Rockets' James Harden donates $1 million to Harvey recovery

Rockets' James Harden looks in as volunteer Abbie Kamin poses with Mayor Sylvester Turner at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. Rockets' James Harden looks in as volunteer Abbie Kamin poses with Mayor Sylvester Turner at George R. Brown Convention Center on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. Image 1 of / 68 Caption Close Rockets' James Harden donates $1 million to Harvey recovery 1 / 68 Back to Gallery

Rockets guard James Harden returned on Saturday to a "devastated" city he called home and went to work.

Harden met with Mayor Sylvester Turner to discuss the recovery efforts to rebuild after Hurricane Harvey.

He visited with evacuees sheltered at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

The Rockets star then announced he would make a $1 million donation to the recovery efforts in the hopes to help the city rebuild and heal.

"Obviously, the city is devastated," Harden said. "We have to push forward. We have to find a way to get through it. We have to find a way to help the community out as much as possible. Reached out to the mayor. We wanted to help out and make sure we get the help where it needed to be."

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Harden had been in discussions since last Sunday about his plans with the announcement timed for his return to town and meeting with Turner.

"This is home for me," Harden told media at the convention center. "I wanted to say thank you to J.J. Watt for what he's doing for the city. Thank you to the mayor for helping me. I just want to donate and give back to the community as much as I can.

"I'm going to donate $1 million to the city and areas that need it and people that need it to make the city stronger and put smiles on some faces."

"Rockets owner Leslie Alexander had previously pledged $10 million toward the mayor's Hurricane Harvey Recovery Fund. Rockets CEO Tad Brown said additional appearances and other events are in the works as Rockets players return to Houston.

"Just hearing it from the mayor and being able to understand the complexities of the issues and the sheer magnitude of the undertaking to keep people safe, it's humbling," Brown said of the meeting with Turner. "James really wanted to have an opportunity to sit down and talk to the mayor about what he can do to help and be part of the solution and resource for the mayor and people in the city to get back on their feet.

"We're now putting our resources, from the financial resources that Leslie committed immediately to our personnel resources and how we can activate our organization in the community. That's what we're going to focus on."

Toyota Center had been used as a shelter for the overflow from the convention center and will be a drop-off and distribution hub for supplies needed in the coming weeks. Additional fundraisers are in the planning stages.

Brown had told Rockets players that were not in Houston to "stay safe" and not return immediately. Nene and Chinanu Onuaku were among the only players that remained in Houston through the week and visited with evacuees in Toyota Center.

Additional donations have been made by Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni and players, but have not been announced, though Texans star J.J. Watt and actor and comedian Kevin Hart have announced donations made by Rockets guard Chris Paul.

"There are organized events we're already planning as we get everybody back in," Brown said. "The issue for us is it's not our season so everybody's gone. When guys come back in in the near future we'll have more events with the entire organization ... to focus on how we can get in the community right away and rebuild and restore and provide inspiration.

"That's something the mayor made clear today. It's not just about financial resources. Those are critical. It's really about showing people that you care and that the people that care so much about the guys see that these guys care about them just as much. We're all in this together. We will figure it out together.

"James is one of those guys taking this really hard. Whether it's James, Chris, Nene or Clint, all these guys are part of this community. They want to make sure the community feels that."