Taylor Swift has donated $50,000 to a GoFundMe campaign supporting Ashley Taunton, a 42-year-old Connecticut mother of three who suffered life-threatening injuries while helping strangers after a car accident in Rhode Island.
According to Billboard, Taunton, a certified nursing assistant, was driving south on I-95 in July with her youngest daughter when she came upon a group of teenagers whose vehicle had hydroplaned in a rainstorm. She stopped to help move them to safety. While assisting, another car hydroplaned toward the group. Taunton pushed one of the teens out of the way and was struck herself, absorbing the impact.
She has since undergone two major surgeries, with more scheduled. Her family says recovery could take up to a year.
Swift's $50,000 gift, confirmed by Rolling Stone and People, is the largest single donation to the fundraiser, which had raised more than $64,000 as of Friday, Aug. 28. A separate Meal Train for the family had drawn over $16,000.
Swift left a message for Taunton in the GoFundMe's comments: "Wishing you the best recovery possible and sending love to your family! Taylor."
The donation continues a pattern for Swift, who has a long history of quietly funding GoFundMe campaigns for fans and strangers facing medical emergencies, including past donations to families affected by natural disasters and accidents. It also comes weeks after Swift and husband Travis Kelce donated $26 million across 20 U.S. charities ahead of their July wedding at Madison Square Garden.
