Celebrities Rally to Aid Hurricane Victims: Multi-Million Dollar Donations and Concert for Relief Efforts
Taylor Swift, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Tom Brady, and Dolly Parton are among the celebrities who’ve donated to relief efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in the southeastern United States.
Taylor Swift donated a significant sum of $5 million to Feeding America, targeting the hardest-hit areas to facilitate recovery efforts. Similarly, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds also contributed $1 million towards ensuring that affected communities have access to basic needs like water and food.
Country music legend Dolly Parton, deeply connected to eastern Tennessee, donated $1 million to support her hometown’s recovery efforts. This gesture was matched by her businesses, bringing the total contribution to $2 million. Morgan Wallen, a country singer, who is also from Tennessee, donated $500,000 to the American Red Cross through his foundation and also hosted a donation drive with comedian Theo Von and Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello in Knoxville, collecting essential supplies like water and food.
NFL star Tom Brady, in collaboration with Gopuff, announced a donation of $100,000 to "help get essentials like food, water and first aid" to Floridians in need via the Volunteer Florida Foundation.
Heavy metal band Metallica also played a vital role. Through their All Within My Hands Foundation, Metallica contributed $50,000 each to World Central Kitchen and Team Rubicon, focusing on first-response efforts.
In response to the overwhelming need, a benefit concert titled “Concert for Carolina” is scheduled, featuring stars like Keith Urban and Luke Combs, to raise further funds for the victims.
Hurricane Helene struck Florida on September 26, moving north to wreak havoc in Georgia and along the Tennessee/North Carolina border, resulting in over 220 deaths and extensive flooding. Recovery efforts are ongoing, especially in severely impacted Appalachian communities. CoreLogic reports Helene caused up to $47.5 billion in property damage. Shortly after, Hurricane Milton hit Florida’s western coast, causing storm surges and tornadoes, with at least seven confirmed deaths and potential damages exceeding $175 billion, as per CNBC estimates.