Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Commit $100 Million to Maui Wildfire Reduction

Stories out of Maui within the aftermath of devastating wildfires have been chilling. Because the New York Occasions experiences, no less than 80 individuals have died thus far because of the wildfires — and round 1,000 individuals have been lacking from the area. It’s an unabashedly horrible incidence — each in its personal proper and in what it’d anticipate by way of future disasters alongside related strains.

The price of rebuilding Maui might be steep — extra on that in a second — however one of many planet’s wealthiest people and his companion have dedicated to contributing to reduction efforts. On August 11, 2003, Lauren Sánchez introduced on Instagram that she and Jeff Bezos — the couple grew to become engaged earlier this 12 months — would contribute $100 million to the trigger. Sánchez can be, as GeekWire famous, the vice chair of the Bezos Earth Fund.

Sánchez’s submit asserting the quantity didn’t provide many specifics on how the cash could be used. “Jeff and I are making a Maui Fund and are dedicating $100 million to assist Maui get again on its ft now and over the approaching years because the persevering with wants reveal themselves,” she wrote.

$100 million isn’t a small quantity — however it’s additionally value noting that FEMA’s estimate of the entire value required to rebuild affected areas of West Maui places the determine at over $5.5 billion. Bezos and Sánchez’s $100 million will go a good distance — however it’s just one a part of a a lot bigger effort to revive the buildings and infrastructure misplaced within the fires.