Ricky Martin appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” Thursday to raise awareness and $80,000 for Hurricane Maria relief efforts in Puerto Rico.
The singer came on the show to speak about the issue, which is very close to his heart. “I am from Puerto Rico and right now, Puerto Rico is suffering,” he said.
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“We were destroyed by a hurricane and it has been very difficult,” Martin continued. “Right now, there is no water, there is no electricity, there is no food, there is no medicine, there is no diesel for the generators that will make the hospital work. People are dying.”
In fact, Martin said he has family still in Puerto Rico who he is trying to help.
“We have created a catastrophe fund,” Martin said, “and I have to say thank you very much because you have been so kind and so generous, but we need more. We need more.”
DeGeneres encouraged viewers to donate to the Hand in Hand benefit for hurricane relief.
“If every single person listening to this right now, just a $1. If everyone gave $1 imagine what that would do,” DeGeneres said. “Imagine. I mean you’ve seen the images, they are heartbreaking and these are people that we can help. We can’t just watch the images and be depressed or feel horrible about it. We have to help these people.”
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DeGeneres also announced that she will be donating $80,000 to help relief efforts. “We will not forget you,” she said.
Following the announcement, Daddy Yankee announced he’ll be donating $1 million for relief efforts in Puerto Rico.
In a statement, reports Billboard, the “Despacito” singer — who is of Puerto Rican descent — remarked that he “felt the call” to help, with a long-term goal of working “to ensure that the largest number of families on the island have a safe roof.”
