OUR BETTER ANGELS
Stars raise millions for those hit by Harvey Volunteers go door to door to help victims
Volunteer Cody Collinsworth carries Nancy McBride from her home in Houston yesterday as businesses and celebs pledged to help. NFL star J.J. Watt raised $15.4 million for victims.
They’re rich and famous — and showing some Texassized compassion for Tropical Storm Harvey victims.
As the Lone Star State deals with the devastating aftermath of the recordbusting storm and volunteers go door to door to help stranded residents, celebs and corporate giants have opened their hearts and wallets to donate big bucks to recovery efforts.
That includes NFL star J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans, who started an online fund-raiser Sunday with a goal of $200,000.
By Friday, he had raised more than $15.4 million.
“Absolutely incredible,” the defensive end tweeted this week. “The most difficult times bring out the best in humanity.”
Talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres gave $1 million to Watt’s fund-raiser, and rapper Drake donated $200,000, saying, “Houston has always been like a second home to me.”
New York sports teams have stepped up, as well, with the Giants donating $1 million among Americares, the American Red Cross and the Houston Food Bank.
The Mets spent the day before their Saturday doubleheader in Houston against the Astros volunteering in the community.
A slew of celebrities has offered hefty donations to aid the victims of the storm, which has left at least 47 dead and damaged more than 156,000 homes.
Actors Sandra Bullock and Leonardo DiCaprio each gave $1 million, respectively, to the Red Cross and United Way Recovery Fund.
Miley Cyrus donated $500,000 as part of her Happy Hippie Foundation and got emotional on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
“I’m really happy to help in any way that I can, and I hope people understand and can put themselves in those people’s shoes,” said the pop singer, who gave to the Red Cross, Best Friends and the Greater Houston Community Fund. “Just to know what it feels like to have everything taken away from you.”
Other celebs to pledge major donations included actor/ filmmaker Tyler Perry, who is giving $1 million to relief funds, and the Kardashian family, which pledged $500,000 between the Red Cross and Salvation Army.
Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez said they would donate a collective $50,000.
Singer Miranda Lambert led efforts to rescue more than 100 dogs from Houston-area animal shelters.
Harvey has also brought out the generosity of companies across the country.
Together, corporate giants had donated upward of $141.3 million to relief efforts as of Friday morning, according to the US Chamber of Commerce.
And the US government will be paying its fair share as well. President Trump on Friday asked Congress to pony up $7.9 billion for relief efforts.