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OCTOBER 2017 Volume 48 Number 10 Issue 572
Editor Duncan Warwick
News
Walt Trott in Nashville Duncan Warwick in London
Stars out for Hurricane relief
Contributors David Allan , Janet Aspley , Donnie Ayers , Craig Baguley , Larry Delaney , Don Cusic , Julie Flaskett , Kelly Gregory , Michael Hingston , Spencer Leigh , John Lomax III , , Douglas McPherson , Stephen O ’ Hanlon , Roland Purdy , Adrian Peel , Paul Riley , Wayne Smart , Chris Smith , Alison Stokes , Tom Travis , Walt Trott , Jack Watkins
Special projects coordinator Kelly Gregory
Photographers Helen Parish , Patricia Presley , Ian Tilbury , Barry Dixon , Billie McAleer
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Main pic : Luke Bryan mans the phones . right : Chris Young and Tim McGraw at the HandInHand event .
Reportedly billionaire President Trump and First Lady Melania are donating a million dollars , targeted for Hurricane Harvey relief , but NFL Houston Texan football star J . J . Watt , 28 , started small , creating a fund drive for victims of the disaster , setting a goal of $ 200,000 . To the rugged defensive end ’ s amazement , that goal was surpassed almost immediately and has since logged some $ 20 million in pledges .
Music members have also taken up the cause , with Willie Nelson joining music buddy Paul Simon , who with wife Edie Brickell , a Texan , matched the Trumps with their million dollar donation initially , but additionally plan charity concerts with Nelson , kicking off a benefit Sept . 22 in Austin . Incidentally , the Simons designated their personal donation for towns outside Houston , hard hit , too , by the storm .
Cinema names also pledged million-dollar donations toward the Texas tragedy , notably Sandra Bullock , Leonardo DiCaprio and Tyler Perry . Back in 2005 , Simon started the Children ’ s Health Fund , following Hurricane Katrina ’ s devastation . New country star Chris Young chose to pledge $ 100,000 for the Harvey relief effort , noting in his Twitter post , “ I have friends and family there , and I ’ m fairly positive my house down there may have to be torn down , as it was in one of the hardest hit areas by wind and flooding . But that ’ s the least of my concern . I ’ m worried about the people , like I said , my friends , family , neighbors , and I want to help .”
Additionally , Young set up a GoFundMe account with a goal of $ 500,000 , ear-marked for the Red Cross . Then there was a four-city national telecast Sept . 12 - Hand In Hand : A Benefit For Hurricane Harvey Relief - a major simultaneous fund raiser from Los Angeles , New York , San Antonio and Nashville . Performers participating in Music City take the stage at the Grand Ole Opry House . Name country players set for the one-hour special include Blake Shelton , Miranda Lambert , George Strait , Lyle Lovett , Chris Stapleton , Robert Earl Keen , along with Hollywood elites like George Clooney , Reese Witherspoon , Matthew McConaughey , Barbra Streisand , Drake , Jamie Foxx , Beyonce , Justin Bieber and Oprah Winfrey . Texas Gov . Greg Abbott estimated cost of rebuilding the damaged state likely reaching $ 180 billion .
Kip Moore and skateboard champ Tony Hawk joined talents to headline Harley- Davidson ’ s premier Music City Skate Jam , Sept . 10 , in Nashville ’ s Walk of Fame Park downtown . Proceeds will benefit victims of Hurricane Harvey , along with Kip ’ s Kids Fund and Tony Hawk ’ s Foundation for needy young skaters . Moore shared this observation with the daily newspaper : “ I ’ ve seen the impact my skate parks have had on the inner cities . I ’ ve seen the direct impact they ’ ve had on these kids . They are telling me it ’ s the first thing they ’ ve ever loved , and their parents are telling me it ’ s keeping them out of gangs .” Highlights of the Skate Jam were Hawk ’ s skating exhibition , followed by Moore ’ s concert .
4 cmp - OCTOBER 2017