Pearl Jam has stepped up to help people affected by the Flint water crisis and the grunge band is calling on fans and the rest of the music industry to do the same. The band has pledged $125,000 to the United Way's Flint Water Fund and secured another $175,000 from partners including Ticketmaster and record label Republic Records, bringing the total to $300,000, reports the Detroit News. The band has also started a CrowdRise campaign that has raised more than $15,000. Rappers Meek Mill and Big Sean have also made donations to help Flint, and Cher donated 80,000 bottles of water last week, reports Rolling Stone.
"I am devastated by the water crisis that has put the entire city of Flint in a state of emergency," Detroit native Big Sean said in a statement. "It is my hope that we can help by raising the money needed to ensure that the children who have been hit the hardest receive the care that they need today and well into the future." He has also started a CrowdRise campaign, which has so far raised more than $18,000 to help children affecting by lead poisoning. (Anonymous has promised that state officials "will not go unpunished.")