By Katie Boggs, CSG Advancement Fellow
The devastating early August wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, were fueled by the arrival of Hurricane Dora, a category four storm. On Aug. 8, the fire’s blazes spread, making parts of the island nearly unrecognizable. Officials said most of the fires have been contained, however, the number of confirmed deaths continue to rise.
Many CSG Associate members took action to help those that were displaced and impacted by the natural disaster. Aid in the form of monetary donations, supplies, health care and network services have all been implemented to support Hawaii.
Amazon Partners with Disaster Relief Programs to Battle Maui Wildfires
Amazon is partnering with local Hawaiian and national disaster aid programs to provide needed supplies and support on the ground following the deadly wildfires.
Amazon launched its Disaster Response team within 72 hours of the fires. The company, through Amazon Air, flew in critical supplies like tarps, tents, coolers and totes to the American Red Cross who were already active on the ground. After short and long-term relief needs were estimated by officials, Amazon has been able to provide aid in the form of emergency assistance items and financial support on the ground.
“Everyone at Amazon is eager to help, as the situation is truly heartbreaking,” said Abe Diaz, principal technical product manager for Disaster Relief by Amazon. “We’re in contact with organizations on the ground to assess additional needs and determine how we can use our inventory, infrastructure and connectivity technology to help communities as soon as possible — from item donation to helping reestablish internet.”
On the ground, Amazon partnered with organizations such as the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Hawaii Chamber Foundation Business Relief Fund, Information Technology Disaster Resource Center, Feeding America and Operation BBQ Relief.
For more information, please visit: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/maui-fires-amazon-disaster-relief.
Teladoc Health Offers 24/7 Telehealth Services to Those Impacted by Hawaii Wildfires
Teladoc Health, the largest global virtual health care provider, is focused on making general medical care needs accessible to Hawaiian residents and first responders displaced due to the fires.
Through the use of their natural disaster hotline, the organization is offering free, 24/7, easy-to-access telehealth services from licensed health care professionals. Non-emergency services, including mental health treatment, are provided.
“When medical resources are already strained during natural disasters, virtual care can help patients manage wildfire-induced flare ups of chronic illnesses, such as asthma,” said Dr. Vidya Raman-Tangella, chief medical officer at Teladoc Health. “Virtual care is a proven solution that supports community health during these times, and we are grateful to provide access to care as Hawaii rebuilds and recovers from the fires.”
For more information, please visit: https://www.teladoc.com/disaster-hotline/.
The Credit Union National Association Donates $20,000 for Hawaii Wildfire Relief
Through CUNA’s CUAid: Disaster Relief program, the organization provided monetary assistance to Hawaiians. An additional $10,000 was allocated to the Maui Food Bank, the island’s safeguard for food security.
“The people of Maui are in need of immediate help to recover from these devastating wildfires, and this contribution was recommended by our friends at the Hawaii Credit Union League as a way to help with efforts to take action,” said CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle.
For more information, please visit: https://www.ncuf.coop/disaster-relief/.
AT&T Works to Recover Communications in Hawaii and Raises $100,000 for Relief
AT&T raises funds for Hawaii wildfire relief, while its ground efforts focus on restoring network and mobile connectivity across Hawaii, ensuring public safety.
AT&T’s Network Disaster Recovery front, alongside with the FirstNet Response Operations Group worked with local officials to provide five portable cell sites and wireless networks for Hawaiian residents and first responders. As of Aug. 19, coverage in all impacted areas of Maui County has been restored, however the team is still working on ensuring permanent connectivity among the islands.
Partnering with other organizations, AT&T has also been providing devices to Hawaiians that have lost their phones in the fires. Motorola, Samsung and Google donated devices to help connect locals with their loved ones and access relief resources.
Additional efforts have been geared toward working with national disaster relief teams. Through the Mobile Giving Foundation, AT&T implemented four ongoing text-to-give campaigns providing anyone with a mobile phone the opportunity to contribute. In addition, AT&T contributed $100,000 to aid recovery efforts for Maui residents and communities. Half of the donation was allocated to the Hawaii Community Foundation, $30,000 to the Information Technology Disaster Resource Center and $20,000 to the American Red Cross.
For more information, please visit: https://about.att.com/pages/disaster-recovery/2023/maui-wildfires.
Honda Raises $500,000 and Offers to Match Associate Donations for Hawaii Relief
Honda companies in the United States donated $500,000 for humanitarian relief efforts toward those affected by the wildfire damage to Maui, Hawaii.
Alongside the original fund that was collected, Honda is also offering its associates the opportunity to be involved in helping Hawaii recover. The organization announced they will match donations up to $1,000 per associate. All money raised goes to help the American Red Cross. In addition, the organization is working with its Hawaii Honda Dealers network in support of the Hawaii Community Foundation.
For more information, please visit: https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-corporate/releases/release-e888887b6471c0aba407829ba70c3335-honda-contributes-500000-to-maui-hawaii-wildfire-relief-efforts#press-release.
About CSG Associates in Action
Associates in Action articles highlight CSG Associates’ philanthropic efforts and public-private partnerships throughout the states.
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, Earth’s best employer and Earth’s safest place to work. Customer reviews, One-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon.
About Teladoc Health
Teladoc Health empowers people everywhere to live their healthiest lives by transforming the health care experience. As the world leader in whole-person virtual care, Teladoc Health uses proprietary health signals and personalized interactions to drive better health outcomes across the full continuum of care, at every stage in a person’s health journey. Teladoc Health leverages more than two decades of expertise and data-driven insights to meet the growing virtual care needs of consumers and healthcare professionals. For more information, please visit www.teladochealth.com or follow @TeladocHealth on X, formerly known as Twitter.
About CUNA
Credit Union National Association advocates on behalf of America’s credit unions, which are owned by more than 135 million consumer members. CUNA, along with its network of affiliated state credit union leagues, delivers unwavering advocacy, continuous professional growth and operational confidence to protect the best interests of all credit unions. For more information about CUNA, visit cuna.org. To find your nearest credit union, visit YourMoneyFurther.com.
About AT&T
AT&T helps more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors, plus nearly 2.5 million businesses, connect to greater possibility. From the first phone call over 140 years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, AT&T innovates to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc., please visit us at about.att.com. Investors can learn more at investors.att.com.
About American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Established in Los Angeles in 1959, and currently headquartered in Torrance, California, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., leads the U.S. sales, marketing, service, distribution and export of Honda and Acura automobiles, Honda powersports, power equipment and marine products, along with design, planning and market research for products that are produced at Honda’s North American production facilities. Learn more through Honda’s Digital FactBook.