Wells Fargo Donates $1 Million for California Wildfire Relief and Recovery Efforts
Support benefits first responders, evacuees, critical services, and longer-term community needs
CALIFORNIA – October 21, 2021 – Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced it is donating a combined $1 million to five nonprofit organizations in California to address immediate and long-term disaster relief, response, and recovery efforts in communities impacted by this wildfire season.
Grants to American Red Cross, California Fire Foundation, Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society, United Way Northern California, and North Valley Community Foundation (NVCF) will help provide food, clothing, shelter, small business needs, and supplies, as well as support for injured firefighters.
“Wells Fargo is committed to help our neighbors impacted by wildfires rebuild their lives, businesses, livelihoods, and communities,” said Jim Foley, executive vice president of the Pacific region, Wells Fargo. “We are grateful to the organizations working tirelessly to help our communities recover, and we hope this $1 million donation will bolster their efforts.”
This year’s wildfires have burned nearly two and a half million acres of California’s landscape, damaged or destroyed more than 3,600 structures, and has claimed lives.
“We are extremely thankful for Wells Fargo’s generous donation to our Foundation," said Rick Martinez, executive director of the California Fire Foundation. "As the need for the California Fire Foundation’s programs continues to grow, especially given the recent unprecedented wildfires, its support and generosity make a tremendous difference to California firefighters, their families, and the communities they protect."
United Way of Northern California President & CEO Larry Olmstead added, “Wildfires in the North State are increasingly affecting populated sectors in our rural areas, creating a need for increased support to communities that are already lacking in infrastructure and services. Particularly impacted are our indigenous tribal, Hmong and Latino populations and the rural poor. As United Way works on the ground to support individuals and grassroots agencies involved in wildfire recovery, we salute Wells Fargo for its commitment to help ensure resources are made available to promote equity in the delivery of disaster services.”
Additionally, the grant will support the business resilience efforts of entrepreneurs whose small businesses were destroyed or affected by the wildfires. “Wells Fargo’s support will enable us to connect and support a network of small businesses and community stakeholders to support each other during recovery and to build resilience to future disasters, while accessing the myriad resources made available post-disaster,” said Dr. Lucy Jones, founder and chief scientist of the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society.
NVCF president and CEO Alexa Benson-Valavanis expressed the importance of collaboration: "Wells Fargo showed up in such a significant way after the Camp Fire with a multimillion-dollar commitment that helped to jump-start our regional recovery. They have walked beside our region every day since then. This new charitable investment will help immensely to quickly and meaningfully address the hardships we face when disasters hit. We are so fortunate to have Wells Fargo as a partner in recovery. They are a company we trust and depend on.”
Wells Fargo is also committed to providing support to customers, clients and employees affected by California wildfires, including suppressing, waiving, or reversing certain fees, such as late fees. Payment assistance and disaster relief options require that customers contact us. Customers who want to discuss their financial needs should call 800-219-9739. For up-to-date information on branch status, customers can visit our branch locator website.
Customers may make donations to the American Red Cross via Wells Fargo Online® and in the Wells Fargo Mobile® app with Zelle®**, 1 . Donations will go toward Red Cross Disaster Relief to prepare for, respond to, and help people recover from disasters big and small.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets, proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of small businesses in the U.S., and is the leading middle market banking provider in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 37 on Fortune’s 2021 rankings of America’s largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy. News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.
Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter: @WellsFargo.
*The American Red Cross name, emblem, and copyrighted materials are being used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, of any product, service, company, opinion, or political position. The American Red Cross logo is a registered trademark owned by The American National Red Cross. For more information about the American Red Cross, please visit redcross.org.
**Zelle® may be used to send direct donations only to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Donations to other charitable organizations are not available at this time. Zelle®, Wells Fargo, and the American Red Cross are not liable for any failure, through no fault of theirs, to complete your transaction in the correct amount, or for any related losses.
Terms and conditions apply. U.S. checking or savings account required to use Zelle® . Your mobile carrier’s message and data rates may apply.
Zelle and the Zelle related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.
Download Press ReleaseYahaira Garcia-Perea, 559-314-4270
Yahaira.Garcia-Perea@wellsfargo.com