Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson have teamed up to help people whose lives have been shattered by the wildfires in Maui, Hawaii.
The duo has launched the People’s Fund of Maui, in which cash will go directly to people whose lives have been affected by the blazes. Winfrey and Johnson kicked off the campaign by donating $10 million.
“Collaborating closely with an esteemed advisory board and support from the local community and respected elders, this new fund will serve as a bridge to provide cash directly to the families and individuals affected so that they can personally determine how best to use the funds for themselves,” a statement about the undertaking said.
Anyone who is 18 or older who lives in the affected area and was displaced by the wildfires that ravaged the areas of Lahaina and Kula on the island of Maui can receive $1,200 each month to help assist them as they get back on their feet. All net proceeds will go to those directly impacted in Maui.
“I have been meeting with people throughout the community that were impacted by the fires over the last few weeks, asking what they most needed and how I could be of service,” Winfrey, who has a home in Maui, said in a press release.
“The main thing I’ve been hearing is their concern about how to move forward under the immense financial burden. The community has come together in so many wonderful ways, and my intention is to support those impacted as they determine what rebuilding looks like for them.”
Johnson, who is of Samoan descent and spent part of his childhood in Hawaii, echoed Winfrey’s sentiment.
“As people around the world watched the catastrophic loss and devastation caused by the Maui wildfires, they also witnessed the great spirit and resilience of our Polynesian culture and the tremendous strength of the people of Maui. Even in the most difficult of times, the people of Maui come together, and we rise — that’s what makes us stronger,” he said in the press release.
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