Silicon Valley Companies Raise US$300,000 For Hurricane Matthew Relief Efforts

Hurricane Matthew is another clear sign of how Mother Nature is not one to mess around with. After the devastation caused in Haiti, it became clear relief efforts will be needed quickly. Several Silicon Valley companies have come together to raise US$300,000 for building new homes.

Silicon Valley Wants To Support Hurricane Matthew Victims

Donating to a charitable organization is a great way to help with relief efforts in Haiti, however, some aren’t as trusting of these organizations and prefer to take matters into their own hands. Silicon Valley companies have come together and raised US$300,00 through nonprofit startup New Story for the victims of Hurricane Matthew. Top executives from Salesforce, Google, Docusign, and Amazon came together to raise funds.

All of the funds raised will go directly to rebuilding homes in Haiti. With 3,200 homes destroyed, there is no end to the amount of work that needs to be done. Keep in mind that the country was hit by a significant earthquake only a few years ago, it is likely many are still recovering from it and were also affected by the hurricane.

The choice to not go with a standard charitable organization is not entirely surprising either. During the Haiti earthquake relief efforts, the Red Cross collected millions in donations. However, only six homes were rebuilt when all was said and done. Relying on too many middlemen allowed malicious individuals to pocket money that wasn’t theirs to begin with.

New Story, the nonprofit startup leading this new fundraising effort, managed to rebuild 211 homes in Haiti since launched in December of 2014. This goes to show a difference in approach can go a long way, as the money needs to end up in the hands of those who need it. Moreover, all of those 211 homes built survived Hurricane Matthew with relative ease.

The US$300,000 raised is only a drop in a burning bucket. Rebuilding thousands of homes will require a ton of money and effort, as well as a lot of time to complete. It is good to see Silicon Valley companies dedicate some effort to help out those in need. Tech companies have a responsibility to give back to the people who may rely on their services and products in a time of need.

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