Celebrity chef and author Guy Fieri recently provided much-needed help to restaurant employees in Hawaii who were impacted by the Maui wildfires in August 2023.
Fieri collaborated with several organizations to provide a helping hand to the affected workers, including the Hawaii Restaurant Association (HRA) and the American Savings Bank and Fiserv Inc. The celebrity chef donated $600 prepaid debit cards to thousands of restaurant employees, totaling $1.2 million.
🙏🏽 Maui Wildfire Relief: Guy Fieri's Heartwarming $1.2M Gesture
Guy Fieri, a celebrity chef, recently made a significant contribution to aid workers affected by the Maui wildfires.
In collaboration with the Hawaii Restaurant Association, American Savings Bank, and Fiserv Inc.,… pic.twitter.com/gBBCJNFbxp
— UngaTheGreat (@UngaTheGreat) December 30, 2023
The senior vice president of American Savings Bank and Fiserv Inc., Jose Garcia, released a statement praising the effort to help the workers.
“We’re proud to help bring to life initiatives that benefit small businesses, their workers, and the communities they serve,” Garcia said. “The need for everyday essentials never stops, and with a fee-free prepaid card, people will have a convenient way to access these donations to make day-to-day purchases.”
Fieri, who has hosted several culinary television shows in Hawaii, said he’s always had a special connection with the people of Maui.
In October 2023, Fieri hosted a “Chefs for Maui” dinner to help raise funds for the restaurant employees on the island who were impacted by the wildfires. The event raised more than $1.5 million and opened the eyes of other celebrities to assist those in need in Hawaii. Over 38 world-renowned chefs partook in Fieri’s fundraiser.
“I don’t think there’s ever been a collective of this many chefs to this few people, with this many courses for this dire of a need at one time,” Fieri said in October 2023. “I think it’s going to be one of the most sensational events to ever happen in the food world.”
Fieri’s “Chefs for Maui” dinner ended up helping about 80 restaurants that had been burned down during the wildfires in Lahaina.
In August 2023, the celebrity chef noted that he’s had a close relationship with the people of Maui, having done 16 culinary shows on the island.
“I’ve shot over 16 locations in Maui for my shows, and I travel to Maui with my family year after year for vacation. It is such a special place, and what makes it special are the people,” Fieri said in August 2023.
