GEM Chief Development Officer Patrick Lynch ringing in the @nasdaq bell with @gofundme on #Giving Tuesday. #GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past eleven years, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. We are asking all of our amazing GEM donors to support us on #GivingTuesday. Please share with family and friends and help GEM to continue Solving Humanitarian Challenges in the Midst of Disasters around the world. #GEM #Bstrong @bethennyfrankel @michaelcapponi To support GEM and our global missions please visit the link above in our bio. Thank you for your continued support.
Tomorrow is #GivingTuesday a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. #GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past eleven years, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. We are asking all of our amazing GEM donors to support us on #GivingTuesday.
Please share with family and friends and help GEM to continue Solving Humanitarian Challenges in the Midst of Disasters around the world. #GEM #Bstrong @bethennyfrankel @michaelcapponi
Please visit the link in our bio tomorrow on #givingtuesday to help GEM continue its missions around the world. Thank you for all of your support.
GEM Founder and President, @michaelcapponi participated in a panel discussion today at the @egmediaforum on the support of International Relief Actions for Palestinian civilians. Also on the panel was the @unrwa chief, Sahar Al-Jobury, as well as, #GEM partner Haya Karima’s director of International Relations and Vice Chair Trustee, Shana Masoud along with Egyptian Major General Wael Shokry. Grateful for these new partnerships that will allow @globalempowermentmissionmena to get large convoys into Gaza to support civilian families and children from an ongoing humanitarian crisis. GEM earmarked aid for Gaza will continue to be distributed by our proven and trusted partners, @aneraorg #egyptmediaforum @alina.kurs_ @emilymfullmer #humanity
A glimpse inside GEM at work around the globe.
So thankful to all of our incredible friends, supporters, team members and donors. This work is not easy and requires pure determination and perseverance. Please cherish what you have been given in this life. We can never know what tomorrow will bring us. Most of the people we help would have never imagined this could happen to them.
•GEM Hawaii team assisting fire survivors every single day since the Maui fires with relocation services and family needs.
•GEM MENA loading semi-trucks in Egypt for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. @globalempowermentmissionmena
•GEM ground partner Anera delivering GEM aid to shelters in Khan Younis, Gaza.
•GEM Ukraine HGBF delivering 200+ semi-trucks to freezing front line villages per month. @globalempowermentmissionua
•GEM volunteers with smartAID in Israel delivering supplies to Kibbutz shelters and hubs.
•GEM Europe team in Iceland supporting evacuees from the recent 10,000 + earthquakes and imminent volcano explosion. @globalempowermentmissioneur
•GEM Haiti students cleaning the streets and beaches from endless plastic and litter.
GEM Asia ambassadors in Nepal delivering a truckload of blankets to earthquake survivors in the Himalayas. @globalempowermentmissionasia
•GEM Hawaii team assisting fire survivors every single day since the Maui fires with relocation services and family needs.
•GEM Latam teams in Acapulco delivering aid to hundreds of survivors from Hurricane Otis. @globalempowermentmissionlatam
•GEM MENA Türkiye supporting special needs children that survived the most powerful earthquake in Türkiye’s history. @globalempowermentmissionmena
•GEM Hawaii team reviewing plans for the new Sacred Hearts school we’re building in partnership with @stableroadfoundation in Maui.
“Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.” -Benjamin Franklin #Humanity #GEMmissions #bstrong #GEM
Happy Thanksgiving to all our supporters around the globe. We’re eternally grateful to all of you. #thanksgiving
On November 16th, the GEM Europe team arrived in Iceland to support evacuees, and in anticipation for future volcanic activity. Since late October, Iceland has recorded over 20,000 earthquakes, with as many as 800 in a single day. The Mount Fagradalsfjall volcano is predicted to erupt, therefore forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. The GEM team is prepared to assist all those affected by this imminent disaster. #iceland #volcanoes #icelandvolcano @globalempowermentmissioneur
@bbcnews interview about the latest events taking place in Gaza. GEM founder @michaelcapponi is speaking alongside Suzanne who was just evacuated from the strip after being there since May 2023. Her and her sister decided to stay in Cairo sponsored by GEM and now and volunteering @globalempowermentmissionmena.
She explains how healing that is rather than just turning her back on what’s happening inside her homeland. They also elaborate on what GEM Bstrong is doing on the ground in the region with @aneraorg. @bethennyfrankel #palestinian #Gaza
@globalempowermentmissionlatam team is delivering aid to the rural communities living in the remote areas of Acapulco, Mexico.
The roads in the area are hardly accessible so the team has to reach the territory by passing the river in the mountains.
If you want to learn more and support our mission - please follow the link in the bio
#Hurricane #Otis #gemmissions #acapulco #mexico
This is our @globalempowermentmissionmena regional branch on the main road towards the Sinai peninsula outside of Cairo, Egypt.
These supplies, along with earmarked only aid from a worldwide coalition of partners will be delivered to our trusted ground partners, @aneraorg inside Gaza at the Rafa Gate. Anera has been operating inside Gaza for over 40 years. We trust them explicitly.
