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Arts & Entertainment

Big names offering big help after Hurricane Harvey: Beyonce, Whataburger, Simone Biles and more

Update on Aug. 30: This story has been updated to add more stories of celebrity donations from both Texas natives and those outside the Lone Star State.

As the world reels from the devastation from Hurricane Harvey in Houston and surrounding areas, celebrities from around Texas -- and the nation at large -- are using their money and their megaphones to offer help to those affected.

Sometimes it might feel as if Beyonce has transcended one single location, but she still calls Houston "home." She sent a statement to the Houston Chronicle on Monday saying, "My heart goes out to my hometown, Houston, and I remain in constant prayer for those affected and for the rescuers who have been so brave and determined to do so much to help. I am working closely with my team at BeyGOOD as well as my pastor (Rudy Rasmus at St. John's in downtown Houston) to implement a plan to help as many as we can."

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Houston Texans football player JJ Watt was quick to start a donation campaign on YouCaring. As of Wednesday afternoon, the campaign has raised more than $7 million. Watt has increased the goal multiple times already.

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Olympic gold medalist and native Texan Simone Biles has been volunteering her time and energy to help with the recovery effort. She and her family live north of Houston, in Spring. She has been seen working alongside members of the Arlington Police Department at a distribution center in Conroe.

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From closer to Dallas, Irving-raised Bachelor star Sean Lowe went to Houston and hopped in a boat. "Today I had the chance to do what I could to help some people in the Houston area," he said on Instagram, where he posted several photos of very-flooded streets. "I couldn't believe the devastation. My heart broke for all the elderly who are immobile and the mothers trapped in their homes with young babies. But I was encouraged by the selflessness of so many Texans who came to help where they could. Definitely a day I'll never forget."

Family Business Beer Company, co-owned by Richardson-raised, Austin-based actor Jensen Ackles (of Supernatural fame), has started a fundraising campaign on CrowdRise that  blew past its $100,000 goal.

Country star Chris Young, who has a house in Texas as well as friends and family in the state, posted a video to YouTube in which he says he is pledging $100,000 to a GoFundMe campaign (which he started) that will benefit the Red Cross.

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Lindale's country music star Miranda Lambert tweeted "Prayers, light and love for Texas!"

Dallas' Demi Lovato was, like many, "Heartbroken."

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Hilary Duff, another Houston-born celebrity, posted on her Twitter feed that she was "truly heartbroken for my home town."

Actor Randy Quaid acted as a signal booster, tweeting, "Was born in Harris county TX, know it!If you need help, in danger, will RT your address and location."

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Desperate Housewives actress Eva Longoria said, "God Bless all the Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey and prayers to my hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas."

While not exactly a "celebrity," Texas-based Whataburger, a staple of our state's fast food diet, is donating "nearly $2 million" to Harvey recovery efforts. $1 million is going to the Whataburger Family Foundation, to help impacted Whataburger employees "with necessities like clothing, food, medical bills and monetary assistance." $150,000 is going to the Red Cross, and $500,000 is going to local food banks.

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Celebrities with no ties to the Lone Star State have also extended helping hands. Comedian Kevin Hart has led the charge, donating $25,000 to the Red Cross and challenging other celebrities to do the same.

So far, Dwayne "The Rock Johnson, Jennifer Lopez, DJ Khaled, Alex Rodriguez and Wendy Williams have all answered the call and donated $25,000 to the Red Cross.

Ellen DeGeneres answered, donating $25,000 to the Red Cross and an additional $25,000 to the SPCA of Texas. Her show donated an additional $25,000 to the Red Cross.

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Sandra Bullock has donated a staggering $1 million to the Red Cross. "There are no politics in eight feet of water," Bullock said, according to People. "There are human beings in eight feet of water."

Kim Kardashian announced that she, her mother and her sisters made a sizable donation of $500,000 to the Red Cross and Salvation army.

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The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation donated $1 million to the new United Way Harvey Recovery Fund.

Miley Cyrus, through her Happy Hippie Foundation, donated $500,000 to the American Red Cross, Best Friends, the Greater Houston Community Fund and other charities.

Solange, a Houston native and sister to Beyonce, is donating all of her earnings from her Sept. 28 show in Boston and $3 from every ticket to her Oct. 3 show in New York.

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Fall Out Boy is donating all proceeds from their Nov. 7 show in Houston.

Band The Texas Tenors is donating all sales from its new single, "Rise," to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.