In response to severe flooding on Kauai, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg have pledged to donate $1 million to organizations working tirelessly to assist the community’s storm relief efforts as well long-term recovery.
In response to severe flooding on Kauai, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg have pledged to donate $1 million to organizations working tirelessly to assist the community’s storm relief efforts as well long-term recovery.
“Kauai has become our family’s retreat and sanctuary,” said Chan and Zuckerberg. “We are heartbroken by the floods and are committed to helping the community recover and rebuild an even stronger one.”
The donation will support organizations helping the North Shore and Koloa recover from the acute phase of the disaster including Hawaii Community Foundation, Kauai Habitat for Humanity and Kauai Economic Opportunity. These contributions are in addition to donations Zuckerberg and Chan made to the American Red Cross and Malama Kauai earlier this week.
Organizations receiving initial commitments include:
Hawaii Community Foundation: A Kauai Relief and Recovery Fund has been established by Hawaii Community Foundation to quickly respond to various relief needs on the island. This includes a childcare center for families, offering children a safe space while parents and guardians focus on cleanup efforts. They are also working to create a satellite classroom in Wainiha, which will allow area high school students to complete graduation requirements since storm damage to local roads has prevented access to the school.
Kauai Habitat for Humanity: Kauai Habitat for Humanity will provide both long-term and immediate assistance for those displaced by the flood, with a particular focus on providing resources to the island’s low-income community in need of new housing. They are also attending to Habitat homeowners on the North Shore to ensure the safety and integrity of their homes, and the organization’s Restore program will play a role in helping those impacted.
Kauai Economic Opportunity: A vital part of the Kauai community that has helped meet the needs of the island’s homeless population for over 44 years, the organization will focus on offering homeless family outreach, shelter assessments, emergency supplies and other needed services to those impacted families. They will also assist with relocation fees for low-income residents if housing is not available on Kauai.
Once the damage to the island is fully assessed, Chan and Zuckerberg will evaluate additional community needs to determine how to allocate the remaining funds in order to restore and rebuild the island over the long-term.
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Oh Lord, not KEO!!! Better make sure the money donated is actually spent on the homeless and victims of the flood. They treat their clientele like trash. Heartless and demeaning. The place is filthy too. I’ve heard that their homeless shelter is worse than jail. Just ask around. True story!
Much aloha to you Priscilla and Mark for your very generous donations!
Thank you Mark and Priscilla for all your support to our beloved Kauai!
They may have gotten some (well-deserved) bad press lately, but they are good kids at heart and their contribution is certainly generous. I believe in the long run they will make a positive impact on the north(east) shore of Kauai.
Nice! and Thank you for your donation, So….Now how about not buying up more of the Kilauea properties and stealing it from the Kauai people, dont you already own enough of Kauai!
Amazing that some people use a disaster and good will from others as a forum for their personal gain. It is your right to say what you believe but it is others right to call you on self serving crap.
Living through the storm on the north shore and seeing how everyone has come together to help each other, I am impressed with the goodness in people. One thing that really stood out in the photos of the rescues and post assessment is that most people were smiling. This storm shows what can happen when we all work together instead of complain.
As a Kauai resident I want everyone helping to know that we all are deeply moved by the out pouring of all you are doing. Most people are giving what they can to recover from this devastation and will continue to do so until recovery is complete. Thank you for your sincere Aloha!