It’s been exactly two years since Hurricane Harvey smashed through Houston, Texas in September 2017. Hurricane Harvey was one of the costliest hurricanes in American history and actually tied 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, both causing a staggering $125 billion in damage.
Houston Texans star defensive end JJ Watt wasted no time giving back to the community and started a relief fund that went viral raising $37 million for the surrounding areas devastated by the storm.
And what JJ Watt’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund has done so far is unbelievably remarkable.
It’s hurricane season in America right now; specifically for the east coast and the southern mid-western states. Between August and October is a nail biting time for the entire country, hoping that people don’t lose their homes, or worse, their lives.
If you’ve been following Hurricane Dorian right now, it’s been one of the biggest and most vicious category storms that has ripped through the Caribbean ever. The damage in the Bahamas thus far is heartbreaking. In fact, it was so bad that the topography of the islands will have changed forever.
“Abaco is gone.” Pilot surveys flooding and damage in the Bahamas’ Abaco Islands after Hurricane Dorian ravaged the island nation https://t.co/tRyqvhBthr pic.twitter.com/bfwuQ3y0VZ
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 3, 2019
In these trying times, we need to come together and help out those who live in the destruction paths of these hurricanes. Outside of obvious relief funds like the Red Cross, sometimes celebrities can use their fame for good causes.
Enter JJ Watt after Hurricane Harvey ripped through Houston, Texas.
Watt used his fame to raise $37 million in 2017 and what he’s done with it is absolutely extraordinary.
JJ Watt’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund has thus far rebuilt and/or repaired 1,183 homes in Houston.
And along with the homes, Watt noted that his Justin J. Watt Foundation has rebuilt 971 childcare centers that serve 108,731 children, distributed 239,000,000 meals, provided medical care for 8,900 people, and helped deliver 337,000 life-saving drug prescriptions to low-income people in the region.
He tweeted:
Hurricane Harvey Relief:
Two Year Update. pic.twitter.com/7UgjPfu6fy— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) August 29, 2019
Watt said, “None of this would be possible without your generosity. Thank you for continuing to shine a light on the beauty of the human spirit.”
Watt also thanked organizations including; Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, Baker Ripley, Americares, Habitat for Humanity, Feeding America, Save the Children, All Hands and Hearts, and SBP.
Most of the times celebrity is used for self-serving, self-righteous purposes for most of them but then there are others like JJ Watt who is universally respected not just as a dominant defensive end (he’s won defensive player of the year 3 times in his career) but as a humanitarian.
On top of the countless awards Watt has received because of his efforts in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Watt also just received an honorary doctorate from the Baylor College of Medicine last year.
We could use more celebrities like JJ Watt.