Many organizations, on local and national levels, have stepped in with financial commitments to help Hurricane Helene recovery in the region. In alphabetical order organizations and donations, according to a variety of press releases and statements, include:
- BlueTrition water bottles: To date, more than 486,000 bottles have been donated through collaborations with relief partners like World Central Kitchen, Americares and local organizations to affected areas, including Asheville, Valdosta, Georgia and Tampa.
- Comcast: Comcast NBCUniversal announced a donation of $500,000 in cash and $500,000 in advertising time for public service announcements in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Comcast Florida Region Donations include $50,000 to Volunteer Florida Foundation of Tallahassee, $25,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of the Big Bend of Tallahassee and $25,000 to All Faiths Food Bank of Sarasota.
- Community Foundation of Tampa Bay: The Community Foundation Tampa Bay is committing $1.2M to ongoing Hurricane Helene relief and recovery efforts. Its grants will fund nonprofits providing immediate relief, such as food and shelter, along with supporting ongoing and long-term recovery efforts, such as housing and job placement.
A portion of the commitment will be used to match grants ($1 for every $3 donated) from philanthropists who have funds at the Community Foundation.
- Duke Energy: Duke Energy Foundation announced a $1 million commitment to nonprofits providing vital assistance to affected communities across the Southeast. In the past five years, Duke Energy and its Foundation have invested more than $20.5 million in emergency readiness and response across the states they serve.
- Home Depot: The Home Depot Foundation is committing up to $2 million.Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, is donating relief supplies to nonprofits, first responders and government agencies, and volunteers will be on the ground in the coming days and weeks to help clean up in local communities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia.
- Honda: On behalf of the Honda family of companies in the U.S., Honda is donating $500,000 in needed disaster relief funds to the American Red Cross. Honda is also offering its associates an opportunity to join the hurricane relief effort through its matching fund and volunteer programs. Honda will match eligible donations on a dollar-for-dollar basis, up to a maximum of $1,000. Additionally, the company will provide up to $200 in grants to eligible organizations when associates volunteer.
- Lowe’s: Lowe's is donating $2 million to support relief efforts. More than 350 Lowe’s stores in six states have been impacted.
- The New York Yankees Foundation: The New York Yankees Foundation has made a $1 million donation to support American Red Cross relief efforts related to Hurricane Helene. Additionally, the New York Yankees Tampa Foundation has made a $250,000 donation to the American Red Cross targeting relief efforts in Florida.
- PNC Foundation: The PNC Foundation will donate $500,000 to the American Red Cross to help meet immediate needs for food, shelter and other relief services in communities affected by the storm, including Florida’s Gulf Coast region and Western North Carolina. An additional $400,000 will be allocated to local nonprofit organizations as long-term recovery needs in these communities are identified. The PNC Foundation will also match employee gifts made to the American Red Cross through Nov. 30, up to a total of $100,000.
- Spectrum: Spectrum has committed $1 million, including $250,000 in cash contributions and $750,000 in in-kind public service announcement (PSA) airtime to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts. Spectrum will donate $50,000 each to the OneSC Fund, to the Volunteer Florida Foundation and to the NC Disaster Relief Fund. An additional $100,000 will be donated to local organizations in the hardest hit areas of Georgia; along the Western Florida coastline; and impacted communities in and around Asheville, North Carolina and Spartanburg, South Carolina.
- Walmart: Walmart, Sam’s Club and the Walmart Foundation have committed an initial $6 million in support of hurricane relief efforts, including donations of food, water, essential supplies and grants to organizations providing relief. As part of this commitment, Walmart launched a nationwide customer campaign to magnify their impact by matching their donations to the American Red Cross 1:1, up to $2.5 million, when they donate to support hurricane relief at the registers in stores and clubs and on Walmart.com from Sept. 30 – Oct. 13. The $2.5 million match was met as of Oct. 3. (This is not an all-inclusive list and the Business Observer will continue to update this list.)
