Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson.Photo:Oprah/Instagram
Oprah/Instagram
On Thursday, the duo announced the launch of thePeople’s Fund of Maui— with an initial $10 million donation from Winfrey, 69, and Johnson, 51.
“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,” she added.
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TheBlack Adamactor explained that he and Winfrey are “beyond grateful to be working alongside esteemed community leaders of Maui to launch the People’s Fund of Maui, adding, “These leaders are offering their guidance to ensure our fund can put money directly in the hands of those individuals most affected.”
“To all who have already offered your help, thank you for your support and for those wanting to help now, your prayers and resources are a welcome assistance for those displaced within the Maui community,” he said. “I also want to offer my profound gratitude to all the first responders, local organizations and every individual who has worked tirelessly on the ground responding to this crisis.”
In ajoint video poston Johnson and Winfrey’s Instagram accounts, they also spoke out about why they started the fund, and how to help.
The pair also shouted outDolly Parton’s philanthropic history as an inspiration for the initiative, with Winfrey saying, “I read this article that Dolly Parton had given money in her community and I said, ‘I think this is the answer.’ "
People’s Fund of Maui logo.People’s Fund of Maui
People’s Fund of Maui
The death toll for the Maui fire currently stands at 115, though up to 1,100 people are still unaccounted for, according to theAssociated Press. On Aug. 24, officials releaseda list of namesof 388 people who are still unaccounted for.
Maui County recently announced that it had filed a lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc, who,according to its website, “serves 95 percent of Hawaii’s 1.4 million residents on the islands of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, Lanai and Molokai.” Included in the lawsuit are also Maui Electric Company, Limited, Hawaiʻi Electric Light Company, Inc., and Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.
“They own, design, construct, operate, maintain, and repair powerlines and other equipment to transmit electricity to residents, businesses, schools, and industries in the State of Hawai‘i, including in and around the ignition points for the Maui Fires,” the lawsuit states.
Devastation of Maui wildfires.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
In the lawsuit, the county of Maui alleges that the “defendants’ inactions caused loss of life, severe injuries, complete destruction of homes and businesses, displacement of thousands of people, and damage to many of Hawai‘i’s historic and cultural sites.”
“Maui County stands alongside the people and communities of Lāhainā and Kula to recover public resource damages and rebuild after these devastating utility-caused fires,” the county addedin its announcementof the lawsuit on Aug. 24.
In an update shared across the company’ssocial-media platformsandwebsite, Hawaiian Electric Company shared that they would be conducting aerial line inspections of transmission lines in West Maui, South Maui and the Upcountry area, weather permitting.
“These inspections, conducted via helicopter, will help provide updated views of the island’s transmission lines and other electrical infrastructure in the above-named areas. In some areas, the aircraft may be required to fly low and slow, which may cause temporary noise disturbances,” the update read.
Hawaiian Electric Company has not responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
source: people.com
