New York concerts headlined by Elton John, Simon & Garfunkel and the Dave Matthews Band raised $9 million for hurricane Katrina relief, Madison Square Garden officials said yesterday.
The sold-out “From the Big Apple to the Big Easy” concerts at the Garden and Radio City Music Hall on Sept. 20 also will be turned into concert DVDs and CDs to benefit long-term relief efforts in the Gulf area.
The cash – going directly to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, Habitat for Humanity, MusiCares and the Children’s Health Fund – were raised through ticket sales, sponsorship, food and merchandise sales and the Garden’s $1 million donation.
Additionally, pay-per-view subscriber fees were donated to the relief effort.