Jeff Bezos pledged $100 Million to help rebuild Maui last August. But now that has raised widespread questions amid limited disbursements. The highly visible couple owns a $78 million Maui estate at La Perouse Bay.
We couldn’t help but get caught up in the title of last week’s Bloomberg article about the generous $100 million pledge from Amazon’s founder. The grand gesture was to aid rebuilding efforts following the devastating Maui wildfires last August.
The article claimed that concerns have been raised that only $15.5 million of the promised funds have been distributed, leaving local officials and non-profits puzzled about the whereabouts and time-frame of the remaining pledge. West Maui senator Angus McKelvey reported that “Nobody’s heard anything at all” regarding what became of the donation.
If they had asked other community leaders and representatives, they would have told Bezos, “Take your money and put it over here.” But that didn’t happen.
Angus McKelvey, West Maui Senator
Bezos representatives said recipients included the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui, the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, the Hawaii community regeneration group Lele Aloha, and Maui Food Bank. Thus far, it has been reported that only Maui Food Bank confirmed receipt of any aid.
Bezos’ helicopter was loaned to the Maui Fire Department.
The couple, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, did provide their helicopter to the Maui Fire Department, which the MFD acknowledged as an “extremely generous offer” during the fires. We don’t know if that’s Bezos’ $10M Bell 429 Global Ranger or another chopper that was on loan.
Questions about the remaining bulk of the 100 million.
Bezos’ spokesperson said that in accordance with their pledge last year, the rest of the money “will be distributed in the coming years as the continuing needs reveal themselves.”
Hawaii Community Foundation, perhaps the most recognized major nonprofit in the aftermath of the Maui wildfires, confirmed that they “don’t have any information” on money from Bezos. Part of the problem we see is that Bezos pledged the money to his own foundation instead of to one of Maui’s established funds.
Comments about the pledge were quite varied but generally not positive.
That in regards to the lack of current funding given the extreme need that exists on Maui:
“There was an investigative article that came out that traced all of Bezos’ “philanthropy,” and the conclusion was that almost all of his donations move through non-profits that are run by relatives and other close friends.”
“There’s no competent money management going on with donated Maui funds. I wouldn’t be donating money either unless I know those funds are going to be used for a specific purpose. No one wants another BLM fiasco.
“How about you, Oprah, Jason, Michael, Larry, Mark, Bill, and the rest of the Billionaire class that absorbs Hawaiian resources?”
“Let’s do simple math: $100,000,000 / $500,000 = 2,000 individuals he could help rebuild their homes or businesses.”
“Maui Strong has way more than that… So why haven’t they rebuilt 2000 homes/businesses yet?”
“He doesn’t owe anybody anything. If he does donate money and spend it how his fund chooses, that’s his and only his decision. People on Maui are grossly entitled and believe people like Oprah isn’t spending enough, just because she has a house there it doesn’t mean she’s obligated to give money. I’m Hawaiian and live on Oahu. When my house caught fire, I never felt like other rich people in my community owed me anything. Fires take homes and lives every day, and Maui is no more entitled to donations than any other victim of fire. Maui people complaining are just ungrateful, and it’s not the way of our people. Suck it up and do what you need to do instead of bad-mouthing people who are helping that really don’t need to.”
Bezos had warned of potential delays in the distribution of the funds.
“The immediate needs are important, and so is the longer-term rebuilding that will have to happen – even after much of the attention has subsided.” That, according to Bezos, soon after the $100 M was announced. Sanchez added, “Jeff and I are creating a Maui Fund and are dedicating $100 million to help Maui get back on its feet now and over the coming years as the continuing needs reveal themselves.”
Do you think the ultra-wealthy on Maui should do more for the island?
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Everyone (at any point on the wealth spectrum) should spend their money the way that they want. I don’t expect rich people to donate huge sums to worthwhile causes, but if they do, that’s great. And while my heart goes out to all who lost homes in the Maui fires, how long are they entitled to free housing? If my home on Oahu goes up in smoke, should I expect others to pay for my family and me to live elsewhere? If the answer to that is no, then I ask, how many homes have to burn in order to get free replacement housing?
Hahaha…..“Let’s do simple math: $100,000,000 / $500,000 = 2,000 individuals he could help rebuild their homes or businesses.”
Yah right…….simple math :-D.
This is not surprising at all. It follows a demonstrated pattern of minimal follow-through on all of the very-publicly announced Bezos supposed charitable initiatives that don’t result in much actual money being distributed (and then what is given is mostly to friends in an opaque and unaccountable way.)
It’s all PR and no real action.
Love this wise quote:: “Maui people complaining are just ungrateful, it’s not the way of our people. Suck it up and do what you need to do instead of bad-mouthing people who are helping that really don’t need to.” There’s more to writing a check, especially at these sums! No One Has To “Donate” Anything to Anyone. Donate: To present as a “gift” to a fund or cause. No, I dont believe the ultra-wealthy on Maui should do more for the island? Money management is of utmost important as I have had to earn every penny. People do not want to be responsible for their own mistakes in life & those that have had to work hard pay for the irresponsible. The irresponsible here being Gov on down the line to uninsured homeowners!
Do you think the ultra-wealthy on Maui should do more for the island?
People in general, rich or poor, help those in need out of the goodness of their heart. No one should expect anything of anyone. But if they do donate Bravo!!!! And that should be appreciated and not expected.
I boycott Amazon simply because I don’t want to contribute any more money to Bezos. He is filthy rich, but I don’t see him doing his part to help the needy; instead he’s buying mansions and expensive toys, like his new yacht. He could do so much to alleviate the suffering of so many people. I want to see him do it.
Mahalo and i double that partly because i recently read he had people “kicked off” the Water near his mansion! Omg the Beaches in hawaii are public. I live on socual and a small pension and i give to charity monthly. I just keep remembering he started with his hotdog popup machines and get a laugh