Many stars and other personnel from the entertainment world are offering their talents to help raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. Here are some events and donations announced as of September 1, 2005:

--- Louisiana-born music men Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis and Tim McGraw will be joined by Leonardo DiCaprio in A Concert for Hurricane Relief to be broadcast on NBC, CNBC, and MSNBC on Friday, September 2, at 8 p.m., Eastern Time. Matt Lauer is scheduled to host this hour-long program.

--- Jerry Lewis promises to devote a portion of his Muscular Dystrophy Labor Day Telethon funds to Hurricane Katrina relief.

--- Black Entertainment Television will host a Hurricane Katrina Telethon on Friday, September 9 from 7 to 9 p.m.

--- John Larroquette, another Louisiana native, has recorded Public Service Announcements requesting donations for Hurricane Katrina relief.

--- Morgan Freeman has arranged an Internet auction to raise funds for Hurricane Katrina’s victims. Included among the items participants may bid on are a screening of Freeman’s new movie, An Unfinished Life, and various movie memorabilia.

--- Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and the Dave Matthews band are among  artists scheduled to appear in a special MTV Hurricane Katrina concert on Saturday, September 10. Live performances of this concert are also planned for New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Nashville. 

--- Sesame Street will re-broadcast its PBS hurricane series on PBS beginning September 12.

--- Movie Gallery, Inc. has donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross to support disaster assistance and humanitarian relief efforts in connection with Hurricane Katrina. Movie Gallery is also encouraging the general public to donate to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund through its 4,700 North American store locations. All Movie Gallery, Hollywood Video and VHQ Entertainment stores will accept customer cash donations through Friday, September 30, 2005.

--- Viacom, parent company of MTV, has donated one million dollars to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief.

 --- The Dave Matthews Band has added an extra concert to its shows scheduled at the Colorado Red Rocks location. Proceeds from this September 12 performance will go to Hurricane Katrina relief.

For concerned ReelTalk visitors who would like to help out (and who wouldn't?), two organizations I recommend highly are the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. If you wish to donate cash to the former, go to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund at http://www.redcross.org/ or call 1-800-HELPNOW or send a contribution to your local Red Cross chapter. Potential volunteers should also contact their local Red Cross chapters. Those who prefer the Salvation Army for cash donations or volunteering should call 800-725-2769.