Beyonce vows to help Harvey relief
Bullock donates $1m
NEW YORK, Aug 30, (Agencies): Beyonce, one of the most famous natives of Houston, has pledged generous but unspecified aid after the fourth most populous US city was ravaged by mega-storm Harvey.
The pop superstar, in a statement to the Houston Chronicle, said she was working out details with her team and her Houston pastor “to implement a plan to help as many as we can”.
Beyonce — whose net worth with her husband, rap mogul Jay-Z, is estimated at $1 billion — said that Texas was “in my prayers” in a post to her more than 100 million followers on Instagram. Elsewhere in the music world, leading rapper Drake — a Toronto native who keeps a home in Houston — said he was “working with local relief groups to aid and assist the people of Texas in any way we can and in the most immediate way possible”.
“I encourage everyone to do what they can to assist the people of Texas knowing whatever effort you can make to help will go a long way”, Drake
Beyonce
wrote on Instagram.
Among more specific commitments, comedian Kevin Hart said he was donating $25,000 to the American Red Cross for relief in Houston and urged other stars — a few of whom, including Beyonce and Jay-Z, he named — to do the same.
“I am challenging a lot of my celebrity friends to follow my lead in donating $25,000”, Hart said.
“I think that people are in bad shape and need help, and I’m going to lead the charge”, he said.
Sandra Bullock is the latest celebrity to lend aid to the victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas.
The actress donated $1 million to the relief efforts of the American Red Cross, People reported on Tuesday. Bullock is a long-time supporter of the American Red Cross and owns a home in Austin.
Bullock said that despite the current political divide and turmoil in the country, she hopes that, at the very least, the storm provides an opportunity for Americans to unite. “There are no politics in eight feet of water”, the star, who has a history of donating to humanitarian aid projects, told People. “There are human beings in eight feet of water”.
Among other celebrities to pledge their support for relief in Texas are Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Kim Kardashian West, Lin-Manuel Miranda, DJ Khaled, and Nicki Minaj. The Walt Disney Company has also donated $1 million to Red Cross relief efforts. Facebook announced that it will match donations made on its website up to $1 million.
Downgraded
Although Hurricane Harvey has been downgraded from the category 4 storm it was when it made landfall to a tropical storm, it is still expected to pour at least another 39 inches during the week. So far, the storm has killed 19 people and caused over $3 billion in property damage.
The Walt Disney Co made a $1 million cash donation on Tuesday to the American Red Cross to support recovery efforts for Houston and other areas in southeast Texas and Louisiana affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Facebook followed suit by announcing a plan to match funds raised on the social media platform up to $1 million.
ABC’s Houston O&O KTRK-TV also plans an on-air fundraising effort as the city grapples with the devastating storm that has left at least 10 people dead and thousands evacuated from floodravaged neighborhoods, with more torrential rain on the way. On Thursday, KTRK and other Disney TV outlets as well as the Radio Disney network, will repeatedly call on viewers to donate to the American Red Cross.
“Our hearts go out to everyone in the devastating path of this historic storm”, said Disney chief Bob Iger. “It’s hard to fully appreciate the impact, in part because it isn’t over yet. But we know thousands of people have lost everything and now face the daunting challenge of putting their lives and communities back together, and we’re using our unique resources and reach to help those in need”.
Disney also said it would match Harvey-related Red Cross donations by its employees.
Facebook’s fundraising efforts will go to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s Hurricane Harvey Recovery Fund to “support local efforts to local recovery and rebuilding efforts”. Users in the US will see a message at the top of their newsfeed offering the option to give money. Donations made directly on the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s Facebook page will also be matched.
Coldplay performed a new song, called “Houston”, at their Miami concert on Monday night, dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Harvey. Frontman Chris Martin stressed that it was a one-time-only performance.
“This is because we all grew up loving country music, and of course that’s kind of what we think of when we go to Texas”, Martin told concertgoers at the Hard Rock Stadium. “So, if you’ll bear with us, this is a new song and we’ll never play this again. It’s a one-off and this is called ‘Houston’. We’re gonna sing it in Miami for everybody here, and we’re gonna send it over there to everyone who missed the show”.
Coldplay was forced to postpone their Houston concert that was scheduled for Friday due to the tropical storm. “We really wanted to play tonight, but sitting here all together watching the news about the storm, we feel that we can’t ask anyone to put their safety at risk. So, sadly, we will have to postpone”, a statement on the band’s social media accounts read.
“From Miami, we are sending love to Houston / We are praying that you make it through the rain”, Martin sang. “I know nothing’s gonna break the will of Houston/Oh, how we can’t wait to go down there again”.