Photo from Intagram/@oliviarodrigo
Filipino American singer’s inaugural Irvine festival raises $10 million, followed by an equal commitment from Melinda French Gates’ Pivotal
IRVINE — Olivia Rodrigo’s inaugural Daisy Chain Fields music festival generated $20 million in announced support for 10 nonprofit organizations working on issues affecting women and girls.
The Aug. 29 festival at Great Park in Irvine had raised $10 million for its nonprofit partners when Melinda French Gates joined Rodrigo onstage and announced that Pivotal, the organization she founded, would commit an additional $10 million.
Pivotal said the $20 million will be divided equally among Baby2Baby, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Center for Reproductive Rights, FreeFrom, Jhpiego, Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health, National Domestic Workers Alliance, National Institute for Reproductive Health, National Women’s Law Center and Planned Parenthood.
Daisy Chain Fields was founded by Rodrigo and produced by C3 Presents. The sold-out event drew about 45,000 people, according to independent reporting.
Organizers said participating artists waived their performance fees, allowing all net proceeds to support the nonprofit partners. The festival also included a designated area where attendees could meet representatives of participating organizations and learn about their work.
Performers included Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, Garbage, Bikini Kill, Santigold, Rachel Chinouriri and The Breeders. Special guests included Sarah McLachlan and Stevie Nicks.
The festival drew inspiration from Lilith Fair, the women-centered touring festival founded by McLachlan in the 1990s.
Rodrigo, 23, has also spoken publicly about her Filipino American heritage. In a 2018 interview with the Center for Asian American Media, she said her great-grandfather immigrated to the United States from the Philippines as a teenager and described Filipino traditions passed down through her father’s family.
Daisy Chain Fields marks a significant expansion of Rodrigo’s philanthropic work, pairing her musical platform with direct financial support for organizations focused on health, legal rights, economic security and family assistance.
