In 2020, Olivia Culpo launched More Than a Mask to fight pandemic hunger; her initiative went on to fund over 3 million meals through Feeding America

The COVID-19 pandemic deepened food insecurity across the US, with Feeding America estimating that 45 million people, including 15 million children, could face hunger in 2020. Against this backdrop, model and entrepreneur Olivia Culpo launched More Than a Mask in May 2020, selling fashion face coverings to raise funds for hunger relief. The initiative later funded more than 3 million meals through Feeding America, according to Culpo’s 2025 Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame profile.How Olivia Culpo launched More Than a MaskBack in 2020, Culpo celebrated her 28th birthday by announcing the launch of the initiative in partnership with Reunited Clothing. She launched a line of non-surgical, non-medical masks whose sales would be used as charitable donations to various charities. The masks, available in animal prints, satin fabrics and even denim, were priced at $20 and could be purchased online at morethanamask.org.In May 2020, the month's sales benefited Feeding America, where each mask sold provided 100 meals to those in need. "Ever since our local health officials mandated mask-wearing, I thought to myself, how can I do something innovative while providing help to those around me W...