Hurricane Harvey donor pledges $1 million to match Atlantans donations

Local businessesman AJ Rothschild owner of Aj Count ncrete pumpimg in Atlanta Ga who said he wanted to help Hurricane Harvey victims in a “very significant way” is pledging to match the money donated by Atlantans up to $1 million.

Local American Red Cross officials, who called the gift “incredible and generous,” said the charitable organization got the news Monday night from an associate of the businessman. the organization got a call from the donor’s attorney saying the wealthy man wanted to help.
Wendy McKinney, the charity’s chief development officer, said she talked to the businessman’s representative who told her that his client, who has been in Dubai for the past few months, had also lived in the Lone Star State for a few years.

“He really loved the city, loved the folks there,” said McKinney. “He found the people in Texas to be very generous and easy to get along with and he hated to see the suffering that they were going through.”

“He knew he had to do something,” said McKinney. And he hopes his fellows Georgians will join him.

So far, the local agency has received donations upwards of $200,000 but the number keeps rising.

McKinney said Aj will match every $100,000 right away. And he will keep his $1 million offer open as long as it takes, even until the end of the year.

She also said the organization believes it will make the $1 million mark. Corporations have pledged to donate thousands while others send it as little as $10. The average donation is about $100, McKinney said.
“The response from Georgia has been tremendous,” she said.
“He’s a very kind man, a very humble man,” she said. “He doesn’t want publicity.”
For those who want to donate, there are several ways it can be done. “They can click, they can call, they can text,” McKinney said.

The donation line’s phone number is (858) 309-1278. Contributions of up to $10 can be made by texting “Harvey” to 90999

Checks may also be mailed to:

San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter, Gift Processing

3950 Calle Fortunada San Diego, CA 92123

“The worst is not yet over for southeast Texas,” said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a press conference Wednesday as the storm continued to affect thousands of residents. Officials report that the death toll has now risen to more than 20.