DiCaprio, Beyonce, Kim Kardashian among celebs to pitch in for Texas hurricane
A house sits completely submerged in flood water in the wake of Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas. Photo: Getty
Leonardo DiCaprio, Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian West are among the celebrities to rally behind Texas residents affected by Hurricane Harvey.
The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation has donated US$1 million (A$1.3 million) to the newly established United Way Harvey Recovery Fund whilch will benefit short and long term relief and recovery efforts.
“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of Leonardo DiCaprio and his foundation,” United Way Worldwide CEO Brian Gallagher said in a statement.
“Responding to Hurricane Harvey requires the best of all of us — and that’s what this gift represents.”
Lemonade pop icon Beyoncé said she was working with her charity to assist the storm and flood victims in her hometown of Houston.
“My heart goes out to my hometown, Houston, and I remain in constant prayer for those affected,” she told The Houston Chronicle on Monday.
She said she was praying “for the rescuers who have been so brave and determined” and would work with her organisation BeyGOOD and her pastor to “implement a plan to help as many as we can”.
Kardashian West said she, her mother and sisters would donate $US500,000 ($A627,000) to the American Red Cross and Salvation Army.
“Houston we are praying for you!” Kardashian West wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.
Actress Sandra Bullock donated $US1million ($A1.3 million) to the relief efforts, People magazine reported.
Bullock said she hoped the storm could unite Americans, despite the current political divide.
“There are no politics in eight feet of water,” the star, who has a generous history of donating to humanitarian aid projects, told People.
“There are human beings in eight feet of water.”
Beyonce and Kim Kardashian West are pictured at New York Fashion Week Fall 2015. Photo: Getty
Comedian Kevin Hart sparked a donation drive on Sunday night, donating $US25,000 ($A31,350) to relief efforts. He challenged his celebrity friends to contribute.
“I think we’ve participated in a lot of challenges on the internet, some meaningful, some meaningless, but we’ve all done them. I’ve been a person that’s partaken in several of them,” Hart said on Instagram.
“At this point, this is a serious matter.
“I think the people are in bad shape and they need help. I’m going to lead the charge and step up in this way.”
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, the second-highest paid actor in the last financial year, matched Hart’s donation and encouraged his Instagram followers to “donate a buck or two to our Houston families in need”.
DJ Khaled and Nicki Minaj joined in with $US25,000 donations.
On Monday, Coldplay dedicated a song Houston to the victims in a one-off performance at their Miami concert. Their Friday show in Houston was postponed because of the storm.
Drake, who is touring in London but has lived in Houston for eight years, said he and DJ Future the Prince were working with aid groups.
“I also want to thank all the men and women of service and volunteers for their courageous efforts to help people in need,” he said on Instagram.
“I encourage everyone to do what they can to assist the people of Texas knowing whatever effort you can make to help will go a long way.”
Katy Perry used her appearance on Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards to urge viewers to donate to aid relief.
Beyoncé’s fellow Destiny’s Child alumni Kelly Rowland also called for prayers for those suffering.
Brands join the donations drive
American brewer Anheuser-Busch, which makes Budweiser, announced it would send 155,000 cans of emergency drinking water to those affected by the hurricane.
Similarly, Oskar Blues staff halted beer production and canned over 88,000 cans of water for the victims.
The Walt Disney Company has donated $US1million to Red Cross, and Facebook said it would match donations made on its platform up to $US1 million.
Target will donate $US500,000 to aid in recovery efforts to organisations including Red Cross, the Salvation Army and Team Rubicon.
Hurricane Harvey is estimated to have caused over $US3 billion ($A3.8 billion) in property damage so far.
New York Times reports the death toll has reached 30 and is expected to climb after Harvey made landfall last Friday (local time).
You can donate to the relief effort at Red Cross, Salvation Army and an official GoFundMe page.
-with AAP
