Matthew McConaughey was named as Philanthropist of the Year by The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday after his just keep livin foundation raised $7.7 million for storm relief in Texas.
The 52-year-old actor this past March organized a virtual We're Texas benefit show to help fundraise in the wake of the storm Uri. Entertainers who took part in the show included Post Malone, Kelly Clarkson, Willie Nelson, Khalid and Miranda Lambert, among others.
McConaughey opened up to THR on his urgency to put the show on when the storm hit this past February.
The latest: Matthew McConaughey, 52, was named as Philanthropist of the Year by The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday after his just keep livin Foundation raised $7.7 million for storm relief in Texas. He was snapped in Austin last year
'It’s on the front page, and you have immediate ideas,' he said. 'By day two, you realize: "This is not something the state of Texas has an emergency switch to flip to fix this." So there’s a need there, but it has to happen quick.
'You have to figure out how to best help almost while you’re doing it because it has to happen so fast - something is going to steal the front page from [winter storm] Uri any minute because of course it will. You have to move quick with people. So tie your shoes, get out the door and let’s go.'
The executive director of his foundation, Shannon Rotenberg, noted how McConaughey is swift to contact others in Hollywood to help out with his charitable endeavors.
'If I email him anything about the foundation, or I need him to do something, he's like: "What do you need? Who do I call?" Rotenberg said. 'Just last week, somebody dropped out for a benefit, and he picked up the phone and called Kenny Chesney and was like, "We need you."'
The A-lister and wife Camila Alves, 39, established their just keep livin foundation in 2008 'with the mission to empower high school students by providing them with the tools to lead active lives and make healthy choices for a better future,' according to its mission statement
The Lone Star State native and his spouse's non-profit organization covers 40 schools in 14 cities, according to the publication, impacting around 3,000 participants annually. He was snapped last year in NYC
The A-lister and wife Camila Alves, 39, established
