Humana Employees Rally for Maui

At a time when disasters happen all too often and in the wake of unparalleled devastation on the island of Maui, the Humana family rallied together to offer support. Humana employees, with the Humana Foundation’s disaster response operations, answered the call with donations from an astounding 986 different employees across the enterprise.

It’s just a start in Maui’s road to recovery, but it sends the message clearly – Maui, you are not alone.

Unyielding Crisis in Maui

Since Aug. 8 the island has been hit by wildfires that have claimed 115 lives and the worst such disaster in the U.S. in the last century. The once-vibrant tourist town of Lahaina has been laid to waste, and more than 2,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that housing was already limited and expensive on the island. With tourism as the major industry, the long-term economic impact will be severe. Navigating the challenges of recovery on an island—like debris removal and the costly shipping of rebuilding supplies—only adds to the complexity.

Unprecedented Employee Response

Yet, on the heels of this catastrophic event, Humana employees have shown extraordinary solidarity. In just a little over three weeks, 986 employees rallied to donate to Maui’s recovery through the Humana Together online platform. The staggering response is the highest number of individual donors for a cause on the Humana Foundation’s platform.

Beat the Target, Raise the Bar

Support poured in from across Humana’s geographic footprint. Employees banded together on Buzz to share encouragement and advance support, with posts like:

"Thank you to Humana for matching donations to support those in need. During times of need like this, I'm grateful that our organization has a benefit that supports this financial giving."

-- Christina S

"I'm so happy to see this! My daughter, son-in-law, grandkids and son-in-law's family live on Maui. The fires have caused much devastation to the small island. Thank you to everyone who has given and to Humana for caring!"

-- Melissa J

"This was a good use for the My Rewards dollars from the Dash! Probably give more later, but I wanted to make sure these dollars went to good use!"

-- David C

"I just donated and it worked for me. I am so happy to see Humana employees helping ($11,820 so far) and how Humana matches 100% is amazing! I was born in Hawaii, it is my heart and my heart is breaking for these beautiful islands and the people. Supported by 20+ Humana Employee Associates."

-- Malia G

The Humana Foundation’s initial goal was to raise $40,000 for the cause through the online platform. Employees’ overwhelming response surpassed that figure, eventually topping out at a final donation of $64,461— 61% beyond the original goal. These funds will be instrumental in helping affected individuals and families rebuild their lives and communities.

The Humana Foundation's Role

The Humana Foundation’s focus on disaster response as an operational core commitment helped ensure there was an available response in place when recovery was needed. By providing employees the opportunity to make an impact through their donations, we ensure aid reaches those who need it most.

The Humana Foundation also utilized its Matching Gifts program to match employee donations dollar-for-dollar (up to a $500 annual limit) throughout the giving opportunity. Maximizing the impact of each employee donation helped transform individual acts of generosity into a collective wave of support.

The Road to Recovery

As we reflect on this collective effort, it is important to reiterate that every dollar truly counts. The support of Humana's employees not only provided immediate relief but has also set a positive example for what is possible when a community comes together. These donations will have a significant impact on the ground, enabling essential services and accelerating the road to recovery.

Thank you to everyone who donated, shared or offered support to show what it means to be part of a collective, compassionate community.

For more information, contact the Humana Foundation on LinkedIn or via email at humanafoundation@humana.com.