Airbnb has committed nearly $30 million to Eaton and Palisades wildfire relief and recovery efforts in Los Angeles, the company announced Friday.
The donation includes nearly $28 million from the nonprofit Airbnb.org to provide housing support for those impacted by the wildfires, including the organization's donation to Habitat for Humanity LA. The commitment includes a $10 million contribution from Airbnb and a $6 million donation from company co-founder and chief executive Brian Chesky, Airbnb said.
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In addition to $1 million to local organizations supporting ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts, Airbnb previously contributed $1 million in Airbnb credits to the LA County Federation of Labor to provide free stays to union members who have been displaced by the fires, the company stated.
"We're deeply committed to helping the Los Angeles community as it continues to recover from the wildfires," Chesky said in a statement. "The journey to rebuild is still in its early stages, and we hope these additional commitments make it clear that Airbnb is here for the long haul."
Since the start of the January wildfires, Airbnb.org has provided free emergency housing to more than 23,000 people impacted by the fires, and more than 600 people are still being housed currently, according to the nonprofit.
"We're committed to supporting the communities impacted by this disaster and are expanding our investment by funding Habitat LA's critical work," said Christoph Gorder, executive director of Airbnb.org.
Erin Rank, president and chief executive of Habitat for Humanity LA, said Airbnb's $16 million gift would be used in support of Habitat LA's ReBUILD LA campaign.
"This extraordinary investment will allow us to scale our efforts significantly, repairing and rebuilding homes for wildfire survivors and families in need across Los Angeles," Rank said. "With this support, we can bring renewed hope, safety and stability to communities that have faced devastating loss. Each home we build or repair represents a family's future, and thanks to this generous contribution, that future just became a lot brighter for so many."
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