Trump’s Presidential Inaugural Committee to Donate $3 Million for Hurricane Relief

Trump’s Presidential Inaugural Committee to Donate $3 Million for Hurricane Relief
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, along with their son Barron, walk in their inaugural parade in Washington on Jan. 20, 2017. (Kevin Dietsch - Pool/Getty Images)
Jasper Fakkert
9/29/2017
Updated:
9/30/2017

President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee is donating $3 million of its remaining funds to aid organizations working on hurricane relief efforts.

The money will be donated to the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and Samaritan’s Purse.

The announcement comes after Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and the Caribbean suffered severe damage as a result of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

Federal authorities announced on Thursday that 10,000 personnel have been deployed to Puerto Rico to help with relief efforts following category 4 Hurricane Maria.

Homeland Security adviser Tom Bossert said large amounts of supplies have been sent to the island and are now being distributed.

Bossert said 4 ports and 8 airports are now open again, as well as 67 hospitals operating, and 200 gas stations. Puerto Rico’s outdated electrical power grid suffered severe damage and most of the island remains without power.

“The surplus of these privately donated funds will be put to great substantive use for relief victims throughout the heartbreaking regions of America impacted by the recent catastrophic disasters,” Thomas J. Barrack Jr., chairman of the private Presidential Inaugural Committee, told The New York Times.
The presidential inaugural committee raised $106.7 million, an unprecedented amount. President Barack Obama raised $53 million for his inauguration in 2009.

Barrack Jr. said earlier this year that the funds left over from Trump’s inauguration would be donated to charity.

“The committee will continue to curate worthwhile causes and make further contributions that serve America’s agenda and will conclude in accordance with its charter in the next few months,” Barrack Jr. said.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump donated $1 million in personal funds earlier this month in response to Hurricane Harvey, which for Texas has become the most costly natural disaster in history. They donated to 12 organizations, with over half of the funds going to Reach Out America, Red Cross, and the Salvation Army.
Local residents react while they look at the water flowing over the road at the dam of the Guajataca lake.<br/>(Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins)
Local residents react while they look at the water flowing over the road at the dam of the Guajataca lake.
(Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins)
An aerial view shows the damage to the Guajataca dam in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico on Sept. 23, 2017. (Reuters/Alvin Baez)
An aerial view shows the damage to the Guajataca dam in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico on Sept. 23, 2017. (Reuters/Alvin Baez)
Damaged boats are seen after the area was hit by Hurricane Maria in Salinas, Puerto Rico on Sept. 21, 2017. (REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins)
Damaged boats are seen after the area was hit by Hurricane Maria in Salinas, Puerto Rico on Sept. 21, 2017. (REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins)
A severely damaged school is seen from a Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey surveying the aftermath from Hurricane Maria in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands on Sept. 21, 2017. (REUTERS/Jonathan Drake)
A severely damaged school is seen from a Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey surveying the aftermath from Hurricane Maria in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands on Sept. 21, 2017. (REUTERS/Jonathan Drake)
Jasper Fakkert is the Editor-in-chief of the U.S. editions of The Epoch Times. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication Science and a Master's degree in Journalism. Twitter: @JasperFakkert
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