Speaking on The Jennifer Hudson Show, the Grey’s Anatomy star recalled asking Swift for a donation to a neonatal programme at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles—just 20 minutes after meeting her on the set of the “Bad Blood” music video. Swift, without hesitation, wrote “the biggest cheque” to support the initiative.
“At the time, [my husband and I] did a lot of volunteering for Children’s Hospital,” said Pompeo. “They make music for babies in the NICU. Parents who can’t be there record themselves singing lullabies or reading stories, and those recordings are played during the day. The babies respond, and it improves outcomes.” She added, “It’s a really nice programme, but they need money to run it. I asked Taylor, and she wrote me the biggest cheque without blinking an eye.”
Swift’s response exemplifies the kind of direct, personal giving she’s long been known for. Over the years, she’s donated millions to causes both personal and global. From a $70,000 donation in books to her hometown library, to $5 million in hurricane relief, her philanthropy spans education, disaster response, healthcare, and poverty.
She has helped individual fans pay off student loans, covered funeral and medical costs, and given surprise gifts during the holidays—dubbed “Swiftmas” by her fandom. Swift has also supported fellow artists, including a $250,000 donation to Kesha during her legal battle, and major contributions to food banks in nearly every city touched by her Eras Tour.
Additional contributions include $1 million to Louisiana flood relief in 2016, $1 million to Tennessee tornado recovery in 2023, and $100,000 to the family of a Kansas City shooting victim in 2024.
Despite becoming a billionaire, Swift continues to spend generously on charitable causes
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