Several tech companies have pledged millions in donations to help Los Angeles recover from the wildfires that caused widespread destruction and forced thousands of people to evacuate the area. Those offering help include YouTube/Google, Meta, Snap, Amazon, Netflix and Sony.
Here’s an overview of what each company is doing to help relief efforts in the region:
YouTube and Google: 15 million dollars
YouTube and Google allocated $15 million to organizations providing immediate relief in Los Angeles, including the Los Angeles Emergency Network, the American Red Cross, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, and the Nonprofit News Institute.
The companies also said that once it’s safe to reopen their offices in Los Angeles, they plan to offer YouTube production facilities to affected creators and artists to help them rebuild their businesses.
“Los Angeles is the heart of entertainment and storytelling and has an impact on culture around the world,” YouTube CEO Neal Mohan wrote. blog post. “Also, many of our YouTube creators, artists, partners and employees call home. Like many, we are heartbroken by the devastation of the fires and want to do our part to support the community as it rebuilds.”
Meta has committed $2 million in cash and advertising credits to relief efforts, a company spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch. Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have also personally donated $2 million.
Donations will support immediate housing, medical humanitarian assistance and long-term recovery efforts. Ad credits will support PSA messaging to affected communities and support fundraising appeals on Meta’s platforms.
While Meta’s donation is smaller than its other tech counterparts, the company notes that emergency response organizations are leveraging Data for Good tools to aid their efforts, including mobility data, which helps track movements and evacuation patterns resulting from fires. In addition, Meta has enabled Facebook’s Safety Check feature to help users notify their friends and family that they are safe.
“Metta is giving to relief efforts and Priscilla and I are personally giving as well,” Zuckerberg wrote in a post. in the threads. “Meta also enabled Safety Check, and so far more than 400,000 people have used it to let their friends and family know they’re safe.”
Break: 5 million dollars
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel announced that the company has donated $5 million in immediate relief and that the social network plans to do more. Snap also provides meals to evacuees and first responders and offers free space.
In one blog post Entitled “Dear Los Angeles, I Love You,” Spiegel wrote about growing up in the Palisades and how his father’s house had been lost in the fires.
“We are not the first community to deal with megfire,” said Spiegel. “We won’t be the last. But we will use our strength, our ingenuity and our love to create again and again. Our city of great artists will add a new layer of color to this beautiful canvas we call home. Los Angeles, I love you. And as I watch first responders from across the country attend our office parking lot, I see their tireless support and know that millions of others love you too.”
Amazon: 10 million dollars
Amazon has $10 million was pledged to relief organizations in Los Angeles, including the American Red Cross of Southern California, FireAid, MusiCares Fire Relief Effort, World Central Kitchen, Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, Habitat for Los Angeles Wildfire Fund, and Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Small Business Relief/ Recovery Fund.
The company says it has also donated more than 145,000 essential items to 17 local organizations working to combat the wildfires and has deployed cloud technology to help emergency responders.
“Amazon is working with first responders, nonprofit partners and humanitarian aid agencies in Los Angeles to get them thousands of vital supplies,” Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in a post. in X. “The team will continue to support relief efforts in coordination with community partners and humanitarian organizations in the coming weeks.”
Netflix: 10 million dollars
Netflix is donating $10 million to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the California Community Fund Fire Recovery Fund, World Central Kitchen, the Film and Television Fund and the Community Entertainment Fund.
The streaming giant is also helping its affected employees, including helping with temporary housing needs for those who lost their homes. In addition, Netflix double-matches all employee charitable contributions through its employee giving program.
“The coming years will be a time of rebuilding for many of us and will require creativity, vision, courage and persistence,” Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos wrote. blog post. “Looking around at some of the worst-hit neighborhoods, it’s hard to imagine rebuilding — but we will, and we’ll come back stronger than before.”
Apple: Yes, but the amount is not shared
Apple CEO Tim Cook was announced that the tech giant is donating to support victims and recovery efforts on the ground. TechCrunch reached out to the company to learn more about its efforts.
In addition to donating, Apple has added a way for users to easily donate to the American Red Cross through the App Store and Apple Music apps.
“Our hearts go out to all those affected by the ongoing devastation in Los Angeles. In addition to Apple’s donation, we are making it easy to support recovery efforts,” Cook said in a post. in X. “If you’re in the US, just open the App Store or Apple Music and click donate to make a difference.”
Sony: 5 million dollars
Sony is donating $5 million to support emergency relief in Los Angeles. The donation will go to relief organizations that support first responders, community assistance, rebuilding efforts and worker assistance programs.
“Los Angeles has been the home of our entertainment business for more than 35 years,” Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida and Sony president, COO and CFO Hiroki Totoki said in a joint statement. “Through our many thousands of employees, partners and friends based there, our roots run deep in this community. We will continue to work with our local business leadership to determine how Sony Group can best support relief and recovery efforts in the coming days.”
Beyond technology
In addition to the tech giants, major entertainment companies have donated millions to aid relief efforts. Discovery by Warner Bros committed $15 million, Comcast NBCUniversal donated $10 million, The Walt Disney Company has committed $15 million and Sovereign donates $1 million.
