Artists and entertainers’ hurricane relief telethon to support Habitat for Humanity’s recovery efforts
Funds raised during “Hand In Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Relief Telethon” will help Habitat assist more families to repair or rebuild their homes
ATLANTA (Sept. 8, 2017) – Habitat for Humanity’s response to Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma will get a boost as a beneficiary of “Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Relief” telethon that will air nationally on Tuesday, Sept. 12, from 8-9 p.m. EDT. The telethon will feature some of the nation’s biggest stars coming together to raise funds for those affected by the hurricanes. Funds raised for Habitat for Humanity will go directly to support the organization’s response to Harvey and Irma.
“As tens of thousands of people return home to salvage belongings and begin to rebuild, they need our support more than ever,” said Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford. “The entertainment community is stepping up in a big way, and Habitat is proud to partner with these artists as we start down the long road to recovery.”
The telethon will include appearances by 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 with more to be announced. The telethon will air nationally on ABC, BET, Bravo, CBS, CMT, E! Entertainment, FOX, HBO, iHeart Media, MTV, NBC and Oxygen, SiriusXM, Univision, Westwood One as well as on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Working through its local offices as well as by deploying trained Disaster Corps volunteers, Habitat conducts rapid assessments of storm damage and helps clean out homes damaged by winds and flood waters. Habitat’s long-term post-disaster recovery efforts include repair of damaged homes and construction of new affordable homes. Construction plans are determined after evaluations and are dependent on the level of support received from donors, volunteers, corporate partners and other community organizations.
Habitat for Humanity has been responding to disasters since 1997 and to date has helped more than 230,000 families in 52 countries through its disaster response work. Following Hurricane Katrina, Habitat organizations along the Gulf Coast built more than 6,000 homes and removed debris and cleaned more than 2,500 homes in preparation for rehabilitation. Habitat also mounted responses to Hurricane Sandy, tornadoes through the South and Midwest, and earthquakes and typhoons overseas.
Initially created to raise money for Hurricane Harvey relief, concert organizers announced they are expanding the telethon’s scope to include communities in the path of Hurricane Irma. Habitat for Humanity is working with its local offices in Irma’s path to respond to the storm.
More information on Habitat for Humanity’s response to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma can be found here: habitat.org/hurricanes.
More information on the telethon can be found at HandInHand2017.com.
Habitat has been responding to disasters since 1997 and to date has helped more than 230,000 families in 52 countries through its disaster response work. Following Hurricane Katrina, Habitat organizations along the Gulf Coast built more than 6,000 homes and removed debris and cleaned more than 2,500 homes in preparation for rehabilitation. Habitat also mounted responses to Superstorm Sandy, tornadoes through the South and Midwest, and earthquakes and typhoons overseas.
Updated Sept. 12, 2017: This release has been updated to reflect new information from Hand in Hand concert organizers.
About Habitat for Humanity
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 1,300 communities throughout the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.