These Billionaires Have Promised To Donate Millions To Houston Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts

As catastrophic flooding ravages Houston, the fourth largest American city, several billionaires are digging into their deep pockets to contribute to the humanitarian aid efforts.

One of the first ones to respond to the damage done by Hurricane Harvey was Houston Texans owner Robert ‘Bob’ McNair, who pledged to donate $1 million to United Way of Greater Houston’s flood relief fund. “We just have a lot of homeless people and lives that have been disrupted” McNair told FORBES. “We see neighbors helping neighbors and it really is a reflection of Texas attitude — you don’t see anybody complaining.”

McNair said that his team had organized a start-of-the-season-luncheon for Tuesday Sept. 5 in Houston, but it was postponed due to the heavy rainfall. One thousand guests were expected to attend the $300-a-plate lunch. The team offered the guests to redirect the lunch fee to humanitarian efforts. McNair said he suspects they will raise $300,000, adding that he would make up the difference to get to $1 million.

The NFL Foundation announced Monday it would match McNair’s $1 million and donate the money to the Salvation Army and Red Cross.

Another NFL billionaire, Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft, pledged to match $1 million in donations to The Red Cross. Although Boston is almost 2,000 miles away from Houston, Texas’ largest city is close to his heart, as The Patriots won two Super Bowl rings there. “Houston is a special city to our family and our organization,” Kraft said in a press release. “The city was a tremendous host for Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 and once again this past February for Super Bowl LI.”

Houston Rockets’ owner Leslie Alexander initially said he would donate $4 million to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, though later Houston Chronicle reported that he has upped his donation to $10 million. “Our hearts are heavy seeing the devastation that so many of our friends, family and neighbors are experiencing” Alexander said in a press release. “Houston, please stay safe.” Alexander declined to further comment on his donation.

Hedge fund billionaire and Houston native John Arnold is the latest in the line of billionaires who vowed provide financial support. Arnold took to Twitter to pledge $5 million to Greater Houston Charity Foundation. “Thank you Houston’s 1st responders for your tireless work” he tweeted. “Laura & I happy to do our part & commit $5 million to relief via @greaterhoucf .”

President Trump landed in Corpus Christi Texas earlier Tuesday. The death toll has reached 15 people, though that number may rise