$2.7 million in donations on national TV
Today comes to Houston: Al Roker and Jenna Bush Hager "Lend a Hand" to Casa de Esperanza
Jun 15, 2011 | 1:54 pm
Photo by Meredith Riddle
The Today show hit Houston early Wednesday morning, where Al Roker & Co. surprised Casa de Esperanza with a record-breaking single-day gift of $2.7 million in goods and funding.
Photo by Meredith Riddle
Houston's own Casa de Esperanza was one of five charities nationwide honored on the Today show's "Lend a Hand" program. Al Roker, Jenna Bush Hager and the Today crew came to the Bayou City for the live telecast early Wednesday morning, where they donated a record $2.7 million worth of goods to the nonprofit organization that provides a safe haven for children who have been abused, neglected or are living with HIV. Several hundred volunteers, along with country singer Clay Walker and Houston Rockets and Astros athletes, showed up as the Today crew surprised Casa de Esperanza co-founder Kathy Foster with truckloads of supplies, ranging from 10,000 Jansport backpacks to 100,000 bowls of oatmeal, along with a new Toyota Sequoia SUV.