Blank Foundation Provides Aid for Hurricane Victims

The Arthur Blank Family Foundation has sent a contribution of $2.5 million to aid victims of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and other islands hard hit by the recent storm.

“The impact of Hurricane Melissa is profound,” Blank said, “but so is the resilience of people in this region. We’re humbled to support Team Rubicon and World Central Kitchen with an initial grant to help address immediate needs in the community with disaster relief and nourishing meals.”

The World Central Kitchen is being given $1.5 million of the aid package. It’s an organization founded by Chef Jose Andres, who has also provided food relief for the residents of Gaza.

Another $1 million is being divided among Team Rubicon, a nonprofit disaster relief group, and Care USA, a major aid organization that’s headquartered in Atlanta.

“The foundation’s pre-investment for Care USA’s Humanitarian Surge Fund,” Blank pointed out, “aids in providing rapid deployment of resources for disaster relief and will be activated immediately.”

When it struck Jamaica on Oct. 31, Hurricane Melissa was the third-most intense Atlantic storm in modern history. It is ranked as the most powerful storm of this year’s hurricane season which has seen four major storms. Melissa is currently among the strongest tropical weather systems worldwide in 2025.

The Blank Foundation is included in several organizations that have created emergency disaster relief funds, including one by the Jewish Federation of Greater Miami. The fund will be distributed to various partners, including the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, according to Michelle Labgold, the Miami federation’s chief marketing and communications officer.

Miami, which has a large population of Jamaicans, is also the headquarters site of the Jewish Federations of North America which has also created a Hurricane Melissa relief fund for the Caribbean countries hit by the major storm.

The Israeli relief group, IsraAid, has also sent a full team of workers to the islands including experts in mental health, sanitation, and public health.

“While the road ahead will be long,” Blank said, “our hearts are with those affected, and we hope our support brings comfort and strength along the way.