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The Arthur M. Blank Foundation announced Wednesday morning that the owner of the Atlanta Falcons will donate “an initial grant” of $1.5 million to Hurricane Melissa relief efforts.
The foundation said the money will be donated to support the work of World Central Kitchen, Team Rubicon and CARE USA.
“World Central Kitchen provides nutritious meals and fresh water in times of crisis, and Team Rubicon specializes in on-the-ground disaster response and recovery,” the foundation said in a statement. “The Foundation’s pre-investment for CARE USA’s Humanitarian Surge Fund helps provide rapid deployment of resources for disaster relief and will be activated immediately.”
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Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank reacts during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. (Kirby Lee/Image Images)
“Jamaica and the Caribbean hold a special place in my heart, filled with meaningful family memories,” Blank himself said in a statement.
“The impact of Hurricane Melissa is profound, but so is the resilience of the people in this region. We are honored to support Team Rubicon and World Central Kitchen with a seed grant to help address the community’s immediate needs with disaster relief and nutritious meals. While the road ahead will be long, our hearts go out to those affected and we hope our support provides comfort and strength along the way.”
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank watches before the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 24, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
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The storm hit Jamaica earlier this week as a Category 5 hurricane, making it the strongest storm to ever directly hit the island.
With winds of 185 mph and gusts of 220 mph, it is the strongest storm this year and the third Category 5 hurricane. This is also the second time in a calendar year that at least three Category 5 hurricanes have been recorded.
The last time Jamaica faced a hurricane of similar magnitude was Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, a Category 4 storm remembered as the deadliest and most destructive in the country’s history.
Photograph of storm surge prior to Hurricane Melissa’s landfall in the Caribbean Terrace area of Kingston, Jamaica, on October 25, 2025. (RICARDO MAKYN/AFP)
The storm left hundreds of people homeless and forced thousands into overcrowded emergency shelters, according to a report by the National Library of Jamaica. Despite its ferocity, the official death toll remained relatively low, with 45 deaths and few injuries reported, but the storm caused an estimated $800 million in damage across the island, the publication said.
