J.K. Rowling today honored the Battle of Hogwarts by announcing on her Twitter page that she has donated £1 million to be split equally between two different British charities.
Posting a thread to her 14.6 million followers, Rowling acknowledged the 22nd anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts but also commented on how inappropriate she felt it would be to talk about fictional deaths while so many people are losing loved ones in the real world.
Today’s the 22nd anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts, but I’m going to be honest and say that it feels inappropriate to talk about fictional deaths today. Too many people are losing loved ones in the real world. 1/4
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 2, 2020
Rowling went on to say how she is thinking of the hardworking people out there who are doing their jobs to protect us, including three members of her own family who have made her feel “torn between pride and anxiety.”
So on this anniversary of a great wizarding victory, I’m thinking of the people who’re out there doing their jobs to protect us and our way of life. I have 3 key workers in my immediate family, and like all such relatives, I’m torn between pride and anxiety. 2/4
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 2, 2020
She revealed she will be splitting a donation of £1 million between two important British charities in honor of the Battle of Hogwarts.
As ever in a crisis of this sort, the poorest and most vulnerable are hit hardest, so in honour of the Battle of Hogwarts, I’ll be making a donation of £1m, half of which will go to https://t.co/Lul8tbTzeI, who’re helping the homeless during the pandemic
3/4— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 2, 2020
and half of which will go to https://t.co/5QOSZy1xob, because we know that domestic abuse has, sadly, increased hugely during the lockdown. 4/4
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 2, 2020
One of the chosen charities is Refuge, which provides specialist services to survivors of domestic abuse as well as a 24-hour free phone helpline in the United Kingdom.
Tweeting a message acknowledging the generous donation, Refuge said, “Your support will underpin our frontline specialist services & enable us to reach more abused women who need us.”
This is wonderful news – and comes at a time when we have seen calls to our already overwhelmed Helpline increase by 50% during COVID-19. Our huge thanks @jk_rowling – your support will underpin our frontline specialist services & enable us to reach more abused women who need us https://t.co/lF5ewBnEHe
— Refuge (@RefugeCharity) May 2, 2020
The second charity, Crisis, is a British charity for homeless people. The organization helps people directly out of homelessness and campaigns for the changes needed to solve it.
Taking to Twitter to thank Rowling for her donation, the charity said, “Your generosity will help our frontline response supporting people experiencing homelessness right now, and support our grant scheme for local homelessness organisations.”
This is amazing. We want to say a huge, heartfelt thank you to @jk_rowling.
Your generosity will help our frontline response supporting people experiencing homelessness right now, and support our grant scheme for local homelessness organisations.
Thank you.#BattleOfHogwarts https://t.co/6wFwmY1t0K
— Crisis (@crisis_uk) May 2, 2020
Crisis and Refuge both have options on their websites for those looking to help via volunteering, fundraising, or donating.
Last September, Rowling donated a magical £15.3m to an Edinburgh research center for multiple sclerosis.
Like many of the Potter fans who replied to the Twitter thread with words of thanks, we think it’s an amazing act of magical kindness for Rowling to do. And what better way to honor the Battle of Hogwarts on its 22nd anniversary?
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