J.J. Watt’s Hurricane Harvey relief closes at a remarkable $37.1 million

Hurricane Harvey devastated the gulf coast and Houston. It inspired J.J. Watt to help the area, and he set out with a goal of $200,000. On Friday when his fundraising concluded, he had raised $37,097,248 from 209,428 donors, according to NFL.com.

At first, Watt simply tweeted a video where he talked about the storm, devastation, and his goal of $200,000. He started the campaign through YouCaring.

“It’s very difficult, not only because we have family and friends back there,” Watt said. “Some guys have young kids. Some guys have wives and families. But that’s our city. It’s very tough to watch your city get hit by such a bad storm and not be there to help.”

Watt said that the best way to help the city get back on its feet was to start the fundraiser.

“So what I do want to do is, I want to start a fundraiser, because I know that these recovery efforts are going to be massive,” Watt said. “I know that there are going to be a whole bunch of people we need to help get back on their feet. I know there’s going to be a lot we need to do to help rebuild.”

Since Watt started it on Aug. 27, and as it kept reaching goals of $500,000, $1 million, $2 million, and more, it got to a point where Watt decided he would leave the donations open until Friday at 5 p.m.

Prior to the Texans’ season opener at home against the Jaguars, Watt announced that it had reached the $30 million mark. By Friday, it had surpassed $37 million.

Watt’s fund saw donations from people like Ellen DeGeneres, Titans owner Amy Adam Strunk, Chris Paul, Drake, Jimmy Fallon, and these guys:

Hurricane Harvey started brewing in the Atlantic Ocean on Aug. 17, and made landfall near the Texas Gulf Coast on Aug. 25. This is the rainfall that fell over the area in just six days:

Houston’s Hobby Airport also crushed a two-day rain record by almost eight inches with 23.06 between Aug.26 and 27.

Because of the historic rain and flooding, the storm’s death toll also reached over 70 people in the week.

If you want to contribute, here are some other ways you can help.