As the East Coast works to pick itself up in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, large organizations in a wide array of fields are joining the effort to help victims of the superstorm rebuild and overcome this tragedy. Entertainment giants, sports organizations and others are pulling together to donate to the American Red Cross as it works to bring relief aid to those most affected by Sandy.
NBC Universal will host a one hour special telethon and concert on Friday night, called "Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together." The telethon, which will be hosted by "Today" co-host Matt Lauer, will include performances by Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi, Sting and Christina Aquilera.
The Friday night telethon will also feature appearances by Jimmy Fallon and Brian Williams, the New York Times reported. The telethon, which will air from NBC's Rockefeller Plaza studios, will be broadcast on NBC, Bravo, CNBC, E!, G4, MSNBC, Style, Syfy and USA, as well as be streamed live on NBC.com. "Hurricane Sady: Coming Together" will begin broadcast at 8 p.m. ET and all money collected during the telethon will be donated to the American Red Cross, NBC said.
Another network giant, ABC, announced that it would be donating $2 million to help Hurricane Sandy's victims, with $1 million going to the American Red Cross and $1 million going to organizations working on rebuilding efforts. The network announced that it will dedicate all of its Monday programming to helping those affected by Sandy, calling it a "Day of Giving."
According to Tulsa World, ABC employee eligible donations to organizations involved in disaster relief will be matched by Disney Employee Matching Gifts: A Program of The Walt Disney Company Foundation.
Fellow entertainment industry giant, Viacom, announced on Thursday that it would be donating $500,000 to the Mayor's Fund for NYC and $500,000 to "local organizations for relief rebuilding efforts in Connecticut, Long Island, New Jersey and Westchester County." Viacom also announced that it has set up a $1 million employee matching gift program to the American Red Cross.
To help its more than 4,000 employees living in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy, Viacom also set up the Viacommunity Employee Relief Program, it announced in a press release on Thursday.
Two sports organizations also donated to the American Red Cross. According to HuffPost Impact, the NFL and the players' union combined efforts to donate $1 million to the Red Cross for recovery efforts in the Northeast in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The NBA and its players' union also made a similar donation to the Red Cross, as well as to The Salvation Army, New York Cares and Jersey Cares.
NBA Commissioner David Stern said, "Many homes and lives were devastated by Hurricane Sandy and out thoughts, abiding concerns and hopes are with all those affected."
HuffPost Impact reported that New York Road Runners is donating $1 million, or $26.20 for each runner in the 2012 New York City Marathon. The Rudin Family Foundation and race title sponsor ING will also be making donations, $1.1 million and $500,000 respectively.
The New York Yankees made a $500,000 contribution to relief efforts by the Red Cross on Wednesday, HuffPost Impact said.
Bayer Corporation, a health car, nutrition and high-tech materials company, announced on Friday that it would be donating $75,000 to the American Red Cross and $75,000 to Save the Children foundations to support those affected by the superstorm.
Total damage costs for Hurricane Sandy in the Tri-State area is unknown but could reach well into the tens of billions of dollars.