Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell and Janelle Monáe were honored with Inspiration Awards at Support + Feed’s first fundraiser in Los Angeles.
Support + Feed is the plant-based food initiative founded by 21-year-old Billie, a vegan, her 26-year-old brother Finneas and their mother Maggie Baird.
The event brought together activists, artists and philanthropists for an evening of programming on the climate crisis, environmental issues and sustainability.
“Here’s a room full of people who all care — and every single person in this room does so much,” Baird told the crowd, according to Variety.
“There are so many incredible community organizations, many volunteers, many companies that are changing the way we work… So many incredible artists have lent their platforms, not just their financial support and their actions.”
Family: Support + Feed is the plant-based food initiative founded by Billie, Finneas and their mother Maggie Baird
She continued: “I’m just beyond touched.” “I’m grateful to all of you that in this moment of darkness we have something to truly celebrate,” referring to the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Janelle, 37, and environmental activist Isaias Hernandez were honored with Inspiration Awards at the event.
Monáe gave an emotional speech in which she spoke of growing up in poverty but also learning from the example her grandmother, mother, father and stepfather set for her, as she always stood with the less fortunate in her community worked.
“I am a child of service.” I remember what it was like to have no food on the table. “What’s it like at Thanksgiving and Christmas, having to pick up canned goods from the church, the Salvation Army, an aunt or a grandmother – that’s what I remember,” she said.
“I remember the stigma of being poor and how we treated poor people.” I remember being embarrassed about using my mother’s EBT card… and that’s why I wanted to use Support + Feed and Wondalunch only erase this narrative.”
After Billie and Finneas accepted their awards, he gave a speech about the organization’s founding.
“Compared to what other people were contributing, it felt like a real cheat code to contribute financially,” Finneas said.
“This actually happened: Billie and I made a lot of music in our bedroom. “We got rich and paid off our mom’s mortgage, and she turned around and started a nonprofit right away.”
He thought of the moment the idea was born during the pandemic, when they were bored at home and worried about keeping the LA vegan restaurant running during the shutdown.
He told his sister, “It must be nice to have so much free time now that we’re not on tour,” and she said, “I have this idea to find a way to get all the vegan restaurants open in LA “Also, send all the food to the hospital staff and the people in the hospital to everyone who has access to it.”
Vegan: Billie Eilish, Finneas and Janelle Monáe, 37, were honored with Inspiration Awards at Support + Feed’s first fundraiser in Los Angeles
Mother and daughter: The event brought together activists, artists and philanthropists for an evening of programming on the topics of the climate crisis, environmental issues and sustainability
Honoree: “I remember the stigma of being poor and how we treated poor people.” “I remember being embarrassed about using my mother’s EBT card… and that’s why I wanted to go with Support + Feed and Wondalunch just erases that narrative,” Janelle said in an emotional speech
Mom: “Here’s a room full of people who all care — and every single person in this room does so much,” Baird told the crowd, according to Variety
Famous Vegan: Singer Moby also attended the event to show his support for the cause
Speech: “This actually happened: Billie and I made a lot of music in our bedroom.” “We got rich and paid off our mom’s mortgage, and she turned around and started a nonprofit right away,” Finneas said
Emotional: Monáe gave an emotional speech where she talked about growing up in poverty but learning from the example her grandmother, mother, father and stepfather set for her as she always stood with the less fortunate in her community worked
Newcomer: Billie fooled around with singer-songwriter d4vd, 18
Service: “I am a child of service.” I remember what it was like to have no food on the table. “What’s it like at Thanksgiving and Christmas, having to pick up canned goods from church, the Salvation Army, an aunt or a grandmother – that’s what I remember,” Janelle said
Inspiration: Finneas reflected on the moment the idea was born during the pandemic, when he said to his sister, “It must be nice to have so much free time now that we’re not on tour,” and she said : “I have this idea.” “We need to find a way to keep all the vegan restaurants in LA open and send all the food to hospital staff and anyone in the hospital who has access to it.”
Menu: “There are so many incredible community organizations, many volunteers, many companies that are changing the way we work… So many incredible artists have lent their platforms, not just their financial support and their actions,” Baird said
As Billie took the stage to speak, she acknowledged her mother.
She said she strived to be more like you and this is such an incredible thing that you have done.
The Ocean Eyes singer leaned in to hug her mother before continuing.
“Look at all these people supporting you and all the people around the world supporting you.” It’s such an amazing thing. And I’m so impressed with you. And I’m so proud of you,” she concluded.