donated during this State of Emergency are directed toward services related to and victims of these particularly destructive Australian bushfires."
"@CFA_Updates is a volunteer and community-based fire and emergency services organisation which helps to protect 3.3 million Victorians, and works together with communities to keep Victorians safe from fire and other emergencies."
Meanwhile, Shawn took to Instagram on Wednesday (January 08) to encourage his millions of followers to donate to the crisis, revealing he's given money to The Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund, New South Wales Rural Fire Service and the South Australian Country Fire Service.
While he declined to reveal how much he'd donated, Shawn explained, "Every time I've been to Australia I've fallen more and more in love with the people & wildlife. Please join me to help support relief efforts for the devastating effects of the Australian wildfires. The Shawn Mendes Foundation and I are making donations. Every donation matters."
