PORTLAND, Ore. — A fund designed to bankroll wildfire recovery efforts amidst the devastating 2020 Fire Season in Oregon has already grown to $5 million in the space of two weeks, according to a statement from the Oregon Community Foundation.
Earlier this month, Governor Kate Brown tasked three foundations with building and managing the 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund — the Ford Family Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, and the Oregon Community Foundation.
(Photo courtesy of Sean Roberts)
The three foundations pooled their resources with $3 million in seed funding. Since then, they said, multiple corporations and thousands of individual donors have helped to build the fund. Corporate supporters include the Nike Foundation, Weyerhaeuser, Apple, Wells Fargo, Facebook, and the Starbucks Foundation.
According to the Oregon Community Foundation, these funds will go towards addressing the state's mid and long-term recovery needs, including housing, health care, education, and employment.
Southern Oregon Strong: Wildfire recovery resources
Foundation leaders expect the fund to continue to grow over the coming months as businesses and individuals continue to contribute to the fund.
“In one of Oregon’s most difficult moments, Oregonians continue to step up,” said Max Williams, President and CEO of Oregon Community Foundation. “We have a long road ahead, but we are heartened by the willingness of diverse organizations and our partners, who are pulling together collaboratively to multiply our impact. Together, we’ll support each other through this time of crisis and suffering, and together will rebuild Oregon.”
Anyone can contribute to the 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund, and the website provides options for contributing to both immediate relief efforts by area, and to the longer-term recovery effort.
