#Hang in There Houston - JJ Watt Foundation Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts

Dear Jeremy Jordan:

On August 27, I set out with a goal of raising $200,000 for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. Thanks to the unprecedented support and generosity of donors like yourself from across the country and around the world - we raised over $37 million. Your support of $17,000.00 is greatly appreciated and put to work.

I have spent the greater part of the last month and a half doing my due diligence and meeting with and speaking to as many resources as possible. While I understand the total recovery from Hurricane Harvey could require upwards of $200 billion, and this $37 million will not be able to help every person as I wish it could, I’ve made it my mission to ensure the money makes as large of an impact as possible.

Throughout this decision-making process, what mattered to me most was ensuring that the entirety of the funds would be utilized here in Houston and the surrounding areas for those who were affected most by Hurricane Harvey. With that in mind, I went to work with nonprofit organizations who have boots on the ground here in Houston and the surrounding affected areas to put the best plan in place and I am very excited to share that with you today.

$30.15 million of the funds will be distributed amongst four strategic partners – Americares, Feeding America, SBP and Save the Children – to be deployed over the course of the next 18-24 months. These funds will be used to rebuild homes, restore child-care centers, provide food and address health needs of those affected most by Hurricane Harvey in Houston and the surrounding areas. The remaining $7 million will be set aside for distribution in 2018 as we continue to assess and analyze the evolving relief efforts.

I have said it many times over the course of the past few months, but it bears repeating again: the most difficult times seem to bring out the best in humanity. I cannot thank everyone enough for their support and donations from across the country and around the world. You have truly shown what is possible when everyone bands together for one common cause. While we are going to do some truly incredible things with this $37 million to make it stretch as far as possible, it is only one small step in the massive recovery effort that lies ahead. Houston will bounce back from this and we will rise up stronger than ever.

For more information on the four organizations, please visit our website www.jjwfoundation.org for my full press release from October 26, 2017.
Sincerely,



JJ Watt, President
Justin J. Watt Foundation