Former Presidents Help Raise $31 Million
Over the weekend, all five living former presidents came together in a show of bipartisanship to raise money for hurricane relief. Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama were all present at the "Deep From the Heart: The One America Appeal" benefit concert in College Station, Texas on Saturday night as part of their One America Appeal to help victims of the recent natural disasters in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
It was the former presidents' first appearance all together since 2013. George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter are both 93 years old, and the first president Bush has faced major health problems in recent years.
Notably absent from the evening, which featured musical acts such as Lady Gaga, Texas favorite Lyle Lovett, Alabama, and gospel signer Yolanda Adams, was the current president, Donald Trump. In a pre-taped video, he praised the initiative, calling the five former presidents "some of America's finest public servants."
"To Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, Melania and I want to express our deep gratitude for your tremendous assistance," he said in the message. "This wonderful effort reminds us that we truly are one nation under God, all unified by our values and our devotion to one another."
In total, the former presidents have raised $31 million through their appeal from 80,000 donors, and according to ABC, the initiative has already distributed almost $13 million to the Florida Disaster Fund, Rebuild Texas Fund, the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, Juntos y Unidos por Puerto Rico and the Fund for the Virgin Islands.
"With damage estimates from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria topping $300 billion and requiring months and years of rebuilding ahead, we hope this strong start to the One America Appeal is just that - a start," David Jones, CEO of the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation, said in a statement.
"The former presidents want to thank each donor who, out of the goodness of their hearts, has given of themselves in such a selfless way to help their fellow Americans."
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