President Trump’s inaugural committee announced it intends to donate $3 million to several organizations assisting with hurricane relief, following criticism for not donating the outstanding funds sooner.
The money will be divided equally between the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and Samaritan’s Purse, Thomas Barrack Jr., chairman of the private Presidential Inaugural Committee said. The three organizations have been involved with hurricane relief efforts in the Gulf Coast, Florida, and the Caribbean.
“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,” Mr. Barrack said, the New York Times reported.
“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,” he added.
In total, the committee raised a record amount of $107 million for the inauguration and accepted corporate individual donations up to $1 million.
Officials did not disclose how much money the committee still has and said there will likely be more costs prior to the committee disassembling, but some money reportedly has gone towards renovations at the White House and the Naval Observatory.
A number of hurricanes have ravaged parts of the U.S. in recent weeks. Hurricane Harvey slammed into Texas and Louisiana last month, followed by Hurricane Irma, which hit the Caribbean and Florida. Hurricane Maria also swept through the Caribbean and made landfall over Puerto Rico, causing power and communications outages over the entire island. The U.S. territory is still struggling with picking up the pieces, and Trump is expected to visit the island on Tuesday.
