Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos donate $1 million to coronavirus aid

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are the latest celebrities to open up their big hearts and even bigger wallets in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A source close to the couple told People Magazine on Thursday that the TV stars have donated an incredible $1 million to help aid in ongoing relief efforts.The source added that the donation will be split between two groups in need. The New York Governor’s Office will receive part of the $1 million donation to fund the purchase of more ventilators. Ripa and Consuelos’ donation will also benefit WIN, which helps provide aid and relief, including temporary and supportive housing, to families experiencing homelessness.[video_embed id='1925830']RELATED: Distillery shifting production from beer to hand sanitizer to help with the pandemic[/video_embed]Ripa and Consuelos made their donation to help support their home state of New York, where they live with their three children. The densely populated New York state has been hit hard with by COVID-19. As of March 19, the CDC was reporting 4,597 cases in New York, the most out of anywhere in the US. California, which currently has 652 known cases, was issued a Stay At Home order by Governor Gavin Newsom only hours ago in an effort to stop the spread among the 40 million residents of the state.On March 11, Disney announced that Ripa’s daily talk show Live With Kelly and Ryan would no longer allow a live audience in hopes that this move would help curb the spread of the disease. Ripa and her co-host Ryan Seacrest addressed the empty audience at the show’s open. “While we don’t have our regular studio audience, except for some of our producers… that shouldn’t stop everyone from watching at home,” said Ripa. “Because, let’s face it: You can’t go anywhere else!” Most other major network daytime and late night talk shows followed suit, removing live audiences and eventually suspending production. Live With Kelly and Ryan has been airing pre-recorded episodes this week.

 

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Company decision... No audience today..but that won’t stop us

A post shared by LIVE with Kelly and Ryan (@livekellyandryan) on Mar 11, 2020 at 6:04am PDT

Consuelo spends part of the year in Vancouver where he stars as Hiram Lodge on Riverdale. Also on March 11, the set of the CW series was shut down when producers announced that a member or the cast or crew had come into contact with someone who had tested positive for Coronavirus. Riverdale was one of the first shows to halt production in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Most film sets in Hollywood and Hollywood North have closed, leaving the release dates of films and the airing of the final episodes of current seasons in jeopardy.In addition to Ripa and Consuelos, other celebrities have been stepping up with major donations. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds announced on March 17 that they were donating $1 million to be split between Feeding America and Food Banks Canada. Also this week, Modern Family star Eric Stonestreet shared on Instagram his plan to donate 200,000 meals to the Feeding America food bank Harvesters in his home state of Kansas. Real Housewives star and entrepreneur Bethenny Frankel has also announced an initiative to provide hydration and sanitation kits, as well as meals for children who rely on meals provided by their school.  Kristen Bell, Ciara and Russell Wilson, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Fallon and more have also donated to food banks across the US.[video_embed id='1924887']RELATED: Friends' reunion special postponed amid coronavirus pandemic[/video_embed]