BOSTON – The GE Foundation announced two grants to provide immediate relief to communities recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricanes Ian and Fiona. A donation of US$250,000 to Team Rubicon, a disaster and humanitarian relief organization that utilizes the skills and experiences of military veterans, will assist communities on the Gulf Coast of Florida, which have been severely impacted by Hurricane Ian. Additionally, the GE Foundation announced a donation of US$100,000 to New Orleans-based disaster recovery and resilience organization SBP, which will support housing restoration projects in Puerto Rico as the island recovers from significant damage caused by Hurricane Fiona. In addition to the organization’s donation, GE employees can support relief efforts through its Matching Gifts Program.
“The GE family is honored to work with our longtime partners at Team Rubicon and SBP and hope these funds will help families begin to recover from the impact of Hurricanes Ian and Fiona,” said Linda Boff, President, GE Foundation, and Vice President, GE.
In Florida, Team Rubicon volunteers are currently on the ground working to remove trees and other debris from roadways to ensure residents and emergency services can quickly access impacted areas, as well as provide temporary residential repair services to prevent further damage to homes and improve home security. Meanwhile, SBP is working with impacted families in Puerto Rico to provide mold suppression for flooded homes, supply water filtration systems and generators as needed, and help survivors obtain funds for rebuilding efforts through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“We are grateful to the GE Foundation team for their support as we work to assist communities in Florida by assessing the damage caused by this devastating storm, clearing roads for first responders, and mucking out homes,” said Art delaCruz, CEO, Team Rubicon. “This funding helps us focus on working with local officials and community groups to identify areas of need and high vulnerability to implement support.”
“The GE Foundation supported SBP right after Katrina and in many ways built the foundation for future impact,” said Zack Rosenburg, CEO and Co-Founder, SBP. “We are honored to receive this grant, which will help us as we work with homeowners to gain access to much-needed resources, supplies and funding.”
GE employees who make eligible donations to Team Rubicon, SBP, Airlink or other participating organizations can register for a match with the GE Foundation’s Matching Gifts program, which supports employees’ personal philanthropy and charitable giving by providing a 1:1 match. The GE Foundation created the concept of a corporate matching gift program in 1954. Today, the program continues to serve as an important element of the Foundation’s portfolio, with gifts matched in 2021 totaling $6.2 million.
GE’s Disaster and Humanitarian Relief program responds to major global disasters and humanitarian crises, drawing on GE’s people, technology and other resources to reduce suffering and hasten recovery. Most recently, GE Foundation partnered with Americares to alleviate flood devastation in Pakistan that left local health facilities in need of rehabilitation. GE remains committed to preparing for and responding to future natural disasters and humanitarian crises, diligently maximizing the impact of our financial, technological, and human resources.
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