In the wake of the terrible damage that has been inflicted on so many in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, some of entertainment's biggest names will be lending their support to an upcoming telethon that will raise money to help as many people affected by the storm as possible.
Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Harvey Relief goes down on September 12th and will feature an all-star cast of familiar faces when it comes to hip-hop, R&B and pop music. Beyoncé will headline a group that includes former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland and singer/actor Jamie Foxx. Other entertainers who will be on hand for the TV event include Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Karlie Kloss, Matthew McConaughey, Adam Sandler, just to name a few. According to The Hill, the event is being organized by Bun B and Scooter Braun and will broadcast out of Los Angeles, New York and Nashville.
Hand in Hand will be made available across several TV networks including ABC, CBS, CMT, Fox and NBC. In addition to that, the broadcast will be streaming live on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube on September 12th. East Coast residents who want to watch the star-studded affair will be able to watch telethon live beginning at 8 p.m. ET. West Coast viewers will get the show at 8 p.m. local time via a tape delay. All proceeds from the show will go to Feeding Texas, Save the Children, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, Direct Relief, and the Mayor's Fund for Hurricane Harvey Relief.
As of this writing, it is believed that President Donald Trump was not extended an invitation to the telethon. According to a TMZ conversation, Bun B said that, after his comments about the Charlottesville incident that left an innocent woman dead, "putting Trump on by himself would send the wrong message and people wouldn't buy the sincerity of it. After what he did in Charlottesville, he's not a symbol of unity and it would rub people the wrong way," the rapper explained.
CBS News is reporting that Harvey's death toll has climbed to 63 as of Monday (September 4th), with recovery efforts continuing around the clock.. Many of those deaths were due to residents losing control on flooded streets or getting trapped by the rapidly rising waters. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is placing the cost of recovery from Harvey at as high as $180 billion.