Famous Americans have begun donating their time, visibility and money to relief efforts in the southeastern states devastated by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, especially stars with ties to western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.
Key data
Actors and spouses Blake Lively y Ryan Reynolds have donated $1 million to Feeding America’s disaster relief fund “to help food banks provide basic needs like water, ready-to-eat foods and supplies to communities facing heartbreaking loss and long recovery. »
NFL quarterback Tom Bradywho finished his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, said Thursday that he would partner with delivery company Gopuff to donate $100,000 to “help get essential items like food, water and first aid” to Floridians in need through the Volunteer Florida Foundationand said the company will match any donations made through “Give With Gopuff,” a new donation tool within the app.
The billionaire Taylor Swiftthe world’s richest female musician, donated $5 million to nonprofit Feeding America’s Milton and Henele relief efforts, the group’s chief executive said Wednesday, adding that the money will be used to ” “help communities rebuild and recover by providing essential food, clean water and supplies to people affected by these devastating storms” (Swift’s record-breaking Era’s Tour is expected to resume in Miami on October 18) .
The legend of country music Dolly Partonoriginally from the small East Tennessee town of Pittman Center, said she will make a personal donation of $1 million to Hurricane Helene recovery and that her businesses, including the Dollywood theme park, will donate another $1 million to the Fundación Mountain Ways.
The country singer Morgan Wallenwho is also from East Tennessee, donated $500,000 through his foundation to the American Red Cross on Oct. 1 and on Wednesday hosted a donation drive with comedian Theo Von and Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello to collect bottled water, ready-to-eat foods and other items at a Knoxville shopping center.
heavy metal band Metallica announced that his non-profit organization, the All Within My Hands Foundationwould donate $50,000 each to World Central Kitchen and Team Rubicon to assist in the first response efforts to Hurricane Helene.
Crucial ideals
“This is my house,” Parton said at a press conference announcing her donations. «God has been good to me and so has the public, and I feel that if there is something I can do to give back in some way I am always willing to do it. “I want to feel like I’m doing my part.”
What to see
music stars Keith Urban, Luke Combs, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Bailey Zimmerman, James Taylor y otros They will offer a benefit concert called «Concert for Carolina» on October 26 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tickets went on sale Thursday morning, and by 11:30 EDT, there were nearly 40,000 people lining up to buy them on Ticketmaster. By noon all tickets had been sold out, except for the $1,000 platinum charity tickets.
The big number
50 million dollars. That’s how much has been raised to help families, businesses and communities affected by Hurricane Helene on the fundraising website GoFundMeaccording to a press release. According to the company, more than 400,000 people from all US states have made donations, for an average amount of $120.
Forbes Rating
Swift was in the position on Thursday 2,109 of the richest people in the worldwith a estimated net worth of $1.6 billion obtained thanks to the value of his musical catalog and his tour Eras Tourwhich has broken records.
Background
Hurricane Helene hit Florida on September 26 before moving north and causing devastating flooding in Georgia and the Tennessee-North Carolina state line. More than 220 people died from the effects of the storm and hundreds more remain missing as recovery efforts continue, largely in Appalachian Mountain communities, some of which, according to North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, They were “wiped off the map.” Data analytics company CoreLogic estimates that Helene caused up to $47.5 billion in losses to homeowners. Less than two weeks later, on Wednesday night, Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida’s west coast, bringing with it a storm surge of more than 8 feet near Sarasota and nearly two dozen tornadoes.
The total number of Milton’s victims is still unknown, although at least seven people died, according to The New York Times. St. Lucie County authorities confirmed Thursday that there were at least four deaths from tornadoes in the area. Wall Street analysts estimated before the storm that Milton could cause damage worth $175 billion or more, CNBC reported.
