When the Las Vegas Massacre occurred a week ago today, I was really struggling to function. Unless you deal with anxiety and depression, it’s hard to explain how the current administration and world events kind of jerk the rug out from under you. I already have local very basic issues freaking me out that most people don’t have to deal with. But if you are a female trying to make it through all of this without a great group of supportive people, it’s very difficult. Don’t get me wrong, people try to support me here and there, but I generally just push them away because I see no route to them being helpful. I learned at a very early age that family was not necessarily a safe place. And later that friends and lovers were not particularly safe places to fall either. So I push people away, especially those who try too hard and too quickly to throw me a life raft. I question the motivation of everyone.
So what got me through a very difficult week was Bethenny Frankel. I’ve felt all kinds of ways about Bethenny over the years. She seems a lot like me when it comes to building decent relationships. And also a lot like me when it comes to helping others, as long as I don’t have to… you know… bond with them for long, or at least up close and personal.
I’ve been amazed by her contributions to Puerto Rico. Bethenny is rich. Like really rich. She could have just written a check for a million dollars like Jennifer Lopez and called it a day. But she didn’t. She is in Miami and making numerous trips to Puerto Rico to get the aid to the people in the places that are not getting it. She’s hugging people and slipping them cash for today and gift cards for tomorrow. She’s simply amazing.
Today someone emailed to say she was on MSNBC. Ya know why? It was not to call attention to herself, but to let us know there are many, many, more deaths there than were announce during Trump’s “Thank God This Is Not A Real Catastrophe Like Katrina” tour. Bethenny has gone to the remote areas where things are dire.
Here is Barbara R’s brief recap of what she said:
She spoke about her recovery efforts in Puerto Rico. So far she has arranged for 30 planes of supplies to fly down there. She goes out with the trucks to distribute the food and checks that the mayors are making sure that the supplies are going where they’re needed. The latest is that she’s working with Carnival Cruises to send a ship. Not sure if they’re going to take people out. She likened the country to ‘Slumdog Millionaire ‘ because it is in such bad shape. She also said that there are hundreds dead not just a few. They haven’t been included in the publicized accounts because they haven’t been verified yet. She sounds organized and driven to get help.
Check out Bethenny’s Instagram, “This is where your #100percent of your donation are going.
3 y/o Kemul was rescued Monday by #BStrong @globalempowermentmission when his mother ran out of fuel for the generator keeping his ventilator running and Kemul breathing. He was helicoptered from his desolate home to Miami where he received the medical attention to save his life. www.bstrongdeliveringgood.org/bstrong #wedobetter #operationPR911”
I’ve spent the last week going to Bethenny Frankel’s Instagram to remind myself that she is doing this herself. She is making a difference. And we are all going to get through this. And maybe, just maybe, we should get off our fat asses and help. Or at least send a few dollars if we have them to send.
Here is the link to the charity that Bethenny has teamed up with for her Puerto Rican efforts. If you feel so moved, please give what you can.
World natural disasters, have a way of bringing people together regardless of any difference. I am watching a different Bethenny for me, she is letting me (the pessimist) know that regardless of what we watch for entertainment purposes – a heart beats and we share a common bond, helping people in need.
Not sure why Bethenny is getting a boat load of press on her contributions – yet Joyce Giraud and #Voices for Puerto Rico, and Ricky martin barely make it to blogs – let alone ET/NY post etc.
I know Bethenny is performing from her heart and is doing beyond what people that can contribute $1M. I just wonder why she is getting the press and recognition – where as Joyce is working her tail of to not just raise awareness but started her own fund page, matching donation for donation.
Joyce arranged for people to send donations (water/diapers etc) to specific places, so her friend can load it onto another friends plane.
It was sad to hear that it will take $90B to bring Puerto Rico to it’s original living state.
Bethenny has changed my viewpoint of her 100%, another RH using her platform for the betterment (context?) of others, not herself.
I havr only seen Ricky on TV re this… and I dont think he is in the trenches likr she is (no slam, his popularity would make it a nightmare.
I had to look up Joyce. I totally forgot who she was.
which is a statement within itself
I should add a disclaimer – not interested at all in Bethenny from #RHNY – but this Bethenny of the world is awesome, and add to this, there are other awesome humans that for some odd reason are not getting the recognition that Bethenny gets.
Celebrieties and Bravo Celebs
– Ricky martin
– Joyce Giraud
#VoicesofPuertoRico
never given prime time coverage – except on Ellen Degeneres show
both have been working 24/7 for ALL citizens of puerto rico to receive help
Maybe it’s not that important who is getting #recognition for what. That’s not the point of any of this, I should hope. The point is getting help to those in need. If people really are doing it for their own advancement of celebrity, that’s kind of gross to me. But I have to believe that’s not the case and that these celebrity benefactors see a need they are uniquely positioned to fill.
