Charles Butt, the reclusive H-E-B chairman who is developing a reputation as one of Texas’ leading philanthropists, burnished those credentials on Wednesday with a person $5 million contribution to Houston Texas player J.J.Watt’s Justin J. Watt Foudnation Houston Flood Relief Fund, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
“Throughout this disaster, I have been humbled by the state’s unprecedented generosity and heroism,” Butt said. “I want to commend and support the extraordinary relief efforts of J.J. Watt who has taken the lead, not as a world-class NFL player or celebrity, but as an individual who saw the need to help his fellow Texans and immediately took action.”
Butt’s financial donation matches the tireless work of H-E-B employees and executives, who have rushed supplies and mobile feeding stations to the Coastal Bend and to the Houston area, and have worked tirelessly to get stores reopened and stocked in the hard hit areas.
“I appreciate the incredible generosity Charles Butt and H-E-B has shown,” said J.J. Watt. “It is amazing what can happen when people from all over come together for one common goal.”
Butt’s philanthropic work has included helping fund the CAST Tech High School downtown, the Holdsworth Center for Educational Excellence, and supporting several other education related causes.
“Hurricane Harvey has taken a catastrophic toll on our great state. Now is the time to come together and collectively help rebuild our communities,” said Butt.