Jon Bon Jovi described his hefty donation to the New Jersey Sandy Relief Fund as “emotional” at an event in which he announced the generous gift. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Bon Jovi and his wife are people "who never take New Jersey away from themselves."

Bon JoviBon Jovi rocking out in Sydney

"My being here is not political. It's emotional because I grew up here. I went to school here. I met my wife here," he said at an event held to announce the donation. "And in the days following the storm, when I visited these streets and spoke to the residents, one thought that came to me time and time again was what can I do?

The storm, which occurred in October 2012, ripped up the New Jersey shoreline, and caused havoc in inner-city New York, with power cuts and food shortages occurring. Bon Jovi took a stroll through his old neighbourhood of Sayreville to see how they’re recovering. "I know that this million dollars sounds like a lot but it's really just a drop in the bucket," he said. "What I like to call the 'power of we,' the coming together–that means you, me, us–we are taking a step today to rebuild lives.

Bon JoviBon Jovi wants to help his people

Christie's wife, Mary Pat, received the cheque from Bon. Bruce Springsteen and Bono also serve as honorary board members of the relief fund. Since the hurricane, the fund has raised more than $38 million from 29,000 people.