Academy Award Winner, actor, and heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio has donated $1 million (£774,053) to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.
The Revenant star was praised by United Way Worldwide president and CEO Brian Gallagher for his contribution:
“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of Leonardo DiCaprio and his foundation. Responding to Hurricane Harvey requires the best of all of us – and that’s what this gift represents.
United Way’s Harvey Recovery Fund will provide much-needed help for the communities along the Gulf Coast where lives have been changed forever.“
This isn’t the first time DiCaprio’s organisation has lent a helping hand to others in past disasters – money was lent to the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Other prominent names in Hollywood made large contributions to the Hurricane Harvey relief effort as well. Sandra Bullock donated the same amount of $1 million (£774,053) to help the victims, while the Kardashian clan offered $500,000 (£387,283) to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
Kevin Hart made an appeal for more celebrities to donate after pledging $25,000 (£19,350) to the fund. In his video, Hart calls out to The Rock, Steve Harvey, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Jerry Seinfeld and Beyonce.
“I remain in constant prayer for those affected and for the rescuers who have been so brave and determined to do so much to help,” said the former Destiny’s Child singer, from Houston.
Ever since the hurricane hit, it has been downgraded to a tropical depression, still wreaking havoc across Texas. Officials have reported at least 38 people dead from storm-related deaths, with the National Guard managing to help rescue more than 8,500 people and roughly 210,000 people being registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance.
