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I think Kevin Hart is a good guy and has been my “run-spiration” as of late (somebody’s gotta get my butt in gear, as I haven’t done a half marathon in over a year – and that’s pitiful). He’s now using his celebrity for a good cause. The 38-year-old comedian posted a video to Instagram in response to the devastation in Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. In the quick clip, he says he’s taken part in lots of challenges in the past, but this one is serious adding “I’m starting a real challenge.”
Kevin is putting his money where his mouth is, pledging to donate $25,000 to the American Red Cross to aid in their efforts to provide relief to those affected by the storm. He called on his celebrity friends, including Chris Rock, Dwayne Johnson, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Dave Chappelle, Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Harvey and Justin Timberlake to pitch in and lend their support.
In a subsequent post, Kevin announced that he had set up a donation page and had upped his pledge to $50,000. He again called on more of his famous friends to help out, including T.I., Drake, Usher and the Houston Rockets.
Kevin’s challenge is already getting some action, as Houston native Beyoncé vowed to help out the city. She told the Houston Chronicle, “My heart goes out to my hometown, Houston, and I remain in constant prayer for those affected and for the rescuers who have been so brave…I am working closely with my team at BeyGOOD as well as my pastor…to implement a plan to help as many as we can.” Bey also posted a photo to Instagram with the message, “Texas you are in my prayers.”
Dwayne Johnson also accepted Kevin’s challenge and donated the $25,000. In a clip posted on TMZ, he told the residents of Houston to “stay strong and hold on to faith.” Dwayne speaks from experience, as he and his family were in Miami during Hurricane Andrew in 1992. And, in his video clip, Rock threw a teeny bit of shade at Kevin, making a point to acknowledge that he wasn’t going to challenge any of his celebrity friends.
All celebrity shade aside, the residents of Texas could sure use the help, as the storm left at least 10 people dead and many more injured. Houston received over 40 inches of rain, which flooded residences and left many homeless. I don’t have Kevin Hart money, but I’m going to do what I can to help out, and if you want to as well, here is a list of charities (both local and national) that could definitely use your donations.
Photos: Getty Images, WENN.com
Just awful but lovely to see residents and celebrities pitching in. I have family in Houston (not flooded out and all ok, thank heavens). Thinking of any Celebitches affected.
And more than a thousand people dead in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Thinking of them, too.
If you really want to help local charities and ensure your money stays in southeast Texas,, please consider a donation to two organizations that will genuinely help people:
The Alliance for Multicultural Community Services – http://www.aalianceontheweb.org – A refugee services agency that also provides significant community-building, educational, health, and vocational services to lower income Texans.
Lone Star Legal Aid – http://www.lonestarlegal.org
– Their building flooded and later burned probably due to a gas leak on Monday. They will be on the front lines of helping poor people with rebuilding matters, so they could use the cash.
I evacuated and cannot get home yet to assess the damage, but a friend drove by my house yesterday and said it looked ok. My best friend’s house was flooded though and it may be weeks before she can return home. We are just in a lot of shock right now.
Oopsie…typo above:
http://www.allianceontheweb.org
Sorry!
Thanks, Lightpurple! Lone Star Legal Aid does amazing work, and their employees and volunteers are wonderful people.
Also:
Houston Food Bank – http://www.houstonfoodbank.org
Texas Diaper Bank – http://www.texasdiaperbank.org
I too like on the ground organizations to contribute to wanted to point out other worthy organizations:
http://www.austinpetsalive.org
https://www.spca.org
I read that a significant barrier to compliance with evacuation orders during Katrina was that people wouldn’t leave without a safe place for their pets (which I completely understand), so I’ve donated to these and will also donate to Lone Star Legal as BearcatLawyer recommended. We can all make a difference.
Thanks for the links. I’ve been trying to spread my donations out to a bunch of local charities, I feel like they generally are more efficient and responsive.
I kind of wish KH wasn’t directing everyone to the RC only. It’s awesome he is donating and wants to help, but too many reports about the RC.
Thanks bearcat! I just read up on why not to donate to Red Cross but didn’t know who else to donate to other than Best Friends Animal Society so this is very helpful.
Just donated to Lone Star Legal. As BearcatLawyer points out they will be helping poor people with rebuilding but will also be helping them deal with immediate issues like SNAP and Medicaid and unemployment benefits and transitional housing and even child custody as this recovery unfolds.
Thank you for the links.
I’m happy to see folks helping out these poor people in Texas but the whole Red Cross thing doesn’t sit well with me. I haven’t forgotten what went down with them and their fundraiser out in Haiti…
ETA this link to an NPR article with an explanation of my point
http://www.npr.org/2015/06/03/411524156/in-search-of-the-red-cross-500-million-in-haiti-relief
Years ago, I was in search of an NGO to donate to monthly. I swear to God, it was the most disheartening research I have ever done. I get that these huge organizations will always have bad apples, scandals etc. Where there are humans, there are problems. But the shady sh*t that sometimes goes down is just sad. I finally landed on MSF because I also wanted to avoid political and religious agendas. It is nearly impossible.
I don’t think the Red Cross is a shady organization but from my experience with volunteering, it only takes one chaotic narcissist who’s in charge to ruin a good thing. And f*ck me but these NGOs are often full of narcissists.
And now I’ve been bitchy on two positive posts today. Maybe I should stop.
I think the International Red Cross is still effective. It’s the American Red Cross that seems to have lost its way.
Thanks for that link. I’m no longer donating to the Red Cross. We donated to the Texas Diaper Bank last night – they provide diapers to families with young kids that are living in shelters.
Thank you for donating! The Texas Diaper Bank is a great organization!
It’s a tricky one, isn’t it? The recent Grenfell Tower disaster here in the UK saw many millions of pounds raised for victims but is now making headlines because the money isn’t getting to them.
If you’re local, or have local connections, you can find organisations you trust and know will deliver. But if you’re not local, it’s hard.
I did a small donation directly to the Houston area Red Cross, but I’m not loving the idea of dumping tons of cash into the national organization. Too many issues, and I think targeted, local donations will be better and faster.
I don’t think Kevin’s intent was to call out people. All of the past challenges were name checks. Maybe since this is a serious situation, some people may take it the wrong way.
He should also reboot the ‘Stay faithful to your wife challenge’.
And the stay faithful to your husband challenge, and stay faithful to your kids challenge, and the stay faithful to your boyfriend and girlfriend challenge, and the stay faithful to your dog and cat challenge, and the stay faithful to your everything challenge .
We all are aware of the cheating rumors, geez, someone always has to be a Debbie Downer. How is that going to help Houston?
Lol, get a grip.
LOL…practice what you preach.
Serene wolf, I don’t know what one thing has to do with another.
Awesome
Bob Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, is pledging to match donations to the Red Cross. Several other NFL teams are following this lead.
Sandra Bullock has donated $1 million.
Some professional associations you may already belong to can help our fellows as well. I am a member of the Professional Beauty Association, which has a fund to help those in the beauty industry affected by Hurricane Harvey (and other natural disasters). It is called the Disaster Relief Fund. The funds are meant to help with current needs, food, shelter, bills, etc, not for long term rebuilding efforts, but any person in the beauty industry can apply for help – even non members. Also, anyone can donate.
https://probeauty.org/drf/donate/