UPDATE: Sept. 8, 2:35 p.m.— The previously announced “Hand in Hand” telethon has reportedly expanded to offer support to victims of both Hurricane Harvey and Irma, according to Entertainment Weekly and Variety.
A statement on the Hand in Hand 2017 website reads:
Due to the impending possibility of Hurricane Irma, the Hand in Hand Hurricane benefit has now made arrangements and is prepared to expand its beneficiaries of the September 12th telethon to also include those who may be affected by Hurricane Irma in addition to those affected by Hurricane Harvey. We are prepared to help in any way we can.
More celebrities have joined in the telethon as well. EW reports the additions include:
Anthony Anderson, J Balvin, Justin Bieber, Connie Britton, Andy Cohen, Stephen Colbert, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Terry Crews, Billy Crystal, Ellen DeGeneres, Robert De Niro, Drake, Hilary Duff, Jourdan Dunn, Jimmy Fallon, Richard Gere, Tom Hanks, Marcia Gay Harden, Faith Hill, Kate Hudson, Dwayne Johnson, Joe Jonas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Nicole Kidman, Jay Leno, Zion & Lennox, Jared Leto, Tim McGraw, Tracy Morgan, Gerardo Ortiz, Chris Paul, Tyler Perry, Questlove, Jeremy Renner, Sam Smith, Gwen Stefani, Sofia Vergara, Kerry Washington, Chandra Wilson, and Rita Wilson.
Contributions to the telethon already include $5 million from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and $2.5 million from Verizon, which will be organizing call center volunteers, too. Comic Relief USA will be responsible for collecting and distributing donations.
PREVIOUSLY:
Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney and Julia Roberts are putting their star power to good use.
These celebs and more are coming together for a one-hour, multi-network telethon to raise money for Hurricane Harvey relief.
“Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Harvey Relief” will air on ABC, CBS, CMT, FOX and NBC on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. ET. It’ll also be streaming on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
According to the press release, the show, which will be based in Los Angeles and also have stages in New York and Nashville, will include special appearances, performances and taped tributes by a variety of stars, including:
George Clooney, Jamie Foxx, Karlie Kloss, Beyoncé, Matt Lauer, Rob Lowe, Matthew McConaughey, Norah O’Donnell, Dennis Quaid, Julia Roberts, Kelly Rowland, Adam Sandler, Ryan Seacrest, Michael Strahan, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Barbra Streisand, Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon.
More celebs are set to be announced.
Foxx actually previously announced the telethon on his Instagram before many details were released.
The goal of the show is to “bring the country together to raise funds, spirits and help rebuild Texas in the wake of this unprecedented devastation.”
Proceeds will benefit United Way of Greater Houston, Habitat for Humanity, Save the Children, Direct Relief, Feeding Texas and The Mayor’s Fund for Hurricane Harvey Relief. You can donate through calls, texting and digital donations, which will all be open at the beginning of the show and conclude one hour after the program ends.
Learn more at www.HandInHand2017.com.
Before You Go
