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Thursday, Nov 8, 2012 8:20 PM UTC

Celebrities pitch in for Hurricane Sandy relief

Louis C.K. will perform a stand-up show, Emma Watson volunteered and Cyndi Lauper performed a benefit concert

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Topics: cyndi lauper, Hurricane Sandy, East Coast, relief efforts, Jerry Seinfeld, Louis C.K., Celebrity,

Celebrities pitch in for Hurricane Sandy reliefA woman holds a box of food she picked up at an American Red Cross station in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, Monday, Nov. 5, 2012 in New York. The region is still cleaning up a week after Superstorm Sandy. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (Credit: AP)

As the East Coast continues to rebuild itself after last week’s superstorm and then another nor’easter this week, celebrities–many with ties to the area–remain vocal and active about relief efforts. This week, Cyndi Lauper hosted a benefit concert and honored the memory of her uncle, who died in the hurricane. ”I lost my Uncle George in the hurricane,” she said. “He was old. He didn’t want to leave his house. I was in Chicago, and I called and said [to relatives], ‘Why did you guys leave him,’ and they just didn’t think it was going to get that bad.’”

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld, who grew up in Long Island, has added a performance there on Dec. 19 with plans to donate the proceeds to local relief organizations. “This is a tough time for this area and we’re just glad to be able to help in the recovery,” he said.

Similarly, comedian Louis C.K., who had cancelled a show due to the Hurricane, will perform two additional stand-up shows on Nov. 17, also sending proceeds to relief efforts. SILive writes:

Details are still being hammered out, but here’s what we know right now: 250 first-tier tickets will be auctioned to the highest bidders, with an additional 500 tix gifted to victims of Hurricane Sandy. The next block of 500 will sell for $90; and the last 500 will be $45. Proceeds will benefit the burgeoning Staten Island Hurricane Relief Fund.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Kimmel, whose talk show was displaced by Sandy, has announced that he will auction the desk he used in last week’s Brooklyn tapings, and donate the money to charity.

Barbara Walters, Russel Crowe, Mark Cuban, and Lady Gaga have all pledged donations, while Emma Watson (along with Paula Zahn and celebrity chef Sandra Lee) volunteered for Citymeals-on-Wheels. (Watson and Crowe were in the area taping “Noah,” which went on hiatus due to Sandy).

Networks have also been working to raise money–ABC and NBC together raised nearly $40 million via telethons and the “Jersey Shore” cast will hold an hour-long fundraising event, “Restore the Shore” Nov. 15 on MTV.

h/t E Online

 

Prachi Gupta is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on pop culture. Follow her on Twitter at @prachigu or email her at pgupta@salon.com. More Prachi Gupta.

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