Hurricane relief appeal backed by former presidents raises $31M

Desdemona Despair

AUSTIN, Texas, 22 October 2017 (Associated Press) – The Latest on the hurricane relief concert attended by a five living ex-presidents (all times local):

8:35 p.m.

The five living former presidents have attended a concert to benefit victims of hurricanes in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Barack Obama, George W. Bush, George H.W Bush, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter called on Americans to donate to the appeal that has raised $31 million so far. They avoided politics in their remarks and none of them mentioned President Donald Trump.

President George H.W. Bush did not address the crowd but smiled and waved from the stage. The 93-year-old elder Bush suffers from a form of Parkinson’s disease and appeared in a wheelchair at the event.

Grammy award winner Lady Gaga made a surprise appearance at the concert.8 p.m.

An appeal to help hurricane victims backed by the five living former presidents has raised $31 million since it began on 7 September 2017.

Jim McGrath, spokesman for former president George H.W. Bush, confirmed the figure Saturday. The former presidents all attended a concert in College Station, Texas on the campus of Texas A&M University as part of the appeal.

They have joined together to raise money after devastating hurricanes in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. [more]

The Latest: Appeal backed by former presidents raises $31M