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Hurricane Harvey: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sandra Bullock, Tyler Perry and Others Donate to Relief Efforts

Hurricane Harvey: DiCaprio, Sandra Bullock & More Celebrities Donate
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UPDATED: Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, and Kim Kardashian are among the celebrities donating to relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. The Category 4 storm tore through Texas, causing catastrophic flooding and damage to Houston and surrounding areas last weekend.

Hart kicked off the efforts when he posted a video on Instagram introducing the Hurricane Harvey Relief Challenge. He announced he was donating $25,000 to recovery efforts, in addition to creating a campaign on CrowdRise, and challenged some of his famous friends — Johnson, Beyonce, Chris Rock, Jay Z, Dave Chappelle, and Justin Timberlake — to follow his lead. “Help me help Houston,” he captioned the post.

Johnson was among the first to accept the challenge and donate $25,000 to the American Red Cross. “Stay strong Houston and hold onto faith. Me and my family know what you’re going [through]. We survived the eye of [Hurricane] Andrew and became stronger — so will you,” he captioned his Instagram post.

Sandra Bullock donated $1 million to the American Red Cross’ relief efforts. Bullock, who owns a home in Austin, is a longtime supporter of the organization. President Donald Trump is also pledging $1 million in personal funds to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, while Leonardo DiCaprio gave $1 million to the newly established United Way Harvey Recovery fund. Edie Brickell and Paul Simon announced on Friday they will be donating $1 million to focus on smaller towns surrounding the Houston area. Tyler Perry also pledged $1 million to the cause — with $250,000 going to Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston.

Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, DJ Khaled, and T.I. also answered Hart’s plea, with Brown pledging $100,000, and Khaled, Minaj, and T.I. each donating $25,000. “We ALL need to WORK on coming together [and] utilizing our resources collectively to do some meaningful s— to people who need US more than ever!” T.I. wrote on Instagram.

Sean “Diddy” Combs commended Hart’s initiatives in a Twitter video and donated as well. “Let’s just do something now. Let’s not talk about what we can do, let’s get the relief process going,” he said.

Kim Kardashian West announced on Twitter that her family will be donating $500,000 to the Red Cross and Salvation Army, and encouraged others to join her efforts.

Jack Antonoff also said he will match up to $10,000 in donations to Montrose’s Hurricane Harvey LGBTQ Disaster Relief Fund in Houston. Ruby Rose offered to match Antonoff’s donations in addition to gifting $10,000.

https://twitter.com/jackantonoff/status/902387327221108736
https://twitter.com/jackantonoff/status/902387643803090944
https://twitter.com/RubyRose/status/902590036935188481

Country musician Chris Young pledged $100,000 and started a GoFundMe campaign for Harvey relief efforts. “I have friends and family there, and I’m almost certain my house down there may have to be torn down as it was in one of the areas that was hardest hit by winds and flooding,” he said in a Twitter video. “But that’s the least of my concerns. I’m worried about the people there — my friends, family and neighbors — and I want to help.”

Houston Texans player J.J. Watt also initiated a fundraiser on YouCaring, which had raised over $6.6 million by Wednesday afternoon, while Lin-Manuel Miranda encouraged people to donate to Baker-Ripley, a Texas charity aimed at building and rebuilding neighborhoods across the country. “Hamilton” star Renée Elise Goldsberry also pledged to donate.

Jimmy Fallon announced that his “Tonight Show” is donating $1 million to Watt’s relief fund, and welcomed a Houston choir on the late-night series to sing a rendition of “Lean on Me.”

Texas native Beyonce told the Houston Chronicle in a statement, “My heart goes out to my hometown, Houston, and I remain in constant prayer for those affected and for the rescuers who have been so brave and determined to do so much to help.”

“I am working closely with my team at BeyGOOD as well as my pastor (Rudy Rasmus at St. John’s in downtown Houston) to implement a plan to help as many as we can,” Beyonce said.

Another Texan, Jamie Foxx, is donating $25,000 to the non-profit GlobalGiving. “Just wanted to let everyone in Texas know, we got you,” Foxx said in an Intragram video.

On Tuesday, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez posted a video on Instagram announcing that they have each donated $25,000 to the American Red Cross to help with the disaster relief.

Selena Gomez, though she didn’t specify the exact amount she contributed, announced that she was donating to hurricane relief, and implored her fans to do the same.

Also natives of Houston, members of ZZ Top — Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard — released a statement on Monday.

“Houston has played host to ZZ Top as our home base since we first banded together more than four decades ago, making us especially concerned with the plight of so many of our fellow Texans in the wake of the flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey,” ZZ Top said. “We are encouraged by the city’s and state’s recovery efforts from this tragic event and stand alongside our neighbors. Long ago, we recorded a song called ‘Heaven, Hell or Houston.’ We’re confident that, in the near future, the the first word will describe the title’s third word and the middle will soon be overcome.”

Ellen DeGeneres shared she will be giving $25,000 to the Red Cross and $25,000 to the SPCA of Texas, while her show will be donating an additional $25,000 to the Red Cross.

Miley Cyrus also announced on Thursday during an appearance on “The Ellen Show” that she would be donating $500,000 to reliefs efforts. “I’m really happy to help any way that I can and I hope people understand they can put themselves in those people’s shoes and just know what it feels like to have everything taken away from you,” she said on the show.

Rachael Ray announced on Tuesday that she will be donating $1 million raised by her foundation to benefit animal rescue; $200,000 in donations have already been made to SPCA of Texas and Austin Pets Alive.

“Thanks to your support of our Nutrish brands, we are able to donate $1 million today, through The Rachael Ray Foundation, to help support various animal welfare organizations who are actively working in Texas and Louisiana to care for animals displaced by Hurricane Harvey,” Ray wrote on Facebook. “We will continue our commitment to work with national and local organizations to assess needs and provide the additional earmarked funds.”

Hilary Duff, meanwhile, donated $20,000 each to the Red Cross and the Houston Food Bank. “This is true tragedy,” she wrote on Facebook. “I’m in shock and heartbroken watching the news and seeing the place I was raised under water. I can’t imagine living in these conditions.”

Texas native Miranda Lambert, along with Drake and Demi Lovato, were among those who expressed their concern on social media. Below are more reactions to the natural disaster:

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