Jeff Bezos Vowed $100 Million to Aid Maui Wildfire Victims. They're Still Waiting.

The folks in Maui are scratching their heads, wondering if Jeff Bezos is really going to back up his words with action. Last year, the Amazon bigwig pledged a hefty $100 million to assist Hawaii in the aftermath of the wildfires that wreaked havoc during the summer. However, according to a recent report by Bloomberg, only a fraction of that colossal sum has been handed out, and the recipients remain a mystery.

Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, confirmed through a spokesperson that they've contributed $15.5 million over the past five months via the Bezos Maui Fund. However, the details on who exactly received these funds are hazy. Hawaii State Senator Angus McKelvey voiced his frustration, saying, "Nobody’s heard anything at all." He suggested that had they consulted with the community and local representatives, they could have directed the funds more effectively.

Nonprofits working in Hawaii post-wildfires told Bloomberg that they haven't seen any money from Bezos and Sanchez. Some speculated that it might have gone to the Hawaii Community Foundation, but the foundation stated they had no information on these funds. They did, however, confirm receiving $2 million in September from a foundation established by Bezos's parents. Bezos's spokesperson assured Bloomberg via email that the remaining $84.5 million would be distributed in the coming years based on emerging needs.

This isn't the first instance of Bezos making grand promises with little follow-through. From a $10 billion climate pledge to $100 million grants for celebrities like Dolly Parton and José Andrés, details on the status of these donations have been scarce. Benjamin Soskis from the Urban Institute's Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy remarked that Bezos enjoys maximum publicity with minimum accountability, emphasizing the need for more information.

Comparatively, Bezos's ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott, seems to have a different approach. Since their divorce, she's given away over $16.5 billion and transparently lists all recipients on her website. This level of openness has been well-received by the public, setting an example from which Bezos could draw a lesson or two.

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