Matthew McConaughey and his wife have launched a fundraiser to support the families and friends of the 19 children and two teachers who were shot dead in an elementary school last week.
McConaughey, 52, was born and raised in Uvalde, Texas, and his mother Kay was a teacher at St. Philip’s Episcopal School, just a mile from Robb Elementary School, where 18-year-old Salvador Ramos burned last Tuesday opened.
After the shooting, the Oscar-winner issued a statement calling for gun control, and on Friday he and his wife Camila made their way south from their Austin home to the small town to comfort the community, when they started burying the little kids.
On Thursday, the celebrity couple announced the launch of their Just Keep Livin’ Foundation’s Uvalde Relief Fund.
“Matthew and Camila McConaughey have been at the scene in Uvalde for the past few days since the mass shooting, the loss is tragic,” read a statement on the foundation’s Instagram page.
“While the spirit of the community suffers, the unanimous support of families for families and from strangers for locals is beautiful,” they wrote, adding, “After the initial shock, the city has now begun the funerals and mourning process for those who survived.” Children, families and the entire community continued.
“The community will need continued grief counseling and support throughout the long journey that lies ahead,” they continued, asking for donations to support grief counseling and families with funeral expenses, as well as “other immediate and other long-term needs of the community.” .’
Dazed and confused actor Matthew McConaughey and his wife Camila have launched a fundraiser to support the families and friends of the 19 children and two teachers who were shot dead in Uvalde, Texas last week
In a statement posted to Instagram on Thursday, the McConaugheys announced the creation of the Just Keep Living Foundation’s Uvalde Relief Fund to help with bereavement counseling, costs associated with funeral services and “other immediate and long-term needs of the community.”
McConaughey, center, visited Uvalde – his hometown – on Friday, just four days after the mass shooting. Here he is pictured with officials from the Uvalde School
McConaughey previously called for gun control immediately after the devastating shooting – after being besieged by tweets urging him to speak out.
In a statement last Tuesday, the actor wrote: “As you all know, there was another mass shooting today, this time in my hometown of Uvalde, Texas.
“Once again, we have tragically proved that we are not responsible for the rights that our freedoms grant us.”
“The real call to action now is for every American to take a longer, deeper look in the mirror and ask themselves, ‘What do we really value? How do we fix the problem?
“What small sacrifices can we personally make today to maintain a healthier and safer nation, state and neighborhood tomorrow?”
“We cannot exhale again, apologize and accept these tragic realities as the status quo.”
He then urged all Americans to “renegotiate our wants from our needs,” adding that “we need to realign our values and find common ground about this devastating American reality that has tragically become our children’s problem.” is”.
“This is an epidemic that we can control and whichever side of the aisle we’re on, we all know we can do better. We have to do better.
McConaughey has previously called for gun control following last week’s mass shooting
The Uvalde, Texas community is still reeling from the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School that killed 19 children and two teachers. A mourner, seen here, pays his respects to the victims on Wednesday
The community gathered on May 27 to light candles and lay flowers for the victims
In his Thursday statement, McConaughey noted that the community had received “unanimous support from families to families and from strangers to locals.” Local residents and family members are seen here putting hands around a makeshift memorial to pray for those who lost their lives
The front of Robb Elementary School was covered with crosses and flowers for the victims
“Action must be taken so that no parent has to experience what the parents in Uvalde and others before them had to endure.
“For those who have brought their loved ones to school without knowing that today was farewell, no words can understand or heal your loss, but when prayers can be of comfort, we will make them come.”
He went on to say that “it is time we reevaluate and negotiate our wants and needs” and that common ground must be found “over this devastating American reality that has tragically become our children’s problem.”
McConaughey concluded his statement by calling mass shootings “an epidemic we can control” and “to those who dropped off loved ones today without knowing it was a goodbye, no words can understand or heal your loss.” , but if prayers can bring comfort, we will let them come.’
However, he has provided no practical solutions to ending the attacks – and has previously drawn the line to defend the Second Amendment while denouncing gun violence.
At a 2018 March for Our Lives event in Texas, McConaughey gave an impassioned speech about his support for some gun control.
But just a month later, he shared his fears that the youth-led movement would be “hijacked” by those hoping to abolish all guns in the United States.
“I have many friends who are gun owners. I have many friends who are NRA. I grew up hunting. We had responsible gun ownership, but I was taught how to properly respect that tool,” McConaughey said at the time.
McConaughey has since described himself as “aggressively centrist” and even considered running for governor last year before announcing he would not run against incumbent Governor Greg Abbott.
Still, McConaughey said he was honored to be considered for the highest position in Texas state politics.
“It’s a humbling and inspiring way to think,” he said in a video posted to his Twitter in November. “It’s also a path I’m not going to take at the moment.”
He said he will instead continue to “support entrepreneurs, corporations and foundations that I believe are leaders” and “create pathways for people to succeed in life”.
However, McConaughey has not yet ruled out a future gubernatorial bid.
To donate to the Uvalde Relief Fund visit www.jklivinfoundation.org/uvalde.