Florida
Top Florida GOP fundraiser joins Trump to launch GoFundMe for Helene victims; $3M raised
Helene aftermath: Community clears Helene damage in North Carolina
Community members in North Carolina rallied together to clean up damage and debris left behind after Hurricane Helene.
WASHINGTON − Former President Donald Trump’s fundraiser to benefit victims of Hurricane Helene has raised almost $3 million as of Tuesday afternoon.
It was set up on GoFundMe by Meredith O’Rourke, a high-profile political fundraiser from Tallahassee who is also national finance director for Trump’s campaign.
She organized a similar page this summer for victims of the shooting at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
More: Top Florida GOP fundraiser launches GoFundMe for Trump rally shooting victims
Trump’s campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung confirmed to USA TODAY that the GoFundMe page is legitimate and authorized by the former president.
O’Rourke has been a top fundraiser for Republicans for decades, including for Rick Scott’s and former Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam’s campaigns for governor. She also did a short stint in 2015 for former N.J. Gov. Chris Christie’s run for president.
The latest fundraiser has received over 16,000 donations, with $500,000 alone from former Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia, according to its page, and another half-million dollars from real estate investor Steve Witkoff, a Trump friend and supporter.
“All donations will be directed to help those most affected by Hurricane Helene,” the page reads. “Any level of generosity will go a long way for your fellow Americans who are suffering.”
Hurricane Helene, which had ravaged southeastern states including North Carolina and Florida, left more than 100 dead and millions without power. More than 30 inches of rain were recorded in some areas of western North Carolina, with houses and communities swept away.
President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit North Carolina on Wednesday, and Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s rival for the presidency, is also planning a visit to the disaster area. Harris received a briefing at FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Monday.
“Over the past few days, our nation has endured some of the worst destruction and devastation that we have seen in quite some time,” she said. “And we have responded with our best, with the best folks who are on the ground.”
A version of this story first appeared on USA TODAY. Contributing: Joey Garrison, David Jackson, John Bacon, Sarah Honosky and Jim Rosica.