The People’s Fund for Maui is a nonprofit organization that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Oprah Winfrey co-founded to provide help to those affected by the horrific wildfires that devastated the island in August 2023. Johnson has spoken on the controversies surrounding the organization.
Together with Oprah, the 51-year-old actor first contributed $10 million to establish the foundation. Some of their supporters, however, criticized the move, claiming that the wealthy celebrities had not given enough of themselves. There were also allegations of assumption, implying that those who were having difficulty keeping up with inflation might not be able to make contributions to the fund.
Johnson posted a video message on Instagram in response to the criticism. He conveyed his comprehension of the issues raised and recognized the response. He acknowledged that he could have handled the campaign launch in a different way and promised to do better going forward.
Johnson showed empathy in the video for the financial struggles that many Americans endure, highlighting the fact that money is scarce and that many people are currently living paycheck to paycheck due to the state of the economy. He understood that it can be upsetting for someone who is already very wealthy to be approached for money while they are trying to make ends meet.
The actor talked about his personal financial struggles and how he had previously lived paycheck to paycheck. He committed to making this experience his lesson and working toward future humanitarian activities with greater consideration.
Johnson stressed the value of being honest with his followers in the Instagram caption, and he promised to keep improving, learning, and listening. Although he acknowledged that starting a fund was unfamiliar to him, he pledged to comprehend and value the viewpoints of individuals who had opposed the project.
In closing, Johnson shared the fund’s success story, pointing out that during the previous few weeks, thousands of survivors and their families had started to receive financial support. He highlighted the significance of their efforts in aiding those impacted by the flames and called the process satisfying and poignant.