Pedro Pascal, Bella Hadid raise $5.5 million at Los Angeles aid concert

The third installment of the Artists For Aid benefit series concluded on a historic note Saturday night, raising approximately $5.5 million for humanitarian relief in Palestine and Sudan.

The sold-out event at the iconic Shrine Auditorium brought together musicians, actors, and activists for a night of fundraising and solidarity.

Organized by Sudanese-Canadian artist Mustafa (formerly Mustafa the Poet), proceeds will support the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) and the Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA).

Read more: Bella Hadid, Pedro Pascal lead star-studded charity for Palestine, Sudan

A Night of Radical Empathy

Hosts Bella Hadid and Pedro Pascal, longtime advocates for humanitarian causes, anchored the evening. Hadid opened the show with a heartfelt tribute to the resilience of Palestinian culture, while Pascal guided the audience through the diverse performances.

Mustafa addressed the crowd, saying, "I always knew that an artist's power comes from the expansion of their empathy. We are here to use our voices for those whose voices are being silenced by conflict."

Highlights and Surprise Moments

The four-hour concert featured indie-pop, R&B, and soul performances, with several memorable moments:

• Chappell Roan & Lucy Dacus: Dacus brought out Roan for a stirring cover of The Magnetic Fields’ The Book of Love.
• Shawn Mendes & Maggie Rogers: Mendes performed hits before inviting Rogers for a moving duet of Youth.
• Omar Apollo: Apollo admitted to forgetting the lyrics to Evergreen, finishing the song by reading from his phone, a candid moment reflecting the evening’s theme of solidarity.
• Poetry and Protest: Poets Noor Hindi and Safia Elhillo delivered spoken-word pieces highlighting the human toll of crises in Gaza and Sudan.

Growing Global Impact

This Los Angeles edition marks the third successful Artists For Aid event, following shows in Newark, New Jersey, and London. The $5.5 million raised on Saturday brings the initiative’s total contributions to tens of millions since its launch in 2024.

Funds will be split equally between PCRF and SAPA, providing urgent medical supplies, food aid, and emergency healthcare to children and families affected by ongoing violence and displacement.