Defy:Disaster

Building on the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s historic commitment to furthering the philanthropic efforts of the entertainment community, the program aims to support immediate and long-term relief with a primary goal of making a powerful and sustainable impact in highly affected areas.

Defy:Disaster has been activated to provide immediate and long-term support to those who are suffering extreme loss from the Los Angeles wildfires. Your donation benefits brave firefighters and first responders who are serving these communities as they recover and rebuild. GIVE NOW.

Defy:Disaster activates in response to natural disasters by providing critical guidance and infrastructure to the entertainment community, mobilizing efforts to best serve those affected by a disaster. The program is dedicated to providing aid to survivors and communities affected by natural disasters to help them recover and rebuild. Supported by the entertainment community and the public, EIF’s disaster relief program has responded to more than 50 natural disasters, including wildfires, the COVID-19 pandemic and hurricane relief for the Southeast.

In 2023-2024, EIF administered Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson’s People’s Fund of Maui, delivering $60 million of direct financial assistance to residents of Lahaina and Kula who lost their homes in the deadly wildfires. In 2020, EIF’s disaster relief program and its fund partners supporting disaster response granted over $14 million to more than 100 beneficiaries.  Since its inception, the program, with the help of its unity partners throughout the entertainment industry, has donated funding for vital equipment, including hydration packs central to firefighters’ safety, to first responders across California and administered grants to local partner organizations supporting individuals and families impacted by the wildfires.

EIF’s disaster relief efforts originated with the nonprofit’s formation more than 80 years ago, when the organization provided grants to wartime agencies such as the United States Organizations and American Red Cross. Later efforts included Hope for Haiti Now and Somos Una Voz, during which national, multi-network telecasts raised millions of dollars for those impacted by the disasters.

Who We Are

• • Advisory Council

What We Do

• Continuing Responses
• Partner Responses
• Telecasts
• Disaster Preparedness

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