Stars Aiding Red Cross, Nashville Flood Victims
Taylor Swft donated $500,000 to flood relief during a telethon hosted by Vince Gill on Thursday night that raised $1.4 million in its first two hours, The Tennessean reports.
The American Red Cross is helping Tennesseans recover after the flooding Cumberland River inundated Nashville early this week, and the organization is getting help from Music City's best-known resource: professional musicians. ARC reported Thursday that members of its American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet -- Wynonna Judd, Amy Grant, Sara Evans, Alyssa Milano, Pat Green, and Marlee Matlin -- have used their social media platforms to promote texting REDCROSS to 90999 to benefit ARC relief work, while member Reba McEntire gave $100,000 to the Nashville Area Red Cross Chapter and asked fans to text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Many concerts and telethons are raising money, as well. Taylor Swift donated $500,000 to flood relief during a telethon hosted on Thursday night by Vince Gill that raised $1.4 million in its first two hours, The Nashville Tennessean reported. Sports celebrities including Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher are helping, as well.
ARC says people can donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by visiting redcross.org to donate online, calling 1-800-REDCROSS, or texting. More than 7,300 people in Tennessee registered for disaster assistance with FEMA in the first 48 hours after the major disaster declaration May 4, which had grown to 21 designated counties by Thursday afternoon; FEMA on Thursday said it and partner agencies had delivered 1.2 million liters of water so far and ARC had served 14,173 meals to flood victims.