Big givers raise the bar for Harvey relief

J.J. Watt’s campaign to raise money for Hurricane Harvey relief continues to grow. After initially raising $500,000 in 24 hours on YouCaring.com, the Texans defensive star went on social media to set a new goal of $1 million. As of Wednesday afternoon, Watt’s fund had raised more than $7 million, including $1 million from the Tennessee Titans Organization. YouCaring CEO Dan Saper called the response “surreal.”

On Tuesday, John Arnold, the Houston-based former hedge fund manager and co-chair of the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, tweeted that he and his wife would donate $5 million toward relief efforts via the Greater Houston Community Foundation.

Rockets owner Leslie Alexander is contributing $10 million to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, established by Mayor Sylvester Turner.

Jim Crane and the Astros ownership group and the Astros Foundation will donate $4 million to relief efforts. The Astros also will accept donations at Minute Maid Park through Sept. 6, including nonperishable food items, bottled water, blankets, baby food and formula, diapers, toilet paper, animal crates and dried pet food.

The Texans team, the Kinder Foundation, the NFL Foundation and global energy company Anadarko have each donated $1 million to the United Way of Greater Houston Relief Fund.

H-E-B has donated more than $1 million in food bank donations, disaster relief units and monetary commitments. The Texas grocery chain’s two, 45-foot-long mobile kitchens are serving hot meals to storm victims and first responders in Victoria, Rockport and at the George R. Brown Convention Center and NRG Center in Houston. H-E-B has also donated ice, water, cleaning supplies and snacks to more than 20 shelters across the Houston area.

Hearst Corp. is donating $1 million to the Greater Houston Red Cross to help with relief efforts across the region. The New York-based company, which owns the Houston Chronicle and many other media properties, also said it would match every dollar its employees donate, up to another $1 million.

Chevron Corp. is making a $1 million contribution to the American Red Cross for relief efforts in the Houston area and Corpus Christi.

The Walt Disney Co., owner of KTRK-TV (ABC Channel 13), and the station have commited $1 million to the American Red Cross. ABC and its owned-andoperated station will host a “Day of Giving” to support hurricane relief efforts.

Gulf States Toyota chairman Dan Friedkin has established the Friedkin Disaster Relief Fund guaranteeing at least $1 million in funding from the Friedkin Family, The Friedkin Group and Gulf States Toyota to support Toyota and Lexus dealers and storm victims.

Valero Energy Corp. is contributing $1 million to the American Red Cross.

ConocoPhillips is donating $5 million to the American Red Cross and the United Way of Greater Houston. Each will receive $2.5 million.

Whataburger has pledged $1.65 million.

Comcast NBCUniversal is committing “over a million dollars” in support of Houston-area relief efforts, including $500,000 in cash that will be shared between Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund and the American Red Cross.

PetSmart Charities is giving $1 million in emergency relief funding and several truckloads of pet food to animal welfare agencies.

The Texas Rangers baseball team has pledged to donate $1 million.