Snapchat is backing a new initiative to assist in the recovery of fire-impacted areas of Los Angeles, which is the company’s home, and the place where Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy grew up.
Following the devastation of the recent California wildfires, Snap CEO Spiegel published an impassioned letter in support of the community, and committed $5 million in aid to help get L.A. back on its feet.
And now, Snap Inc., Spiegel, and Murphy have donated a further $10 million to a new project that they’re calling “The Department of Angels” which will work to assist in the broader recovery effort.
As per the Department of Angels website:
“The Department of Angels was born out of hundreds of conversations with community members, disaster experts, and survivors of the megafires. Since January 7, we’ve talked to individuals directly impacted by the Eaton and Palisades fires, and to leaders who have guided other communities through megafire recovery. We learned that success or failure often turns on the capacity of community members to design and lead their own recovery. Our mission is to serve that purpose.”
The newly formed group will seek to empower residents to have a say in the broader recovery efforts, and will provide access to independent resources and project management support to facilitate this aspect.
Spiegel and Murphy will play a key role in funding the initiative, though it’s not clear what level Snap Inc. itself will be involved in the venture.
For clarity, the Department of Angels is not a Snapchat project, and is not connected to the company in any way. It’s an independent, community-run initiative, with no government affiliations.
Though while it’s not directly tied to Snap, the launch announcement is hosted on Snap’s blog, and it is contributing to the initial funding. And given Spiegel’s broader push to support his beloved home city, it seems that Snap will be looking to play some part in helping to promote and support the project.
Snapchat’s initial home base, in Spiegel’s dad’s lounge room, was burned down in the fires, while more than 150 Snap team members have been displaced by the disaster.
As such, Snap has a direct connection to the devastation, so it’s good to see the company looking to do its part in the broader recovery process.
And indirectly, if you want to help, maybe running a Snapchat ad campaign wouldn’t hurt.
You can learn more about the Department of Angels project here.
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