Stars from California to Virginia are pitching in to help New York and New Jersey recover from Hurricane Sandy. A celebrity auction has even been launched to accept bids on exciting opportunities to rub elbows with the stars…
• Newlyweds Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, just back from their honeymoon, spent hours unloading truckloads of donations, including backpacks full of school supplies for the Rockaway neighborhood, giving the people something to talk about besides the devastation.
• The Dave Matthews Band personally pledged $1 million to the Bama Works Sandy Relief Fund and announced they were turning their November 30 concert in New Jersey, to open their winter tour, into a benefit concert. All money from ticket sales and merchandise from the East Rutherford show will go to the same fund, at the Community Foundation of New Jersey, to support immediate and long-term regional recovery efforts.
• A live benefit event tonight to air on MTV (11pm Est) will raise awareness and funds for Restore the Shore. Taylor Swift and the Jersey Shore cast members will meet in Times Square with many other celebrities asking for donations to rebuild the TV show’s former home base, Seaside Heights, N.J, where the famous boardwalk is in ruins along with many homes and businesses.
Fashion Designers and Apparel Makers are Helping, too
• Project Runway judge Michael Kors has donated $1 million to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
• Vogue and the Council of Fashion Designers of America has launched an online auction at Charitybuzz.com. The outpouring of support is growing daily with donated auction items including a week long stay at Diane von Furstenberg’s Harbour Island home, a week’s stay at Tommy Hilfiger’s Palm Beach estate on the island of Mustique, and lunch with Gwyneth Paltrow and Mario Batali. New items, such as make-up lessons, photo shoots and tours are being added daily at www.Charitybuzz.com/FashionforSandyRelief
More than $15 million worth of new apparel and home goods are being distributed to survivors from clothing manufacturers, including:
- Hanes: 2 trucks of mens’ and womens’ underwear, a truck of outerwear, sweatshirts, sweatpants and fleece apparel
- Skechers: 500 pairs of shoes on November 5 and over 200,000 more pairs coming in December
- Burlington Coat Factory: 15 pallets of products and $200,000 worth of gift cards
- Lacoste: $100,000 in apparel
- G-III Apparel Group: a tractor trailer of new, warm coats
- Maidenform: more than 1,000 bras and underwear
- Fruit of the Loom: 12 cases of men’s and women’s underwear