HONOLULU — Jeff Bezos donated $5 million to two nonprofits in Hawaii — Ka Mana O Na Helu and Neighborhood Place of Puna — that help houseless families, according to a news release.

What You Need To Know

  • Ka Mana O Na Helu, an Oahu-based nonprofit, received $2.5 million from Bezos Day One Families Fund

  • Neighborhood Place of Puna on Hawaii Island received $2.5 million from the Day One Families Fund

  • Jeff Bezos said in a CNN interview that he would give away most of his $124 billion fortune to charity during his lifetime

Ka Mana O Na Helu received $2.5 million from Bezos Day One Families Fund. The Oahu-based nonprofit uses information technology to drive cost-effective humane services solutions. 

“We are truly grateful for the generosity of the Day 1 Families Fund to support our efforts to end family homelessness. Our intention is to leverage these funds to enhance services to vulnerable families in our community,” said Alison Hinazumi, executive director of Ka Mana O Na Helu.

The organization said it will use the funds to work with partner agencies and stakeholders to fill gaps in the homeless services system and to ensure that families are permanently housed.

Neighborhood Place of Puna received $2.5 million from the Day One Families Fund. The nonprofit, located on Hawaii Island, helps families connect with resources that will help with housing instability, skill building, developmentally appropriate parenting and more. 

“Thanks to this grant, Neighborhood Place of Puna will be able to do more to help our community move closer to the goal of ending family and child homelessness in Hawaii County,” said Paul Normann, executive director of Neighborhood Place of Puna.

The nonprofit plans to use the grant to reduce the number of families and children experiencing homelessness in Hawaii County.

Launched in 2018 by Bezos, the Day One Families Fund is focused on donating to organizations that provide shelter and hunger support to young families. Last year, the fund donated $7.5 million to two nonprofits in Hawaii. Over the past six years, the fund has donated more than $630 million to organizations fighting homelessness. 

Bezos said during a CNN interview in Nov. 2022 that he would give away most of his $124 billion fortune to charity during his lifetime. 

The founder of Amazon reportedly bought a $78 million home on a 14-acre property on La Perouse Bay on Maui in 2021.