Orlando Bravo Donates Million to Puerto Rican communities affected by Hurricane Fiona

Orlando Bravo, founder and Managing Partner of Thoma Bravo, one of the largest private equity firms in the world, donated $10 million to the Bravo Family Foundation to help communities affected by Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico.

"In these instances where my hometown is once again experiencing a natural disaster, the least I can do is support the relief efforts," said Bravo, who was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, in a press release. "This donation seeks to alleviate some of the pain for Puerto Ricans who were only just starting to recover from previous hurricanes, earthquakes, and the COVID-19 pandemic."

I spent yesterday visiting the most vulnerable communities in #PuertoRico that the @BravoFamilyFdn is helping following #HurricaneFiona. Despite losing it all, the people remain so positive and their focus is on helping one another. pic.twitter.com/nGVZYdAovu

— Orlando Bravo (@OrlandoBravoTB) September 28, 2022

The Bravo Family Foundation will use these funds, in partnership with community leaders, to provide immediate aid to six communities: the municipalities of Mayagüez, Salinas, San Germán, Cayey, Loíza, and Cabo Rojo.

"After the hurricane ripped through Puerto Rico last week, we interacted with community leaders from our Exceptional Community Leaders program, youth from the Empowering Young Entrepreneurs program, and participants from the Rising Entrepreneurs program," said Blanca Santos, Executive Director of the Bravo Family Foundation.

"Simultaneously, we worked quickly to address the immediate needs of the neighborhoods served by the Foundation by providing solar generators, water, and food,” she added.

The Foundation established a communication network to identify the needs within these communities and will be focusing its help on adults over 65 years old, families with children, and people with disabilities. They aim to support more than 3,000 families across the island with this donation.

Bravo created the Bravo Family Foundation in 2017 in response to Hurricane Maria. Bravo initially donated $10 million for immediate relief efforts and then committed an additional $100 million to promote entrepreneurship and economic development in Puerto Rico.

"My broader vision for the Bravo Family Foundation is to help build a more inclusive and prosperous society and economy for Puerto Rico, and I think this starts with the younger generation," Bravo explained. "I want to encourage youth from marginalized communities to achieve their dreams by opening them up to opportunities for personal and economic advancement, but, at this moment, we need to get back to basics and help those most affected by this hurricane return to normalcy as soon as possible."