Hurricane Harvey: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sandra Bullock Give $1 Million Each
Update: Paul Simon and Edie Brickell have pledged $1 million to Hurricane Harvey aid, with the donations focusing “on the smaller towns surrounding the Houston area. Medical emergencies and restoration of homes are seen as priorities,” the couple said in a statement. The full details of the donation will be revealed next week.
Update: Leonardo DiCaprio donated $1 million to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts through the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, Variety reported. The money will go to the United Way Harvey Recovery Fund, a privately-funded nonprofit. In the past, DiCaprio’s foundation has given large donations to relief after the Haiti earthquake crisis, Hurricane Sandy and more.
Miley Cyrus’ Happy Hippie Foundation is donating $500,000 for Hurricane Harvey relief. The singer made the tearful announcement on Ellen. “My grandma’s sitting here. My mom’s here, and I go home to my seven dogs,” Cyrus told Ellen DeGeneres. “If I didn’t have that anymore, it’d just be really hard.”
Sandra Bullock, Kevin Hart, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown and Kacey Musgraves are among the dozens of actors and artists helping to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Harvey, the devastating storm that caused historic flooding in the Houston, Texas area.
Bullock, who lives part time in Austin, has pledged $1 million to aid the relief efforts of the American Red Cross, People reported.
“This is an incredible gift. We’re so thankful. It’s times like this when we do receive such an incredible amount of support. Especially during times of disaster, people see what’s happening in Texas and our hearts all go out to them,” an American Red Cross rep said. “Having someone like Sandra Bullock make this kind of commitment, it helps bring people together and open their hearts and be even more generous.”
Bullock has consistently donated in times of need, with the actress previously giving $1 million in the aftermath of September 11th, 2001 and Hurricane Katrina. The actress added that the country should unite to help aid Harvey-struck areas. “There are no politics in eight feet of water. There are human beings in eight feet of water,” she said.
Kevin Hart also issued a $1 million challenge on social media for Red Cross’ Harvey relief, with the comedian initially contributing $25,000 before doubling that to $50,000. Hart called upon his famous friends like Nicki Minaj, DJ Khaled, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, T.I. and Justin Timberlake to also contribute, with many answering Hart’s call.
Rapper T.I. said he would contribute $25,000 to aiding Hurricane Harvey victims, but not through the Red Cross. “I ain’t fucking with no Red Cross. Fuck them and FEMA,” T.I. said on social media. Chris Brown was similarly “skeptical” about giving his donation – $100,000 – to the Red Cross, promising instead that his money “will go to the people!”
Other artists who contributed larger sums of $25K or more include Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, country singer Chris Young, The Chainsmokers, DJ Khaled and Supernatural actor Jensen Ackles, per the BBC.
The Kardashian family also made a group donation of $500,000 to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, while Drake said he was “working with local relief groups to aid and assist.” Earlier in the week, Beyonce pledged to lend support to Harvey victims through her BeyGOOD foundation.
Country singer Musgraves offered her services to the Red Cross by volunteering to answering phones during a Red Cross telethon, and later said she was looking into playing some sort of benefit concert for the Harvey-struck region, Billboard reports.