J.LO GOES THE EXTRA MIL FOR PR
MEGASTARS' MEGABUCKS FOR CANE AID
It’s Jenny from the Block to the rescue. Jennifer Lopez made a surprise appearance alongside Gov. Cuomo at the Javits Center on Sunday to announce that she would donate $1 million to Hurricane Maria relief efforts in Puerto Rico. “Today, Puerto Rico needs our help,” the singer/ actress told the audience of about 150 people at the unveiling of the Empire State Relief and Recovery Effort for Puerto Rico. “My cousins and I and all of our family still haven’t been able to hear from all of our family over there. We are concerned for them and for everyone on the island,” said J.Lo, who was born in The Bronx and is of Puerto Rican descent.
Lopez, who is co-chairing the statewide initiative, added that she and her boyfriend, ex-Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez, were using working to “garner support for Puerto Rico and Caribbean relief efforts.”
“I will always be a New Yorker, I am a proud Puerto Rican, and I cannot tell you what it meant to me and the people of Puerto Rico to see New York not only pledge their effort but for Gov. Cuomo to actually show up with resources and supplies,” she said.
Lopez noted that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner also committed to making a “significant contribution.” The Mets are joining the effort, too, asking fans attending games at Citi Field Monday through Wednesday to bring donations.
J.Lo and A-Rod are also spearheading relief efforts with her ex-husband, singer Marc Anthony, also of Puerto Rican descent, to organize Latino artists and athletes to help the US island territory, as well as quake-hit Mexico and the rest of the storm-ravaged Caribbean. She said they were also working with billionaire Mark Cuban.
In addition to financial support, the Empire State Relief and Recovery Effort will include collection of emergency supplies. Collection points will be set up across the state, and donations will be stored at the Javits Center and secured by the National Guard until they are delivered by JetBlue. Cuomo also issued a plea to Washington. “I humbly suggest at this time, instead of arguing with football players, instead of obsessing about how to take health care from the poor in this country, why don’t we put the political asides and focus on helping Americans?” he said. “Americans go first, we can save lives.” Maria devastated Puerto Rico, claiming at least 10 lives and leaving it without power.
Forecasters said the hurricane may blow in close enough to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to cause coastal flooding there Wednesday and Thursday.