
Lady Gaga, known for her powerful music and advocacy, has a strong reputation for kindness, which she often extends to individuals on a personal, one-on-one level. While many of her philanthropic efforts are part of her Born This Way Foundation, there are numerous accounts of her direct and personal acts of kindness.
Here are a few examples of personal one-on-one acts of kindness by Lady Gaga:
Meeting with a fan who has cerebral palsy: A fan named Emma, who has cerebral palsy, had a long-standing relationship with Gaga and her Born This Way Foundation. In 2017, Gaga brought Emma on stage during a concert and shared with the audience how Emma had recently taken her first 30 steps in a walker. Gaga then handed Emma the microphone so she could share a message of kindness and positivity with the crowd.
Surprising a shelter for homeless LGBTQ+ youth: In 2016, as part of her #ShareKindness initiative with the Today show, Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, visited the Ali Forney Center, a shelter for homeless LGBTQ+ youth in Harlem. She surprised the residents with gifts, shared encouraging words, and led a meditation session. She told them, “Thank you for being alive.”
Supporting a bullied fan: Lady Gaga has used her platform to speak out against bullying. In one instance, she shared an Instagram PSA defending a young girl who was being bullied, urging people to “Be Kinder, Be Braver.”
Empowering youth through her foundation: Through the Born This Way Foundation, Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, have created a platform called “Channel Kindness,” where young people can share their personal stories of kindness and resilience. This project is a direct effort to give a voice to individuals and validate their experiences, creating a sense of community and support.
These acts, along with her open and public conversations about her own struggles with mental health and chronic pain, demonstrate her commitment to fostering a culture of kindness and personal connection. She consistently uses her fame to de-stigmatize physical and mental health issues and empower individuals to be kind to themselves and others.
Lady Gaga has used her platform to advocate for animal adoption and welfare. She has featured her rescue dogs on social media and encouraged her followers to adopt pets from shelters.
An annual campaign run by the Born This Way Foundation encouraging people to commit to acts of kindness every day over 21 days (from September 1 to September 21). This was especially emphasized during years when mental health concerns and social pressures were high.
One World: Together At Home Benefit (COVID-19)
Gaga helped curate this global virtual special during the COVID-19 pandemic, in collaboration with Global Citizen. The benefit raised funds for healthcare workers, WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, and related causes.
Grants via the Kindness in Community Fund
Through her foundation (Born This Way) in partnership with others (for example, with the brand Cotton On), Gaga has directed millions in grants to youth-centered and mental-health-focused organizations globally. For instance, in 2024, she was involved in a $3 million donation to youth mental health organizations.
She pledged / donated to fund classroom needs in places affected by mass shootings (e.g. Gilroy, California, etc.), via her foundation and via DonorsChoose.org, to help support school communities recovering from trauma.
Relief Donations After Disasters
Examples include donating proceeds from a show, merchandise, etc., for Haiti earthquake relief; and donating to the American Red Cross after superstorm Sandy in New York.
Her foundation granted $20,000 to Libera, a nonprofit in Morgantown (West Virginia) that supports mental health resources for girls and LGBTQ+ youth in foster care or juvenile detention.
She supported the Artist Mentorship Program in Portland, which connects homeless youth with the arts, via her foundation’s Kindness in Community Fund.
In interviews and through the foundation she has spoken of small gestures: checking in on people, validating emotions, calling a friend or family member, being present. These may not always be headline-stories but contribute to her message of kindness.
During Gaga’s Joanne World Tour, her foundation traveled with her, establishing “Kindness Pop-Ups” at concert stops in various cities, allowing local nonprofits to connect directly with concertgoers, local youth, mental health groups, etc.
Her foundation collected stories of kindness from various young people and community members, to create a book called Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community. This amplifies small acts of bravery, shared kindness, etc.

















