Page 29 - ARUBA TODAY

PEOPLE/ARTS Thursday 14 sepTember 2017
A29

Stars turn out to push for donations for hurricane relief

By DAVID BAUDER how it’s been,” ‘’Despa- hind a frequently seen
AP Television Writer cito” singer Luis Fonsi said picture of strangers form-
NEW YORK (AP) — Urged after the show, adding that ing a human chain to save
on by dozens of stars who all his family, including his someone from flooding in
turned out to sing, tell sto- wife and young children in Houston.
ries and plead for support Miami, survived the storm Usually competitive net-
for hurricane victims in a and are safe. work morning person-
one-hour televised benefit, “”Helpless — helpless is an alities Matt Lauer, Norah
organizers said more than understatement,” Fonsi O’Donnell and Michael
$44 million was raised Tues- said of being on tour and Strahan stood before a sat-
day and donations are still unable to be with his fam- ellite image of an ominous
being accepted. ily. He noted that his experi- Irma to describe devasta-
With Stevie Wonder singing ence paled in comparison tion the storm had caused.
“Lean on Me” and Usher to the pain the storms have Donations were an-
and Blake Shelton joining caused for many.“You can nounced from some deep
for “Stand By Me,” the mes- imagine how frustrating it is pockets. Computer maker Jay Leno attends the Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Har-
sage was clear: Americans to not be able to sort of pro- Michael Dell and his wife, vey Relief held at Universal Studios Back Lot on Tuesday, Sept.
were being asked to help tect your own family,” he Susan, pledged to match 12, 2017 in Los Angeles.
those whose lives were up- said. “Imagine all of these the first $10 million in do- Associated Press
ended by wind and rain. people that have nothing nations Tuesday. They’ve of up to the same amount iPhone.”
Justin Bieber, George Cloo- to do. The videos that you given a total of $41 million given by any NBA player. ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, HBO,
ney, Barbra Streisand, Al see online. So as an artist, to the Rebuild Texas Fund. Announcing Apple’s prom- MTV, BET and Univision
Pacino, Lupita Nyong’o, as a singer, I think it’s part Basketball star Chris Paul ise to give $5 million, comic were among the networks
Jay Leno and dozens of of our job, it’s part of our re- gave $20,000 and said the Stephen Colbert quipped carrying the program,
others sat at phone banks sume, to take time off and NBA Players Association said it was coincidentally which was also streamed
to accept donations. Be- come together and do would match donations “also the price of the new online.q
yonce, Will Smith and these kind of things.”
Dwayne “The Rock” John- The quick-moving show
son sent in taped pleas for took a form familiar to
support during the event, viewers since a sad tem-
shown on more than a doz- plate was set in the wake
en television networks and of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
online simultaneously. Celebrities requested do-
Originally conceived as a nations, told heartwarm-
benefit for victims of Hurri- ing survival stories involving
cane Harvey in Texas, the people caught in the storm
“Hand in Hand” telethon and sang songs. Several
was expanded to help organizations will benefit,
people in Florida and the including the United Way
Caribbean devastated in and Save the Children.
recent days by Irma. Stages in Los Angeles, New
“We’re here to raise mon- York and Nashville, Tennes-
ey, lift some spirits,” said see, were filled simultane-
Jamie Foxx, standing with ously, although the night’s
actor Leonardo DiCaprio. final performance — a trib-
“When tough times hit, this ute to Texans by George
is who we are. We’re com- Strait, Robert Earl Keen,
passionate. We’re unstop- Chris Stapleton, Miranda
pable.” Lambert and Lyle Lovett —
Hollywood talent man- originated from San Anto-
ager Scooter Braun, who nio.
organized the event with Fonsi and Tori Kelly sang
Houston rap artist Bun B, “Hallelujah” together.
said that after the show, Dave Matthews picked his
all the celebrities manning guitar from a studio above
the phone banks stayed to New York’s Times Square,
take more calls. “No one and Darius Rucker, Brad
left,” he said. “Everyone Paisley, Demi Lovato and
just kept answering phones Cece Winans sang the
and answering phones Beatles’ “With a Little Help
and answering phones. From My Friends.” Wonder,
People want to give. Like, backed by a gospel cho-
people want to help. And rus, opened the show with
you don’t have to be a ce- the Bill Withers classic.
lebrity to do it.” “Natural disasters don’t dis-
For many of the stars, the criminate,” Beyonce said.
storms hit close to home. “They don’t care if you’re
“I have family in Puerto an immigrant, black or
Rico, I have family in Mi- white, Hispanic or Asian,
ami. I’ve been on the road. Jewish or Muslim, wealthy
I haven’t been able to be or poor.” Cher and Oprah
there. So you can imagine Winfrey told the story be-