Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush have delivered a message of unity. The former presidents have called on their fellow citizens to help the victims of a series of hurricanes.
Image: Reuters/R. Carson
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All five living former US Presidents came together on Saturday night to promote a message of hope and unity at a relief concert for the victims of hurricanes that recently ravaged parts of southern US and the Caribbean.
"As former presidents, we wanted to help our fellow Americans begin to recover," said Barack Obama as the concert began at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Obama served as president between 2009 and 2017.
"All of us on this stage here tonight could not be prouder of the response of Americans. When they see their neighbors and they see their friends, they see strangers in need, Americans step up."
Jimmy Carter, who served in office 1977-1981, George H. W. Bush, 1989-1993, Bill Clinton, 1993-2001, and George W. Bush, 2001-2009, were also in attendance.
"The heart of America, without regard to race or religion or political party, is greater than our problems," said Clinton.
"People are hurtin' down here, but as one Texan put it, we've got more love in Texas than water," W. Bush said.
Former first ladies Barbara and Laura Bush were also there as was former vice president Dick Cheney, ex-secretary of state James A. Baker, Senator Ted Cruz and Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Helping after Hurricane Harvey: Celebrities join storm relief efforts
Actors, singers, athletes and the US president have donated millions of their dollars to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey. Several countries have also pledged aid - despite political tensions with Washington.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/E. Gay
Houston football star J.J. Watt - over $12 million in relief fund
Watt, a defensive end for the Houston Texans football team, raised over $12 million in a matter of days through online donations from celebrities and ordinary people alike. The NFL star has said the money will go directly to the people of Houston and that several trucks filled with water and supplies have already been shipped out thanks to the donations.
Image: picture-alliance/Zumapress
Beyonce directs fans to local charities
Born and raised in Houston, superstar Beyonce was quick to mobilize her dedicated fan base to help her home city. On her website, she urged fans to donate to two local Houston charities working on the ground and sent a team from her philanthropic foundation BeyGOOD to help with recovery efforts. The singer is keeping her personal donations secret for now.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/E. Gay
US President Donald Trump - $1 million
Former reality television star and current US President Donald Trump pledged to personally donate $1 million to help those hit hardest by the storm in Texas and Louisiana. The White House did not say if the money would come directly from Trump or from his foundation - but they asked reporters for suggestions on how to spend the money.
Image: Reuters/C. Barria
Sandra Bullock - $1 million
The Oscar-winning actress announced on Tuesday that she donated $1 million to the American Red Cross. "There are no politics in eight feet of water. There are human beings in eight feet of water," Bullock told People Magazine.
The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation matched Bullock's pledge, giving a million to the newly established United Way Harvey Recovery Fund. The non-profit said it would distribute 100 percent of the donations it receives to relief and rebuilding efforts which are expected to take several years.
Image: Getty Images/J. Philips
Ellen DeGeneres - $25,000
The comedian and TV personality personally donated tens of thousands of dollars to the American Red Cross and the SPCA Texas which is providing disaster relief for pets and their owners. DeGeneres took her relief efforts a step further though, teaming up with retail chain Wal-Mart to immediately donate $1 million to J.J. Watt's donation drive.
Image: Getty Images/K. Winter
Miley Cyrus - $500,000
Cyrus went on Ellen DeGeneres' show this week to announce she was donating a total of $500,000 to several charities including the American Red Cross and the Greater Houston Community Fund. Fighting back tears, the young singer told the audience: "I am really happy to help in any way I can. And I hope people understand and can put themselves in those people’s shoes."
Image: Getty Images/K. Winter
The Kardashian family - $500,000
Kim Kardashian West along with her sisters Khloe and Kourtney donated half a million dollars to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. The reality television stars took to social media to implore their massive online followers to pitch in as well.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/Invision/O. Vega
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson - $25,000
After US comedian Kevin Hart called on his fellow celebrities to help those hit by massive flooding in Houston, Johnson took up the challenge and donated $25,000 to the American Red Cross. The wrestling and movie star has since routinely urged his social media followers to do the same.
Image: imago/UPI Photo
Mexico and Canada pledge aid
Celebrities aren't the only ones helping Harvey victims, US neighbors Canada and Mexico have also reached out. Both Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered disaster aid in phone conversations with Trump - despite tense NAFTA renegotiations. "We are neighbors, we are friends and that's what friends do," Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said.
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo/J. Bottoni
Venezuela - $5 million
One of the largest offers of aid came from Venezuela - despite recent US sanctions and remarks from Trump that a "military option" in the country hasn't been ruled out. "We will always stand by the American people," said Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza. He announced $5 million in aid which will come from Citgo, the US arm of the country's state-run oil company.
Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria left death and destruction in their wake as they slammed through parts of Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands in August and September.
The concert was part of an appeal that has raised $31 million (€26 million) from 80,000 donors since September 7. Calling for more donations, Carter said, "let's all work together and make America a great volunteer nation."
Current President Donald Trump thanked his predecessors in televised remarks, saying "this wonderful effort reminds us that we truly are one nation under God, all unified by our values and devotion to one another."
The award-winning pop singer Lady Gaga performed at the concert, which also included appearances from Lee Greenwood, Robert Earl Keen, The Gatlin Brothers, Stephanie Quayle, Sam Moore, Alabama, Lyle Lovett, Cassadee Pope and Yolanda Adams.
"Pain is such an equalizer. And in a time of catastrophe, we all put our differences aside and we come together, 'cause we need each other, or we can't survive," Lady Gaga said.
The event was reportedly the first time the five former presidents had been together since they attended a ceremony in 2013 marking the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas, Texas.
