J.J. Watt: Hurricane Harvey relief closes at $37.1 million

Houston Texans All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt's online fundraiser to aid flood victims of Hurricane Harvey, which started with a goal of $200,000, closed out at more than $37 million.

Watt released the final figures, announcing his Houston Flood Relief Fund's combined fundraising efforts raised a total of $37,132,057 and had 209,430 donors.

"There are not enough words to thank you all for your generosity," Watt said in a statement Friday. "If there is one thing that I have taken away from these last few weeks, it is the reassurance of how much good is out there in our world. When times are the toughest, humanity stands at its strongest and you have all helped to prove that emphatically."

Watt started the relief effort on Aug. 27 while Houston was being hit hard by the flooding with $100,000 of his own money. He had an initial goal of $200,000, meeting that target on YouCaring.com within two hours.

Watt posted videos throughout the process thanking donors and reassuring them that the money would go directly toward helping victims rather than covering administrative costs.

Watt worked with his foundation to fill 12 semitrucks with supplies to aid victims, and he and his teammates helped with the distribution in the aftermath of the hurricane.

"There are many places you could have donated your hard-earned money and I'm honored you have chosen to join this effort to support the people who were affected most by Hurricane Harvey," Watt said in the statement posted on his website. "Please keep this spirit of helping one another alive. The world is a better place when we all take care of each other."