In 2017, J.J. Watt donated $100K for Hurricane Harvey relief, raised $41.6M to help Texas flood victims

J.J. Watt turned his $100,000 donation into a $41.6 million Hurricane Harvey relief campaign in 2017. (Photo: JJW Foundation) Former NFL star J.J. Watt turned a $100,000 donation into a massive relief effort after Hurricane Harvey devastated Texas in 2017. The Houston Texans defensive end launched an online fundraiser with an initial target of $200,000, but the campaign eventually raised $41.6 million, helping thousands of families recover from the disaster.Nearly a year after the hurricane struck, Watt’s foundation announced in August 2018 that the money had been distributed to organisations working to rebuild affected communities. The campaign remains one of the most notable examples of an athlete mobilising public support for disaster relief.According to the Houston Texans’ official website, Watt launched the fundraiser on August 27, 2017, while he was away from Houston during the storm. What began as a personal effort quickly attracted donations from more than 200,000 people across the United States and around the world.How J.J. Watt launched the Hurricane Harvey fundraiserThe former Houston Texans star helped raise millions to rebuild homes and restore childcare centres after ...