George Strait's Benefit Concert Delivers $25K Checks To Texas Flood Victims
The funds came from country music legend George Strait's benefit concert held last month, which raised more than $6 million from donors who purchased tickets starting at $1,000. The 'Strait to the Heart' concert was hosted by Strait and his business partner, Tom Cusik, with special guests Gov. Abbott and country music singer Garth Brooks.
'This is a down payment to help you begin to put your lives back together,' Abbott told recipients at the Vaqueros del Mar Texas Flood Relief Fund gathering. 'Our goal is to put you on a strong, immediate beginning to make sure you can get back to having a permanent roof over your head.'
The relief effort marks a significant private-sector response to catastrophic flooding that destroyed homes across the Texas Hill Country on July 4. The checks provide immediate assistance to families facing extensive rebuilding costs.
The check recipients were drawn from a list of people who had already filed flood relief claims through FEMA. Cusik said the checks handed out on Saturday were just the first installment, and more funds would be handed out soon.
'We don't want that money sitting in a bank,' Cusick said, per The Kerrville Daily Times. 'We're going to get the money to people who need it, so they can start rebuilding and healing.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Josh Hamilton on Faith, Redemption, and the Highs and Lows of Baseball
On this Friday sports edition of 'Will Cain Country,' Will sits down with Texas Rangers legend and 2010 AL MVP Josh Hamilton for a candid, emotional conversation about baseball, faith, and redemption. Josh reflects on the ceremony for his induction into the Rangers Hall of Fame and relives the magic of the 2010-2011 seasons. He opens up about the crushing heartbreak of the 2011 World Series, when the Rangers were one strike away from a championship, and the spiritual lesson he took from hitting a dramatic extra-innings home run that ultimately wasn't enough. The two dig deep into Hamilton's personal battles with addiction, his powerful 2006 turning point in his grandmother's house, the discipline it takes to choose faith and positive influences over destructive habits, and much more. You won't want to miss this raw, unfiltered conversation about triumph, failure, grace, and perseverance, one that shows why Josh Hamilton's story resonates far beyond the diamond. Subscribe to 'Will Cain Country' on YouTube here: Watch Will Cain Country! Follow Will on X: @WillCain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
Buzz Feed
4 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Tom Cruise Reportedly Said "No" To Trump's Kennedy Center Invite For This Reason
Earlier this week, Donald Trump announced his 2025 Kennedy Center honorees. We have country singer George Strait. There's actor Michael Crawford. He obviously had to have Sylvester Stallone. Iconic "I Will Survive" singer, Gloria Gaynor. And finally, Kiss. Now, we're hearing that Tom Cruise also had an invite. The Washington Post reports that multiple Kennedy Center employees told the outlet that he turned down the invite due to "scheduling conflicts." Ah, yes, the ol' "scheduling conflicts" excuse. Definitely haven't heard of that one before! Now, let's see how he gets out of the inevitable 2028 LA Olympics invite.
CBS News
5 hours ago
- CBS News
CBS Texas producer explains what goes into creating a show on an AR/VR set
CBS Texas recently launched a new augmented reality/virtual reality set, making it the only station in the region to offer the groundbreaking technology. The new AR/VR set launched on June 23, introducing a new way to deliver weather and news, immersing audiences in the story. Every week, we'll speak with a different person who has contributed to the project or will work closely with it. This week, CBS Texas sat down with Brenda Lawson, who produces the 11 a.m. news with anchor Karen Borta. CBS Texas: You were the first producer to ask to move your show to the virtual set. Why? Brenda Lawson: I've worked at CBS News Texas for nearly three decades. I've seen a lot of changes in that time, but probably nothing as exciting and challenging as doing an entire newscast on an AR/VR set. When I learned we'd be using the set for that purpose, I jumped at it the chance and so did Karen Borta. We've worked together for nearly 30 years and we are so excited to debut this new technology at 11 a.m.! CBS Texas: What were you doing when you started your career? How different is that from what we do today? What was your favorite era of producing? Lawson: I started my career in 1992 in Southwest Missouri. During my career, I've gone from editing on tape to digital, low-def to high-def and many other changes. My favorite era of producing was the late 90s and 2000s, when we saw the world change and technology change with it. CBS Texas: What goes into a producer preparing a show on the AR/VR set? Lawson: We just started training, so I have a lot to learn. It is a little overwhelming at the beginning because it's a new way of thinking. But it's also fun when you consider it's something new and the possibilities. As far as preparation for a producer, there's a lot more time and thought that goes into it, from content to presentation. We already work closely with our directors, but this will take more choreography. We will also need to rehearse before a show with the anchors and directors to make sure the vision works for everyone. CBS Texas: Pitch your dream segment on this set. Lawson: The possibilities are endless! I'm so excited about doing the newscasts this way on a daily basis and coming up with new ideas on how to use the set. I'm also looking forward to doing specials on the set. I can't wait to see what we can do with the Christmas choir special this year. But my dream segment would be the Dallas Cowboys winning the Super Bowl, creating a virtual stadium for AR/VR set and some kind of fan experience!
