Bruce Springsteen Just Donated $20 Million to Texas Flood Victims — But It’s What He Wrote That Has the Nation in Tears
He’s sold more than 140 million records. Just wrapped a tour that grossed over $700 million.
But Bruce Springsteen’s biggest statement this year wasn’t made on stage — it came in the form of a handwritten letter, and a $20 million donation to the people of Texas.
As flash floods tore through Central Texas, killing at least 122 people and leaving more than 170 still missing, including dozens of children swept away at Camp Mystic, Springsteen quietly joined the growing wave of celebrities offering support.
And while the $20 million donation from his Still Standing Fund made headlines, it was his personal note that broke hearts.
“The house might be gone. The photos, the car, the guitar… all gone. But your story isn’t over.
You still matter. You still count. And when the waters rise, so do we.
— Bruce”
That note is now hanging in shelters from Kerrville to Hunt, framed by volunteers who say survivors have clutched it like a prayer.
The Real Crisis:
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At least 750 children were attending Camp Mystic when the Guadalupe River rose overnight and overtook cabins on July 4.
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27 girls and staff died at the camp. More than 90 children remain unaccounted for statewide.
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Authorities say this is the deadliest inland flood in U.S. history since Colorado’s Big Thompson Canyon flood in 1976.
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FEMA and the Red Cross say the psychological toll on children is “unprecedented.”
A Voice for the People Who Feel Forgotten
Springsteen, 74, requested that his donation skip corporate charities and go directly to grassroots efforts, including:
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Grief and trauma counseling for children who lost family
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Generators, mobile medical units, and emergency housing for flood victims
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Financial grants for families who lost their homes or small businesses
His representatives confirmed funds have already been distributed to local recovery teams in Kerr County, Bandera County, and Travis County, where the flooding hit hardest.
One survivor, a 13-year-old boy who lost both parents, said in a shelter interview:
“My dad loved Bruce. I used to hear his songs in the garage. I think he’d be proud Bruce didn’t forget about us.”
Springsteen has yet to comment further, but his team says this is “only the beginning” of his involvement.
He may have played his last song on tour — but in Texas, The Boss is still showing up.