Ex-presidents start fundraiser for hurricane relief

WASHINGTON — The five living former U.S. presidents say they’re teaming up to create the “One America Appeal” to raise money for storm recovery as Texas and Louisiana seek to regroup from Harvey and Florida and the Atlantic coast brace for Hurricane Irma.

The hurricane recovery effort was announced by former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter.

Online donations can be made at Oneamericaappeal.org .

The current president, Donald Trump, tweeted his support: “We will confront ANY challenge, no matter how strong the winds or high the water. I’m proud to stand with Presidents for #Oneamericaappeal.”

The hurricanes represent the latest philanthropic collaboration by living ex-u.s. presidents and their first joint effort since Trump’s election. The elder Bush and Clinton raised money for victims of the devastating tsunami in Asia in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After Haiti’s massive earthquake in 2010, Obama tapped Clinton and the younger Bush to lead a relief effort.

For the Bush family, Harvey struck close to home. George H.W. Bush lives part of the year in Houston while George W. Bush, a former Texas governor, lives in Dallas.

Organizers said a special restricted account had been established through the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation to distribute donations. Officials said “100 cents out of every dollar” donated will help hurricane victims. All donations are tax-deductible.