Duke Endowment commits $15 million to Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in Carolinas

The Duke Endowment, a private foundation named after industrialist James B. Duke, said it would commit $15 million to recovery efforts in the Carolinas following Hurricane Helene.

The foundation said Wednesday that $7.5 million of that money would be split between organizations — one in Western North Carolina and one in Upstate South Carolina.

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina’s Emergency and Disaster Response Fund will receive $5 million, the foundation said.

The Central Carolina Community Foundation’s One SC Fund, which works with nonprofits to provide food and housing in South Carolina, will receive $2.5 million.

Based in Charlotte, The Duke Endowment is not related to Duke Energy or Duke University.

”It has been overwhelming to see the devastation in Western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina,” said Charles C. Lucas III, chair of the foundation’s board of trustees, in a press release. “Our hope is that these initial dollars will go towards addressing short-term and urgent needs for those affected. As the region transitions to recovery and rebuilding, this is the right way to start.”

The other half of the $15 million commitment will be donated as staff members from the foundation vet organizations, the press release said.