I mention this – because – the more people that are aware of what exists in order to donate – that would mean more help for the people of our world that need the help.
I was in no way complaining about – lack of praise/adulation for other people.
So cool that many bravolebrities jumped in. I noticed that LuAnn was hands on with American Red Cross and is a variety of Puerto Rican actors that put together a group #Voices for Puerto Rico – they are raising $$ to help as well.
On twitter it is such an sad state, many people are still missing and many people still have no electricity, so it is awesome that people are continuing to use their platform for people they don’t know and are in desperate need.
it is fact – Bethenny is getting more coverage than other Bravolebs – take it as a point of contention if you choose, doesn’t change the fact.
Bethenny is getting the most attention because BETHENNY IS BRINGING IN NEW PLANES EVERY DAY AND GETTING TRUCKS TO GO TO THE PLACES NO ONE ELSE IS GOING.
Most of the other aid is still sitting in San Juan, where there is some power and water and not getting to the areas in need. Bethenny is there literally hiring people to unload the planes and locate trucks and drivers and then getting on the trucks and going to the most devastated areas and hand delivering the aid.
I do not understand why there is any need to compare other aid efforts.
Joyce Giruad (ex rhbh)
Ricky Martin
Ellen Degeneres
i mention, cuz,they are some of my fav humans – mentioning is not comparing.
Miami/Puerto Rico /Florida needs everyone’s help. Bethenny is all over the magazines, my enquiry , is how does Bethenny get all the front pages?
all are humanitarians, one is not better than the other, but one is mentioned the most , that would be Bethenny.
I think what she’s doing is AMAZING! It’s easy to write a check and go about your life but she is really giving these people what they so desperately need. Way to go Bethenny.
I hear you about pushing people away, I also identify with B because of this and now you! So keep going strong TT. I love Bethenny and thank you for sharing the link, she’s doing a lot of good and donating time and money. Thank you TT for giving your time to spotlight the good deeds.
Truly great lady. Looking at her most beautiful in these photos. She has a great head for organisation as well, so it is ideal she’s overseeing at the distribution end. Homages to Joyce Girard also – I thought she was lightweight – she’s not, and remembering Lisa V’s heroic work against Yulin, which I can’t even think about. Noble and great people heal us all.
I identify on what you said TT. Thanks for posting Bethenny’s link and will contribute. Nice to hear about Joyce and Ricky Martin efforts too.
I saw Bethenny today on MSNBC. I’ve loved her and hated her on RHONY but today, she earned a lifetime of respect and admiration from me. I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears, she made me tear up. She is simply amazing. And will forever be my opinion of her. A special soul. And thanks for the links to this charity. I always like to know that my dollars are really going to those in need and not to some executive’s lifestyle.
My opinion of Bethenny is the same as always. She is honest, ferocious and dedicated to making a success out of whatever she puts her mind to. As a woman I’m thrilled to see her get the good attention she deserves. Our country, with all it’s going through, could use a million more like her. Thanks TT for bringing this to our attention!
Totally agree. Always loved her self deprecating NY sense of humor, her drive and guts.,.and NOW, I see what a powerhouse she is – multiple trips to Houston, Mexico, Puerto Rico..!
And lets not forget that for every dollar you donate – 100 percent goes to the storm victims…unlike the
Red Cross!
Thank you for adding the donation link. Now she’s a New Yorker I’d vote to be president.
Bethenny does have a good heart that she throws up this bitch wall to keep it safe. She is a prickly, nasty person to keep people away so she doesn’t get hurt, like she is making them leave her to prove her point that she is always left unloved. God I hope that made sense. She is a bright and very determined lady who knows what she wants and goes for it, anything she puts her mind too she does, yet she is so terribly insecure at the same time. Very awesome that she is doing, I am very impressed.
30 planes, wow that is amazing. When she had just completed 10 planes she said Puerto Rico needed a plan for getting supplies to where they are needed. She took the #towns, approx size of towns and loaded trucks that way. She was planning to do those towns first. Said disorganization in distribution was the problem. Bethenny said she was the queen of organizing. She sounded so focused.
What Bethenny is doing has really moved me. She’s going so far beyond what anyone could have expected from her, and really saving lives. I haven’t been able to stop checking in on her social media this week.
