September 2, 2005 -- With the heartbreaking images of Hurricane Katrina victims overwhelming the country, celebrities, institutions and ordinary New Yorkers are opening their bank accounts to do whatever they can to send some relief.
Hotelier Leona Helmsley said yesterday she'll pony up $5 million for relief efforts through the American Red Cross, according to her spokesman Howard Rubenstein.
Hip hop legends Sean “Diddy" Combs and Shawn “Jay-Z" Carter announced yesterday they'd join forces to pool $1 million in cash to send to the Red Cross.
Four days after the disaster, the nation's charities have tallied up at least $93 million in donations, a staggering increase of $66 million from the previous day, The Chronicle of Philanthropy said yesterday.
Organizations and companies also are stepping up. According to the Salvation Army, which has pulled in $15 million so far, and the American Red Cross, which has collected $71.6 million in personal and corporate commitments, contributors include the Wal-Mart Stores ($15 million commitment), New York Yankees ($1 million), the National Football League ($1 million), Chevron ($5 million commitment), and Target ($1.5 million).
New York's Uniformed Firefighters Association has donated $100,000 to the International Association of Firefighters Disaster Relief Fund.
A number of New York groups and businesses are also planning to raise money through benefits.
Among them:
- Wynton Marsalis will lead the “Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Concert" at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Rose Theater, on Sept. 17.
- City jazz and blues clubs are joining together for a weeklong event. See allaboutjazz.com for more details.
- The Falls bar and restaurant, 218 Lafayette St., will host a benefit dinner on Sept. 7.
- Southern comics in town will try to raise money and spirits at the Comedy Village, 82 W. 3rd St., with three shows a night from tonight until Monday.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
