Hurricane Irma Relief Fund

This week marks one year since Hurricane Irma unleashed 160 mph winds and torrential rains across the Caribbean, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The storm claimed more than 100 lives and its catastrophic damage made it the fifth-costliest tropical cyclone in history.

Our community-led nonprofit partners quickly responded, and they've remained hard at work over the past year, striving toward a complete recovery with generous support from GlobalGivers like you. To date, 14,404 of you have raised an incredible $2.9 million to support 12 vetted nonprofits that provided emergency relief in the days and weeks following Hurricane Irma and have now transitioned into long-term recovery work.

To mark the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Irma and support crucial ongoing recovery efforts, we're launching a matching campaign that will provide a 100% match to donations to our vetted nonprofit partners continuing to help the people of the Caribbean recover and rebuild.

Since our last report, your donation has provided vital support to a wide range of long-term recovery work, with a focus on repairing and replacing damaged homes, reopening schools, and improving the ability of communities to withstand future storms:

• Project Promise is repairing and renovating their 1,110 square-foot working classroom and community space that hosts a range of programs serving at-risk youth and their families in St. Croix.
• St. Croix Foundation for Community Development is organizing a consortium for nonprofits across the Virgin Islands focused on strengthening the sector and expanding its capacity to effectively respond to future natural disasters.
• In the British Virgin Islands, Team Rubicon Global is rebuilding and outfitting community centers which double as emergency shelters during storms and working to improve coordination between nonprofits and government agencies.
• Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI)’s Jr. Angels Program is involving youth in local philanthropy, working with them to identify community needs, propose solutions, and explore funding options. CFVI is also coordinating volunteer opportunities for local high school students to provide community service at local nonprofits involved with recovery efforts.
• On the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, the Barbuda Recovery & Conservation Trust, with the Waitt Institute and International Community Foundation, is building and installing storm shutters for more than 100 homes, and the Antigua and Barbuda Students Association is rebuilding and repairing damaged schools and stocking their classrooms with new supplies.

Thank you again for your generous support of our Hurricane Irma Relief Fund, and for making the smart decision to donate cash to fund an effective, community-led approach to disaster recovery. We'll be back in your inbox in the coming months with more stories of progress toward a full recovery for people throughout the Caribbean.

Warmly,
Will Frechette + the GlobalGiving Team