Hurricane Harvey has come and gone and has been replaced by Hurricane Irma. However, the devastation that Hurricane Harvey brought about is still a significant obstacle faced by the victims. It's a good thing that aside from the government, some pro-active celebrities took the initiative to help and do what they can to help the victims. According to People, some celebrities have teamed up to participate in a telethon called "Hand In Hand: A Benefit For Hurricane Relief" in an effort to raise more than $14 million in aids, pledges, and financial assistance.
The telethon lasted for an hour and was televised with absolutely no commercial breaks.
Legendary musician Stevie Wonder kicked off the telethon with the song "Lean On Me." The song, which was also accompanied by a choir, seemed very apt for the advocacy of the telethon. Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio gave the opening remarks.
Donations pouring in
The telethon was streamed live from different phone banks strategically located in Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, New York, and Los Angeles. Celebrities in the acting and music industry answered the phone calls and jotted down the pledges for victims of Hurricane Harvey.
The institutions that will benefit from "Hand To Hand: A Benefit For Hurricane Relief" include United Way Of Greater Houston, Rebuild Texas Fund, Save The Children, Direct Relief, Th Mayor's Fund For Hurricane Harvey Relief, Habitat For Humanity and Feeding Texas.
Death toll and devastation
According to The New York Times, the death toll for Hurricane Harvey and Irma is currently at 85. Selena Gomez, Beyonce, Matthew McConaughey were only some of the celebrities who shared their time to participate in the telethon.
To boost the morale of the victims and to give them hope that there's a brighter future waiting for them, Oprah, Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Cher and Hilary Duff shared some survival stories from victims of previous hurricanes.
It was a way of letting the victims feel that they are not alone, and if the previous victims managed to get back up and survive, they can too.
Healing through music
Some artists also tried to ease the yoke of the victims by singing songs about hope and friendship. Usher and Blake Shelton sang "Stand By Me" while Luis Fonsi and Tori Kelly sang "Hallelujah." Justin Bieber was also present during the telethon and was the one who led the group in prayer. Fans were surprised to see Justin Bieber in public, as this was one of his rare appearances after he canceled his "Purpose" tour last month.
