Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively donate $500,000 to Covenant House

Actors Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are giving back to homeless and at-risk youth in B.C. and Toronto just before the holiday season.

The husband and wife are donating $250,000 to Covenant House Vancouver and $250,000 to Covenant House Toronto.

The organization provides help and support to at-risk youth who are fleeing physical, emotional and sexual abuse.

Reynolds, who was born in Vancouver, has been a “long-time friend” to the charity and is using his donation as a special matching gift to encourage others to donate, Covenant House stated.

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“Ryan and Blake truly understand that young people who are facing homelessness deserve unconditional love and absolute respect,” Krista Thompson, chief executive officer for Covenant House Vancouver, said in a release.

Their donation will go towards programs such as street outreach, the drop-in centre, the crisis program and a long-term transitional living program, the organization confirmed.