J.J. Watt is widely remembered for his terrorizing defense with the Houston Texans, but the former DPOY was a major contributor to the society around him. His biggest contribution was after Hurricane Harvey decimated Houston, where he led a record-setting $41 million crowdfunding campaign to help rebuild the city. The $41 million raised stands as the largest crowd-sourced fundraiser in history.
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According to Boardroom, Watt set out a goal of $200,000 after the hurricane hit, but the campaign was widely successful and easily surpassed the goal. It’s an incredible story, and it showcases the kind of platform that professional athletes have. The funds went out to various charitable organizations along with helping the city of Houston recover from one of the deadliest and most devastating hurricanes to hit the US.
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J.J. Watt hit a record with his $41 million campaign
Jumping from an initial goal of $200,000 all the way to a total of $41 million represents a 204% jump in earnings. All the effort was truly worth it as the funds were able to provide critical resources for the city.
Per Bleacher Report, the fundraising effort was able to help provide repairs for over 600 homes and 420 childhood centers. Additionally, more than 26,000,000 meals were distributed to families and over 10,000 patients were able to receive medication for their suffering.
The money was also distributed to organizations like All Hands and Hearts, Americares, Boys & Girls Clubs, Baker Ripley, Feeding America, Habitat for Humanity, Save the Children, and SBP. It was truly a remarkable campaign. J.J. Watt is one of Houston’s biggest celebrities, and he had a lasting impact on the city beyond just football.
In 2018, Watt reflected on everything after the incidents of Hurricane Harvey and the way that people came together in a dark time.
“As I reflect on the events of Hurricane Harvey one year ago, the memories of destruction and devastation remain, but they are accompanied by memories of hope, selflessness and the beauty of the human spirit,” Watt explained, as per Bleacher Report. “The actions of professional first responders and everyday citizens alike were an inspiration to the world and a shining example of the inherent good that lies within us all.”
Watt set to be honored by Houston for his actions
J.J. Watt retired from the NFL, but he will go down as one of the greatest defenders to have played the game. He won the DPOY award three times, tied with Aaron Donald and Lawrence Taylor for the most ever, was in contention for MVP one year, has five first-team All-Pro selections, and had perhaps the greatest stretch of years any pass rusher has seen from 2012-2015.
This year, the Texans will honor Watt by inducting him into the team’s ring of honor. He will become the third member to join the exclusive list with only founder Bob McNair and legendary WR Andre Johnson in the ring of honor currently. However, the McNair family made sure to note that it wasn’t just Watt’s football achievements that got him here.
As per CBS Sports, the McNair family said, “We are so excited to have J.J. Watt join the Ring of Honor as our third member. Everybody knows how much J.J. means to our family, the Texans organization and the entire City of Houston. He is one of the most dominant players in NFL history, and he created a unique and irreplaceable bond with our fans.
For his historic effort in 2017, J.J. Watt won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in the same year. It truly goes to show how great some athletes can be off-the-field too.
