J.J. Watt outlines plan for $37M raised for Hurricane Harvey relief

Houston Texans superstar J.J. Watt announced Thursday his plan for distributing the more than $37 million he collected in donations for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

The defensive end, who broke his leg earlier this season, said he's spent the greater part of the last month and a half developing a plan for the funds given by more than 200,000 donors. The money came flowing in after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in August and displaced more than 1 million residents while damaging about 200,000 homes.

"While I understand the total recovery from Hurricane Harvey could require upwards of $200 billion, and this $37 million will not be able to help every single person as I so badly wish it could, I have made it my mission to ensure this money makes as large of an impact as possible," Watt said in a statement.

A total of $30.15 million will be split between four organizations: Americares, Feeding America, Save the Children, and SBP: Disaster Resilience and Recovery. The funds will be used to rebuild homes and child-care centers, provide food to those in need, and address health-care concerns. The money will be distributed over the next 18-to-24 months.

The remaining $7 million will be distributed in 2018 with the understanding that recovery is an ongoing process that will take a substantial amount of time.

"What mattered to me most was ensuring that the entirety of the funds would be utilized here in Houston and the surrounding areas for those who were affected most by Hurricane Harvey," Watt added.

"With that in mind, I went to work with nonprofit organizations who have boots on the ground here in Houston and the surrounding affected areas to put the best plan in place and I am very excited to share that with you."