Taylor has a generous heart! Ellen Pompeo reveals Taylor Swift stunned her with a ‘big check’
4 mins
Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo recently shared a heartfelt story about Swift’s compassion and giving spirit, revealing how the singer donated a significant amount to a cause close to Pompeo’s heart.
During an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show on April 2, Pompeo recounted how Swift made a major donation to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, specifically supporting a music therapy program for newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
“They have an amazing program at Children’s where they make music for the babies in the NICU and for the parents who have to go to work all day and can’t be with their kids,” Pompeo explained. “They record their voices singing nursery rhymes or telling them stories, and they play it for the babies during the day.”
Pompeo, who had been volunteering at the hospital alongside her husband, Chris Ivery, recalled the moment she decided to ask Swift for help. At the time, Pompeo had just appeared in the music video for Swift’s 2014 hit “Bad Blood”, despite barely knowing the pop star.
“So, I just got up the chutzpah,” Pompeo said with a laugh, “and asked Taylor, ‘Could you write me a big, old check for Children’s?’”
To her surprise, Swift didn’t hesitate.
“She knew me all but 20 minutes, and that girl wrote me the biggest check without blinking an eye,” Pompeo shared, visibly touched by the memory.
Swift’s generosity also had a personal impact at home. Pompeo—who shares three children with Ivery: Stella (15), Sienna (10), and Eli (8)—said her daughters were thrilled by her collaboration with Swift.
“That got me so much mileage with both of the girls for a stretch,” she joked. “I do get a lot of points for that.”
She described the Bad Blood video shoot as “the easiest thing” and “a lot of fun,” despite only spending an hour or two on set. But the connection it helped spark between her and Swift proved far more meaningful.
“Taylor is such a good girl,” Pompeo added. “I didn’t know her, and she invited me to be in the video. I thought, ‘Oh, that would be fun.’”
A Track Record of Generosity
While this may have been Pompeo’s personal introduction to Swift’s generosity, fans know it’s far from a one-time gesture. At the conclusion of her record-breaking Eras Tour in 2024, Swift reportedly handed out an astonishing $197 million in bonuses to everyone on her team—from truck drivers and dancers to stylists and caterers.
