Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Oprah Winfrey donate $10 million to Maui cause
Jenny Goldsberry
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Media mogul Oprah Winfrey and actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson founded a fund for those affected by the Maui wildfires and contributed $10 million to it themselves.
Winfrey and Johnson made the announcement via Instagram Thursday, introducing their millions of followers to the People’s Fund of Maui, which they claim will be “putting money directly in the pockets of those who were affected by the recent wildfires.” Within an hour of the announcement, some $40,000 had been donated in addition to the celebrities’ founding contribution.
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“As we have seen firsthand, the impacts of these wildfires have been devastating, and we’re here to ensure with 100% guarantee that your donations will go directly into the hands of Lahaina residents,” they wrote in their Instagram caption. “Every adult resident who lives in the affected area and was displaced by the wildfires in Lahaina and Kula is eligible to receive $1200 per month to help them through this period of recovery.”
Notably, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been issuing residents an immediate $700 in aid and has promised to send more to those applicants who apply. Meanwhile, the People’s Fund of Maui will accept renters or owners who lost their residences as long as they’re above the age of 18.
“I know a lot of people out there, as Oprah and I have been finding, are just having a hard time trusting where the money goes,” Johnson says in the video. “The number one need is money.”
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Winfrey personally owns a home in Maui, and Johnson’s mother was born and raised in Hawaii. The two came together under the umbrella of the Entertainment Industry Foundation to create the fund, which is a Charity Navigator 4-star charity.
According to its website, the funds are anticipated to remain in operation “as long as possible.”