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The
presidents will launch "One America Appeal," to start collecting
funds with a plea broadcast during Thursday night's National
Football League season opener, the group said in a statement.
Former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton,
George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter are behind the effort.
Funds raised by the appeal will be distributed to the Houston
Harvey Relief Fund, which focuses on the greater Houston region,
and the Rebuild Texas Fund, which will assist communities across
the state. Rebuild Texas had pledges of nearly $44 million on
Thursday, according to its website.
Harvey, which came ashore on Aug. 25 and became the most
powerful hurricane to hit Texas in more than 50 years, has
killed more than 60 people, displaced more than 1 million others
and damaged some 203,000 homes in a path of destruction
stretching for more than 300 miles (480 km). It has caused
damaged estimated as high as $180 billion.
Hurricane Harvey has stirred celebrities, including singer
Beyonce, Houston Texans football player J.J. Watt and actor
Sandra Bullock to raise money to help the victims.
The five former presidents said they are ready to expand their
effort to help people facing Hurricane Irma, now heading for
Florida after smashing a string of Caribbean islands.
(Reporting by Catherine Ngai in Houston; editing by Grant
McCool)
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