J.J. Watt's Hurricane Harvey Relief Funds Officially Shatters World Record
It’s been a little more than a year since Hurricane Harvey hit Houston and Texans star J.J. Watt sprang into action to raise funds to help rebuild the areas of the city damaged by the storm.
Well, it turns out that not only did the $41.6 million Watt’s foundation raised do a world of good for rebuilding the city faster than you can say storm surge, but it also set a new world record in the process.
Watt announced Monday that the fundraiser was the largest crowd-sourced donation drive in history.
It’s also a testament to what can happen when people get together under honest leadership to do good deeds.
After all, there are about 2 million people, give or take, in Houston, making $41 million something along the lines of $20 for every man, woman and child in the city.
Put another way, that much money for every man, woman, and child in America is $6 billion.
The Texans’ PR staff helped spread the social media word.
The Justin J. Watt Foundation today released the progress of the contributions made to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund started by @HoustonTexans DE @JJWatt 12 months ago. The fundraiser raised $41.6 million making it the largest crowdsourced fundraiser in world history (thread) pic.twitter.com/ru6IngbgJn
— Houston Texans PR (@TexansPR) August 27, 2018
Every cent of the money went to nonprofits in the Houston area; not one penny went toward any sort of grift, “administrative fees,” or anything of that ilk. Just money in and given out.
And if you’re wondering what those non-profits did with the money, Texans PR has you covered on that front too.
Funds have been used on:
-Cleanup, repair & rebuilding of 600+ homes
-Recovery & rebuilding of 420+ childcare centers & after-school programs, serving 16,000+ kids
-Distribution of 26,000,000+ meals
-Physical & mental health services to 6,500+
-Distribution of medicine to 10,000+ pic.twitter.com/P0XuoYfk2T— Houston Texans PR (@TexansPR) August 27, 2018
Some of the numbers are astonishing: 600 homes rebuilt. 420 childcare centers and after-school programs serving 16,000 kids.
Physical and mental health services went to 6,500 people who surely needed it after a storm laid waste to their way of life.
And 10,000 people got medicine.
And, cherry on the sundae time, every one of those numbers came with a plus. It’s quite possible the actual numbers were higher still.
Watt’s not done, either. He’s got money left over and he’s not about to let it go to waste.
Below is a letter from @HoustonTexans DE @JJWatt and the plan for the next 12 months #HoustonStrong pic.twitter.com/jtekz9vMTF
— Houston Texans PR (@TexansPR) August 27, 2018
Over the next year, those disaster-affected neighborhoods will continue to get the ongoing funding and care they need to restore and improve them.
Boys and Girls’ Clubs are getting rebuilt.
Habitat for Humanity is involved.
Watt is going to plant Harvey’s memory in the turf like it’s an unprotected quarterback.
If you needed some good news today … we’re happy to provide. And even though America lost a hero over the weekend, we’ve got plenty of them still very much alive.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
