Singer Bruno Mars Donates $1 Million To Help The Residents Of Flint

Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty

Story by WLIB New York

Singer Bruno Mars revealed during his mid-August concert in Auburn Hills, Michigan that he has donated $1 million to help those affected by the ongoing water crisis happening in Flint, Michigan. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mars announced to the crowd that he and the show's promoter, Live Nation, were using some of the money from the concert's proceeds to support the Flint Water Crisis.

Flint has been dealing with the water crisis since 2014, when the city switched water suppliers. The supplier was switched from the Detroit River to the Flint River in order to save money, but residents soon realized the water was discolored. The water later tested positive for E. Coli, and elevated levels of lead, causing President Obama to declare a federal state of emergency in the city. Even though lead levels seem to be dropping in Flint water, residents are still being encouraged to use bottled water for their needs.

In June, five state officials were charged with involuntary manslaughter, due to the amount of Flint residents that had died because of the toxic water.

Mars and Live Nation said the funds from Bruno Mars' concert will be going to the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, a public charity for the city. Mars also released a statement following the announcement. “I'm very thankful to the Michigan audience for joining me in supporting this cause,” he said. “Ongoing challenges remain years later for Flint residents, and it's important that we don't forget our brothers and sisters affected by this disaster. As people, especially as Americans, we need to stand together to make sure something like this never happens in any community ever again.”