Golfing great Tiger Woods and GRAMMY Award-winning singer and actor Justin Timberlake announced today they have teamed up with NEXUS Luxury Collection, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and members of the Bahamas resort community of ALBANY to establish the ONE Bahamas Fund, raising money in support of the Hurricane Dorian relief and recovery efforts.
The founding partners of the Fund have collectively pledged $6 million, and donations received by the public will be matched dollar for dollar with a goal of raising a minimum of $12 million for relief efforts. Anyone in the world can donate online at www.onebahamasfund.org.
Hurricane Dorian struck Abaco with winds exceeding 175 mph and proceeded onto Grand Bahama Island, stalling for 36 hours and inflicting horrific damage, displacing 20% of the country’s population and destroying almost all of the public community infrastructure.
ONE Bahamas Fund will direct funds toward both immediate first response efforts on the ground as well as long-term support for Bahamian residents including a focus on shelter (temporary and low-cost housing), living necessities (clothing, food and communication devices), educational support (scholarships, transportation costs and supplies), community (aiding in the design and development of infrastructure needs that are outside of traditional government purview) and seed funding for Bahamian businesses. ONE Bahamas Fund will also work with grassroots and established programs with proven success and accountability controls in place to directly assist those impacted by the storm and expedite rebuilding efforts.
“It’s horrifying to see the videos and hear the stories about the effects of Hurricane Dorian,” said Tiger Woods. “We’re matching each contribution dollar for dollar so if someone gives $100, we’ll match it and from that one pledge, we raise $200. Collectively we have pledged $6 million, and our hope is that others will join us in the effort so we can actually raise $12 million or more. The need in The Bahamas is very real.”
“The images coming out of The Bahamas are devastating,” stated Timberlake. “We know people everywhere want to help, and we hope through the ONE Bahamas Fund we’re enabling the broadest group of people to get involved and support the recovery and rebuilding efforts necessary to get nearly 70,000 people back on their feet.”
The U.S. registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization will accept financial support from around the world – leveraging not only the pledged funds of the principals but also harnessing the international reach of these partners. The Fund will support a wide range of recovery and long-term rebuilding initiatives required due to the catastrophic destruction from Hurricane Dorian.
“As part of a global community, we’re heartbroken by the tragic impact of this extremely powerful storm on our colleagues and clients and their friends and neighbours in The Bahamas,” said Jennifer Tory, Chair, RBC Foundation. “With more than 100 years of shared history in The Bahamas, this is our community. We have an opportunity to support Bahamians and help in the rebuilding of their lives and our shared future.”
“This is a tragedy that needs a coordinated and sustained response. The challenges will continue beyond the early weeks and months of aid into rebuilding homes, schools and workplaces, likely for years,” said Christopher Anand, managing partner of the international hospitality organization NEXUS Luxury Collection, which owns ALBANY located on the island of New Providence. The resort community hosts the annual TGR Foundation Hero World Challenge that will be contested in December. “ALBANY is a long-term stakeholder in The Bahamas and we share the responsibility to make a difference. It’s amazing that Tiger, Justin, RBC and our ALBANY members have acted so quickly and generously to support and help address the complex issues now facing The Bahamas.” Both Woods and Timberlake are partners in the NEXUS Luxury Collection.
“The ONE Bahamas Fund is rooted in the foundational belief that we all share this planet and the only way to face large-scale challenges is through human collaboration, cooperation and a collective response – effectively acting as one because after all, we are one people,” said Anand.