Leonardo DiCaprio and Miley Cyrus are the latest Hollywood stars to reach into their pockets to help those in need in Texas.
The Hollywood actor announced on Wednesday that his charitable foundation is donating $1 million to the United Way Harvey Recovery Fund that has just been established to fund short and long term relief and recovery efforts.
‘We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of Leonardo DiCaprio and his foundation,’ said United Way Worldwide President and CEO Brian Gallagher. ‘Responding to Hurricane Harvey requires the best of all of us – and that’s what this gift represents.’
Generous gift: Leonardo DiCaprio has donated $1 million via his charitable foundation to the newly established United Way Harvey Recovery Fund, it was announced Wednesday
The nonprofit organization United Way has pledged that 100 percent of donations made to its newly established fund will be passed on to those affected by Hurricane Harvey.
DiCaprio and his foundation have previously donated to recovery efforts following the 2004 tsunami, the Haiti earthquake and Hurricane Sandy.
Leo’s charitable foundation, which aims to help prevent climate change and preserving Earth’s biodiversity, was set up in 1998 and has worked on projects in over 40 countries.
In July 2016 his foundation donated $15.6 million to help protect wildlife and the rights of Native Americans, along with combating climate change.
The following summer, a charity auction and celebrity concert put on by the foundation had raised over $30 million.
Charitable: On Monday, the actor had put out a tweet asking his fans to support the Red Cross after the terrible flooding in Texas and Louisiana
Likes to help: The Oscar winner and his foundation have previously donated to recovery efforts following the 2004 tsunami, the Haiti earthquake and Hurricane Sandy
On Monday, Leo had tweeted about the terrible flooding taking place in Texas and Louisiana as a result of the hurricane and encouraging his fans to support the Red Cross.
The 42-year-old Oscar winner was the first to make a donation to the United Way Harvey Recovery Fund, before Miley announced that she is set to make a major donation to the organisation.
The 24-year-old singer announced on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that her Happy Hippie Foundation have donated $500,000 to the cause.
‘I’m really happy to help in whatever way I can,’ Miley said, holding back tears.
The Happy Hippie Foundation was set up in 2014 to aid youth homelessness, the LGBTQ community, and other vulnerable populations.
Helping out: Miley Cyrus also announced on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that her Happy Hippie Foundation have donated $500,000 to the cause
Helping hand: Sandra Bullock donated $1 million to the Red Cross to help victims of Hurricane Harvey on Tuesday saying, ‘We all have to do our part’
A post on the website reads: ‘All donations received as of August 30, 2017 will support people affected by Hurricane Harvey.
‘Relief funds will be directed to the American Red Cross, Best Friends, the Greater Houston Community Fund, and other organizations providing important immediate and long-term relief and recovery services.’
But they are not the first famous figures to give money to the relief efforts.
On Tuesday, Sandra Bullock gave a million dollars to the American Red Cross.
She told People: ‘I’m just grateful I can do it. We all have to do our part.’
Ellen DeGeneres also joined forces with Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt who started a fundraising campaign to help victims of Harvey.
Watt taped a segment for her chat show to air Thursday in which he talked about his plan to use donations to bring water, clothing, generators, and cleaning supplies directly to the people in need.
Ellen also revealed that retail giant Walmart is pledging to give $1 million to Watt’s relief efforts.
The Kardashians also made donations giving $250,000 to the ARC and a matching sum to The Salvation Army.
Actor and comedian Kevin Hart issued a challenge to some of his fellow celebrities to donate relief money, posting a video to his Instagram Sunday night.
Giving: Walmart announced via the Ellen DeGeneres Show set to air Thursday that it’s donating $1 million to the fundraising campaign set up by Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt
‘I’m challenging a lot of my celebrity friends to follow my lead and donating $25,000 to Hurricane Harvey to the Red Cross.’ he said.
‘At this point this is a serious matter. I think that people are in bad shape and they need help. I’m going to lead the charge and step up this way,’ he added.
The Rock quickly stepped up with the Baywatch actor revealing he donated $25,000 to the Red Cross. Diddy, real name Sean Combs, also accepted the challenge.
More than 30,000 people are in overcrowded shelters across Texas as floods continue to swamp Houston after the heaviest rainfall in US history.
Governor Greg Abbott had a bleak message for residents of southeast Texas on Wednesday as he told them that the worst of Hurricane Harvey was yet to come.
So far at least 38 people have been confirmed dead but the death toll is likely to rise dramatically as flood waters recede and more bodies emerge.
Devastating: A man stood outside a home in Port Arthur, Texas, on Wednesday as more than 30,000 people evacuated to shelters as floods continue to envelop Houston and its surrounds
Huge effort: Rescues have continued across the areas affected by Harvey and at least 38 people are confirmed to have died as a result of the hurricane