The former presidents of the United States wrapped up their fundraising campaign for victims of the 2017 hurricane season, having raked in more than $41 million in donations.
The One America Appeal launched by Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama drew more than 110,000 donors to raise the funds after Harvey, Irma and Maria struck Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Big donors included including Merck, the Hamon Charitable Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, Pfizer Foundation, Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, the NFL Foundation, and the PGA Tour, Bush 41’s office said today.
“On behalf of the former presidents, we want to thank each of the roughly 110,500 donors who so selflessly answered the call to help our fellow Americans in need due to the devastating 2017 hurricane season,” David Jones, CEO of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation, said in a statement. “Together, we have worked very hard to get this money where it is needed quickly, and the feedback we have received from the relief organizations with whom we have partnered indicate this special appeal has indeed made an important difference.”
The presidents appeared together at an Oct. 21 televised concert featuring stars ranging from Lady Gaga to Lee Greenwood. The show at Texas A&M raised “millions” through the telecast and ticket sales, Bush’s office said.
Bush 41’s presidential library maintained a special account that ensured all donations went to relief organizations. Money has been disbursed to the Houston Harvey Relief Fund, the Rebuild Texas Fund, the Florida Disaster Fund, Unidos Por Puerto Rico, and the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.
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