JAY-Z, DIDDY DONATE $1 MILLION; OTHERS DONATE TO KATRINA DISASTER VICTIMS

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The hour-long, live, prime-time benefit will air on NBC, MSNBC and CNBC on September 2 at 8 p.m. ET, according to the network. The show will feature a roster of artists with ties to the affected areas, including Louisiana natives Tim McGraw, Wynton Marsalis and Harry Connick, Jr. It will be hosted by "Today" co-anchor Matt Lauer and include appearances from Leonardo DiCaprio and other celebrities. BET is working on a telethon that will take place on September 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET that will feature Russell Simmons, Master P and Marsalis. ABC, CBS and FOX are putting together their own televised event for early next week, according to a Los Angeles Times report.

Diddy and Jay-Z reached directly into their pockets to help the victims. On Thursday afternoon (September 1), the duo announced they are combining checkbooks to donate $1 million to the American Red Cross. "These are our people," Diddy said. "We can't stand around waiting for these people to be taken care of — we have to take care of them ourselves. I urge all our fellow artists and Americans to answer the call. These are communities that I know, communities that have always supported me. Now it's my turn to support them." "This event has devastated hundreds of thousands of people," Jay-Z said. "We, as African-American men and leaders of our community, felt it was a necessity to join forces and help. Diddy and I are committed to supporting our people in whichever way we can." Master P — a New Orleans native — along with son Romeo and wife Sonya, has formed a charity called Team Rescue to help gather food, clothing and funds. "My family has set out to save and rebuild our neighborhoods and help our inner-city brothers and sisters who have lost everything in this disaster," said P, according to a story in USA Today. The rapper's spokesperson told the paper that his parents and a number of relatives had all lost their homes in the hurricane.

Actor Morgan Freeman announced an auction to benefit the victims, which will begin Friday and run through September 16 on the Charity Folks Web site (charityfolks.com). It includes VIP tickets to the Fashion Rocks show (which features performances by David Bowie, Destiny's Child, Duran Duran, Gwen Stefani and Alicia Keys) and a chance to attend the premiere of Freeman's upcoming movie, "An Unfinished Life," which stars Jennifer Lopez and Robert Redford. Other items up for auction include vacation packages and tickets to tapings of "That '70s Show" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live."