Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief

In 2017, Hurricane Maria devastated the island of Puerto Rico, in what is now recognized as one of the most destructive natural disasters in U.S. history. The official death toll was just under 3,000, with damages estimated at up to $95 billion.

The storms obliterated the island’s power grid, leaving millions of residents without power for nearly a year. Hospitals and patients went without vital equipment and medicine for months on end. Nearly 20% of the island’s small employers closed for good in the wake of the storm, while 40% of the population reported losing their jobs in the aftermath of the storm. Even the most optimistic estimates suggest the Puerto Rico’s economy will take years to stabilize.

The recovery process will be long and difficult in communities throughout the region. The organizations below provide immediate and long-term relief to affected residents. This list will be updated as more information and resources are available.

• The UNIDOS Disaster Relief and Recovery Program serves the immediate and long-term needs of Puerto Rican families and communities affected by Hurricane Maria.
• Fundación Comunitaria de Puerto Rico and Hispanics and Philanthropy have partnered to provide direct funding to local organizations working on the ground in affected areas.
• ConPRmetidos supports immediate- and long-term structural repairs in disadvantaged communities.
• United for Puerto Rico brings together public and private sector partners to provide aid and support to those affected by the hurricanes in Puerto Rico.

When supporting relief organizations, consider marking your gift as general operating support. By doing so, you enable the organization to both respond to current disasters and be prepared for those that may arise in the future. Visit CCF’s disaster giving page for more tips on how to maximize your impact when giving to disaster relief.

Contributions to the California Community Foundation represent irrevocable gifts subject to the legal and fiduciary control of the foundation’s board of directors. This charge will appear on your credit card statement as a payment to “Calif Comm Fdn – CCF”. In addition, California Community Foundation incurs a third-party administrative fee of 2.7 percent for credit card contributions. The foundation will charge the fee directly to the individual fund.