Bethenny Frankel recently bid farewell to her fellow Real Housewives of New York, leaving the reality show back in August.
But the born-and-bred New Yorker is keeping busy with her philanthropic efforts as she takes a step away from the spotlight.
She appeared Wednesday on Good Morning America, where she revealed how she’s contributing to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic through her BStrong initiative, all while quarantined with her family at home in New York City.
Giving back: Bethenny Frankel appeared Wednesday on Good Morning America, where she revealed how she’s contributing to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic through her BStrong initiative
The 49-year-old told Robin Roberts: ‘Before lockdown, it was all about corona kits for me, which was prevention… And then most people were locked down, and it pivoted to hearing about the healthcare workers.
‘Pretty early, I heard from just a few people and started hunting down the PPE, what they call protective gear for these people that are risking their lives for ours.
She continued: ‘And this has been so intense, just finding relief all over the world and in massive quantities. It’s millions and millions of units, it’s tens of millions of dollars.’
The Bethenny & Fredrik star also discussed how this relief effort has differed from previous efforts, which includes the Australian bushfires from earlier this year.
Healthcare relief: She told Robin Roberts: ‘Before lockdown, it was all about corona kits for me, which was prevention… And then most people were locked down, and it pivoted to hearing about the healthcare workers’
Protective gear: Frankel added: ‘Pretty early, I heard from just a few people and started hunting down the PPE, what they call protective gear for these people that are risking their lives for ours’
Millions and millions: She said: ‘And this has been so intense, just finding relief all over the world and in massive quantities. It’s millions and millions of units, it’s tens of millions of dollars’
She said: ‘It’s amazing because we worked with the Australia fires, and that was a really big disaster, and in the Bahamas and Puerto Rico.
‘But you could acquire relief from other places, it wasn’t that the whole world was on fire. I’ve never seen anything like this.’
Frankel revealed that she gave a million hazmat suits to hospitals in New York as just part of her relief efforts through BStrong, which she launched in 2017.
The interview came after her former RHONY co-star Luann de Lesseps dished on what season 12 looks like without Frankel.
She told People: ‘I wish her well. We had a good run. She’s off doing her own thing. The show must go on, and it goes on very well without her.’
Show goes on: The interview came after her former RHONY co-star Luann de Lesseps dished on what season 12 looks like without Frankel: ‘The show must go on, and it goes on very well without her’ (pictured in October, 2014)
More relaxed: Ramona Singer said: ‘I know, because she isn’t on this season, that all of us feel lighter and brighter and more relaxed’ (pictured in March, 2014)
Ramona Singer told In the Know: ‘I know, because she isn’t on this season, that all of us feel lighter and brighter and more relaxed, and therefore we can show ourselves and feel more comfortable in our settings and in our skin, because Bethenny was a very strong character on the show.’
Frankel announced she was leaving the Bravo reality show back in August, having joined with the first season back in 2008.
She bid farewell on Instagram, writing: ‘Thank you so much for your love and support. And stay tuned, you haven’t seen the last of me.
‘There are many amazing things to come. I love you all and am so lucky to have you in my life! PS: New York City is still my playground.’
Bidding farewell: Frankel announced she was leaving the Bravo reality show back in August, having joined with the first season back in 2008 (pictured in May, 2019)