I noticed Luann has been volunteering in the Keys the last few days. It might not be on the scale of what Bethenny’s doing, but I think it says a lot about someone’s character when they give up their own time while going through own their difficulties. I read that she found out her divorce was final (or about to become final?) while down there, so it would certainly be understandable if she was curled up in bed feeling sorry for herself instead right now.
I had slammed Bethany before and I totally take it back. I think she is one of those people who just have no tolerance for bullshit and goes goes goes. Super proactive and it’s super good at dealing with a crisis. I can’t thank her enough for what she is doing in my island. To defend JLo and Ricky Martin, they are so incredibly famous that their presence would create chaos. Bethany isn’t well know so she can really get down and dirty with the people. Kudos to her! She’s complelty changed my opinion of her. I can now see that she’s such a bitch in the show because all the frivolous drama is not enough to drive her and she hates the show. If she gets a full time slot on shark tank and the house flipping show does well I highly doubt she will go back to the housewives.
THIS is why so many of us are here, Tamara. Also, wow; am suddenly a Bethenny fan? The world has indeed turned upside-down.
In fact, I sort of wish Beth would join the Red Cross board to flex her uber-bitch superpowers and show them how to combine public service, messaging, and PR. Because normally, her self-promotion drives me nuts–I’d have expected her to come off as a sort of pint-size version of Sean Penn in Haiti–but she really knows what she’s doing.
To be fair to Sean Penn, I saw a profile piece on him a few years back (60 minutes) and then Anthony Bourdain went there on one of his shows and had Sean walk him around.
Sean knew what he was doing too. Had amazing insight on how to set up a camp governance, etc. and was helping entrepreneurs (like food vendors, which Anthony showed) as well as helping fix/set up infrastructure. That part isn’t glamorous, or as “immediate” but needed.
So, Sean may be a douchebag, but he’s a douchebag who cares. I have thought differently about him ever since I watched those two pieces.
Bethenny’s main attraction, for me at least, is her ability to cut through the bullshit and get to the meat of the matter, the greek chorus of RH (her crazed takedown of Lu last year, was an aberration, I hope.) She’s now in a position to be able to use that talent in the best possible way. She’s definitely a force of nature. Thanks for the link, TT.
Have been a Bethenny fan since her Martha Stewart days, & am proud to see her truly come into her own. A toxic parent stays with you forever, even when long gone, as we barely survivors know all too well.
Well done Bethenny, you are an inspiration. You have my thanks and respect.
Let me be the azz who asks.
Is Bethenny giving her own money or taking donations? Or both?
GOD BLESS BETHENNY… AND RICKY, JLO, JOYCE AND EVERY PUERTO RICAN or AMERICAN STAR THAT IS BRINGING THIS TRAGEDY TO THE LIGHT. After 14 days I finally heard from my 79yr old UNCLE ROBERTO from VIEQUES. THANK GOD HE IS ALIVE! His cell doesn’t work and the home phone is gone.
They have not received any supplies where he is at and he lost his cement home which was on a beautiful hill. He saved his 50 yr old wife, yeah my uncle is like that lol, and they are now at a shelter. I just contributed to B’s charity and now have to wait for my Uncle Rococco to call again to try to send him money.
Please donate even if you can’t stand Puerto Rico/Ricans, brown people or poor people. Close your eyes and imagine this happened to you. You open your eyes and you have no roof, you open the door and find destruction everywhere. Please help.
So glad to hear your uncle is still alive and kicking it with a younger woman.
When I tweet about Trump not doing enough for Puerto Rico, I’m stunned by the number of responses I get that help is there and people are taken care of when I know that so many people have not been reached yet.
That’s staggering, TT. I really wish people would seek out reliable news, or learn to read critically (especially before taking to Twitter). We can’t afford to be this dumb anymore. 85% of PR has no power, ffs!
To this day idiots “like” a comment to me that said basically “What is Trump supposed to do, HAND DELIVER IT?” It makes me sick to my stomach every time i see it.
So this is the world we live in and these are the hands we’re giving. They can be used to tweet or embrace mankind as one sees fit. Priorities.
Thanks TT. Keep on reporting when you can. Every little bit helps.
Thanks T. Just donated.
Willing to donate and unsure how to proceed because technically challenged. Please help me help. Is there a collection center where items can be dropped off ? Need an address to mail a check or money order. A Hail Mary pass into heaven was intercepted as I had no money to offer. Then God delivered a truck load of trees in need of someone who can plant by spec. I just need to know how to go about it. Spoon feed me Seymore.
Seeing eye to eye differs from standing shoulder to shoulder in times of need.
She is helping these people like it’s her job – her dedication, drive, work ethic and heart are exactly why she skyrocketed to her level of success in front of all of our eyes.