SBP Receives $200k Grant from Toyota for Hurricane Helene Recovery in North Carolina

(NEW ORLEANS) Oct. 16, 2024—SBP, the national disaster recovery nonprofit, has received a $200,000 commitment from Toyota Motor North America to support long-term recovery efforts in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene’s devastation. The funds will help expedite recovery for homeowners and communities affected by the storm, focusing on programs aimed at shrinking the time between disaster and recovery.

Hurricane Helene brought widespread devastation to several states, with North Carolina suffering the most severe impact. Of the 230 reported deaths, nearly 100 occurred in North Carolina, and just as many residents remain unaccounted for. The long-term recovery and rebuilding process will demand significant resources to restore these hard-hit communities.

“We are incredibly grateful to Toyota for their continued support of our mission,” said Tim Brady, SBP CEO. “With this critical funding, we can accelerate recovery efforts in North Carolina, ensuring that families and communities impacted by Hurricane Helene get the urgent support they need to rebuild quickly and efficiently.”

Toyota’s new grant enables SBP to deploy its Disaster Assistance Program, offering direct support to North Carolina homeowners as they navigate the FEMA applications and appeals process. It will also support SBP’s government advisory services, which work with local officials to accelerate recovery efforts and provide critical training programs for local nonprofits. Additionally, the grant will fund home repairs, bringing families back to their homes.

“We’re committed to supporting SBP in speeding up the recovery process and ensuring North Carolina communities recover faster and more effectively,” said Ana Meade, vice president of Toyota sustainable development. “Toyota’s ongoing commitment to support community recovery is reflected in SBP’s focus to create resilience across the country as they need to rebuild without delay after a disaster.”

Over the last 13 years, Toyota has made a lasting impact on SBP by investing in both financial support and operational expertise. Toyota shared the Toyota Production System with SBP, which helped the organization reduce the time it takes to rebuild a disaster survivor’s home by 48 percent Toyota has also been a major supporter of SBP’s disaster recovery programs. In North Carolina’s Piedmont region, where Toyota is building a cutting-edge battery plant, the company has funded an SBP Resilience Fellow who collaborates with local governments and partner organizations to strengthen long-term disaster resilience.