Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey received a heartfelt note from the families of fallen first responders after donating $2 million to Answer the Call NYC ahead of their star-studded wedding.
The New York-based organization, which provides financial support to police officers, firefighters and emergency medical service workers, wrote a kind message to the newlyweds earlier this month.
“I know firsthand how much this organization’s support means to families like mine,” Patricia Polimeni, wife of NYPD Detective Jack Polimeni, who passed away in 2020, wrote in a statement on Instagram.
“Your donation is much more than a monetary gift. It provides hope, comfort and a sense of community to families who are learning how to live their lives after the loss of someone who dedicated their life to serving others.”
Amanda Rivera, the daughter of New York City police officer William Rivera, who died in 2004, also sent a special message to the couple.
“The first few years after my father passed away, it was difficult to find a way and find support for my mother and me,” she wrote. “We felt so alone in our grief and thought no one knew what we were going through.”
“We found a community where people get to know each other’s experiences and make friends who eventually become family,” Amanda continued.
“This organization has given me so many opportunities and experiences that I never thought I would have, including throwing out the first pitch at a New York Mets game and attending concerts.”
Alison Garger also opened up about the “hope” the organization gave her family through “tears” and “heartache” after losing her husband Thomas J. Kennedy in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
“Taylor and Travis, what you guys are doing is amazing,” Garger wrote. “We have always been your fans!…We are forever grateful!”
“We are extremely grateful to Taylor and Travis for their incredible support,” executive director Lauren Profeta said in a statement.
“Their extraordinary gift will enable us to continue to provide much-needed financial support to the families of New York City’s fallen first responders,” Profeta added. “We thank them for their kindness and generosity and for fulfilling our collective promise to never forget.”
Page Six exclusively reported that Swift and Kelsea, both 35, have donated $26 million to several charities across the country, including New York-based organizations Education Through Music, Answer the Call, Musical Mentors Collaborative, City Harvest Food Rescue Center, Food Bank for NYC, and New York Cares.
The couple married on July 3 at Madison Square Garden in front of friends and family.
Swift, who reached billionaire status in 2024, reportedly spent about $3 million to rent a venue in the Big Apple for three days.
