These tech companies are donating to Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts

A number of tech companies have pledged millions to help LA recover from the wildfires that have caused widespread destruction and forced thousands to evacuate the region. Those offering help include YouTube/Google, Meta, Snap, Amazon, Netflix and Sony.

Here’s an overview of what each company is doing to help with relief efforts in the region:

YouTube and Google: $15M

YouTube and Google allocated 15 million dollars Los Angeles emergency response organizations, including Emergency Network Los Angeles, the American Red Cross, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, and the nonprofit News Institute.

The companies also said they plan to offer YouTube production facilities to help affected creators and artists rebuild their businesses once it’s safe to reopen their Los Angeles offices.

“Los Angeles is the heart of entertainment and storytelling and influences culture around the world,” YouTube CEO Neal Mohan wrote on his page. blog post. “It’s also where many of our YouTube creators, artists, partners and collaborators call home. “Like many, we are heartbroken by the devastation of the bushfires and want to do everything we can to support the community as it rebuilds.”

Meta has committed $2 million in cash and advertising credits to the relief efforts, a company spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch. Mark and Priscilla Zuckerberg also personally donated $2 million.

Donations will support immediate shelter, medical humanitarian aid and long-term recovery efforts. Advertising credits will support PSA messaging to affected communities and fundraising appeals on Meta platforms.

While Meta’s donation is smaller than its other tech peers, the company notes that emergency response organizations use Data for Good tools to aid their efforts, including mobility data that helps track movement and evacuation patterns caused by fires. Plus, Meta has enabled Facebook’s Safety Check feature to help users let friends and family know they’re safe.

Zuckerberg wrote in the post: “Meta is doing his best to help, and so are Priscilla and I personally. About Threads. “Meta also enabled Safety Check, and so far over 400,000 people have used it to let friends and family know they’re safe.”

Snap: $5 million

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel announced that the company has He donated 5 million dollars immediately relieved and the social network plans to do more. Snap is also serving food and offering free space to evacuees and first responders.

a blog post Entitled “Dear Los Angeles, I Love You,” Spiegel wrote about how he grew up in the Palisades and lost his father’s house in the wildfires.

“We are not the first community to experience a major fire,” Spiegel said. “We will not be the last. But we will use our strength, ingenuity and love to create again and again. Our city of great artists will add a new layer of paint to this beautiful canvas that we call our homeland. Los Angeles, I love you. When I see first responders from all over the country take the stage in our office parking lot, I see their tireless support and know that millions of people love you too.”

Amazon: $10M

Amazon has it allocated 10 million dollars Fund to LA relief organizations including American Red Cross of Southern California, FireAid, MusiCares Fire Protection Effort, World Central Kitchen, Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, Habitat for Los Angeles Fire Foundation and Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Small Business Relief/Recovery .

The company also said it has donated more than 145,000 essential items to 17 local organizations responding to the wildfires and is deploying cloud technology to help emergency responders.

“Amazon is working with first responders, nonprofit partners and humanitarian aid agencies in Los Angeles to get thousands of life-saving supplies to them,” Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in a statement. On X. “The team will continue to support relief efforts in the coming weeks in coordination with community partners and humanitarian organizations.”

Netflix: $10M

Netflix does donated 10 million dollars to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund, the World Center Kitchen, the Motion Picture and Television Foundation, and the Entertainment Community Foundation.

The streaming giant is helping its affected employees, including temporary housing needs for those who lost their homes. In addition, Netflix doubles the charitable contributions of all employees through its employee benefit program.

“The next few years will be a period of rebuilding for many of us, and it will require creativity, vision, courage and perseverance,” said Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos. blog post. “Looking at the neighborhoods that have been hardest hit, it’s hard to imagine rebuilding — but we will, and we’ll come back stronger than ever.”

Apple: Yes, but the amount is not shared

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that the tech giant is donating to support the 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 LA. In addition to Apple’s donation, we’re making it easy to support recovery efforts,” Cook said in a post On X. “If you’re in the US, just open the App Store or Apple Music and click to donate to make a difference.”

Sony: $5 million

Sony does donated 5 million dollars Supporting emergency care in LA. The donation will go to relief organizations that support first responders, community relief, 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. “Our roots run deep in this community through our thousands of employees, partners and friends located there. We will continue to work with our local business leadership in the coming days to determine how the Sony Group can best support relief and recovery efforts.”

Beyond technique

Outside of tech giants, major entertainment companies have donated millions to aid relief efforts. Warner Bros. Discovery paid 15 million dollars, Comcast NBCUniversal donated 10 million dollars, The Walt Disney Company He promised 15 million dollars Paramount Donates $1 million.