DiCaprio donates USD 1 million to hurricane relief efforts
Leonardo DiCaprio is the latest Hollywood star to reach into his pocket to help those in need in Texas.
The actor announced 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.'
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.
On Monday, the 42-year-old 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 Oscar winner is the first to make a donation to the United Way Harvey Recovery Fund.
But he is not the first famous figure 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.'
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.
'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.
Source: Daily Mail Online
