Oprah and Dwayne Johnson’s Maui fund distributed about $60m to 8,100 residents
Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson's People's Fund of Maui distributed nearly $60 million to over 8,100 residents affected by the August 2023 wildfires. The fund provided monthly direct payments of $1,200 to adults whose primary homes were destroyed or uninhabitable, aiming to offer flexible and immediate aid. This direct-payment model was designed to bypass delays often associated with more restricted aid programs.
Why it matters
This initiative highlights a direct-payment model for disaster relief, offering a quicker and more flexible alternative to traditional aid programs, and demonstrates the significant impact of celebrity-led philanthropy in crisis situations.
When deadly wildfires devastated Lahaina and Kula in August 2023, Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson launched the People’s Fund of Maui with an initial $10 million commitment. The idea was simple and urgent: put cash directly into the hands of adults who could no longer live in their primary homes. The Associated Press reported that the fund ultimately distributed almost $60 million over six months, providing monthly payments of $1,200 to more than 8,100 residents.The fund became one of the most visible private relief efforts after the Maui fires.
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