Sign in Subscribe
Disaster victims

Celebrities Rally Behind Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Celebrities have been at the forefront of hurricane relief efforts, with many donating money and time to aid those affected by the disaster. On Monday, Oprah Winfrey and Senator Barack Obama visited Houston, where singer Macy Gray had spent the previous Saturday handing out clothing and toiletries to evacuees at the Astrodome. Writer John Grisham and his wife have donated $5 million to establish a relief fund for Mississippi residents and businesses, while Alan Jackson will donate the proceeds from his upcoming concert to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 18,500 evacuees from New Orleans have found temporary shelter at the Astrodome, where singer Macy Gray and other celebrities have been handing out clothing and toiletries.
  • Writer John Grisham and his wife have donated $5 million to establish the Rebuild the Coast Fund Organization to aid Mississippi residents and businesses.
  • Alan Jackson will donate the proceeds from his concert in Columbus, Ohio, to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
  • Celebrities such as Green Day, REM, Pearl Jam, and the Beastie Boys have joined MoveOn.org to produce public-service announcements to help find housing for hurricane victims.
  • Willie Nelson and Farm Aid have launched the Family Farm Disaster Fund, which has sent an initial $30,000 to partner organizations in the Southeast.
  • The six broadcast networks will join forces for Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast to raise funds for hurricane victims.
  • The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, and Kanye West will perform at MTV's ReAct Now: Music & Relief benefit concert on September 10.
  • The Grand Ole Opry and Great American Country will hold a benefit concert featuring Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss, and other country music stars on September 27.

Statistics:

  • Over 18,500 evacuees from New Orleans have fled to the Astrodome.
  • $5 million has been donated to establish the Rebuild the Coast Fund Organization.
  • Alan Jackson's concert will donate proceeds to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
  • An estimated 7.4 million viewers watched NBC's A Concert for Hurricane Relief, which won its time slot Friday.
  • The six broadcast networks will join forces for Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast, which will be simulcast on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, UPN, and WB.

Sources:

  • Perez Hilton, "Celebrities Rally Behind Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts" (retrieved September 10, 2005)
  • Reuters, "Bush's Rumsfeld takes the war to the comedy stage" (retrieved September 10, 2005)
  • MTV Networks, "ReAct Now: Music & Relief" (retrieved September 10, 2005)
  • The Grand Ole Opry, "Country Reaches Out: An Opry Benefit for the American Red Cross" (retrieved September 10, 2005)
  • The Gospel Music Channel, "Gospel Angels" (retrieved September 10, 2005)

Read more