We have set up a unique supply chain and ecosystem for continuous aid flow into Gaza. Again, this aid is only for Palestinian civilians who currently have no food, no water and no electricity. We don’t import staff, we build teams from the ground up in the country we operate in. This new partial team is made up of Palestinians and Egyptians. Two of our volunteers, just got out of Gaza and were there during the last 7 months. They have seen play by play everything that’s happened. They thought they were going to die every single minute for the last month. This gives us a clear viewpoint on the situation and understanding of needs.
We are calling out on our global network of partners to collaborate and help us fund local goods purchased in Egypt directly from food factories. That is the fastest and most efficient way of doing things.
You can clearly see that GEM aid goes directly into the hands of civilians in shelters.
This is the very tip of the iceberg in our supply. We will scale up exponentially.
Please visit our special earmarked campaign for Palestinian support on our link tree or email us at [email protected] to partner in funding local supplies from Egypt.
@bethennyfrankel #bstrong @globalempowermentmission #unity #love #humanity @lifestraw #palestinian #gaza #f3
Maui Fires 3 Month update.
In the aftermath of the devastating wildfires in Lahaina, #Maui, GEM has been tirelessly working on the ground since day 2. GEM Hawaii has provided crucial assistance to survivors. We began by getting immediate aid to local hubs and distributing cash cards to survivors. GEM has now distributed nearly $500,000 in Bstrong cash cards.
By week two, we collaborated with @airbnb to secure short-term Airbnb bookings for over 1,200 survivors, offering them immediate lodging.
By week three, GEM established a housing case worker support office in Kahului which has processed nearly 1,000 housing applications. We distributed $250,000 in rent abatement checks to 109 families who secured long-term leases and assisted 220 families with Airbnb.org reservation renewals. This was made possible with staffing support from @sail.trilogy employees.
In week five, GEM opened the Westside Distribution Center in Kahana, distributing aid to 1,500-2,000 vehicles weekly and providing over 15,000 family care boxes since mid-September. Volunteers and partners like @MauiBrewingCo, @countyofmaui, @hfahawaii, and @MauiFoodBank played vital roles in this initiative. Support from volunteers equates to approximately $160k in labor costs savings.
GEM`s back-to-work tool program invested $135k in tools, aiding 94 tradesmen in resuming their work. Gratitude goes to donors @californiapools and @stableroadfoundation for their contributions.
Looking ahead, GEM finalized plans for the temporary Sacred Hearts School in Ka’anapali, accommodating 250 students (grades K-9) for the next three years. Additionally, in partnership with @LivingEarthSystems, we`ve commenced building tiny homes, set to be completed by the end of November, providing sustainable housing solutions for survivors.
Thank you for supporting our Hawaiian programs. #Hawaii #Maui @bethennyfrankel #Lahaina @edfreedman @mauigarrett
Our GEM USA West team distributed to over 200 tribal members at Cold Springs Rancheria, in Tollhouse CA, blessed the community with GEM food and necessities boxes, mattresses, @amazon Homegoods, @good360usa Backpacks filled with School Supplies, @redwingheritage Clothing and Boots, @myearthbreeze, Necessities from Mathew 25 Ministries, @thecorewater and @sprite @cencalfoodbank also made an impact by dropping off their Drought Food Boxes with fresh Fruits and Vegetables.
Our GEM USA West team, led by Elizabeth Jernberg, Director of West Coast Operations, dedicated an entire week to the Cold Springs Rancheria. The tribal elders instructed our GEM team on the traditional gathering of willows and berry shoots for basket-making. We had the honor of conversing with an elder named Phyllis, a basket weaver, who is imparting these traditions to future generations. Phyllis introduced us to their acorn mash tradition and explained that acorns and other berries comprised 50% of their diet, highlighting their roles not only as hunters but also as gatherers.
Our interaction with the vice chair, Curtis Lee, was enlightening, as we instantly recognized the heritage and culture they yearn to reclaim. It is encouraging to learn that the Cold Springs Rancheria is actively endeavoring to restore and conserve its culture, a sentiment echoed during our visit. Upon hearing Vice Chair Curtis Lee lament the absence of their sweat lodge for over 15 years, we discussed potential avenues to facilitate its return. Reconstructing a sweat lodge is a pivotal element of this cultural resurgence, serving not only as a location for purification, spiritual ceremonies, and community congregation but also as an emblem of cultural identity and continuity.
Such initiatives are vital for the preservation and rejuvenation of Indigenous cultures. It is inspiring to witness communities proactively working to safeguard their traditions and cultural identity.
#gemusawest #coldspringstribe #GEMmissions #tribalimpactprogram #indigenous #NativeAmericans #FirstNations #FirstPeoples #TribalImpact #tribal #reservations @elizabeth_24_jernberg
Acapulco, México, fue devastada por un huracán de categoría 5 el 25 de octubre. Las tormentas causaron inundaciones, daños estructurales extremos, destrucción de carreteras, afectando gravemente a más de 2 millones de personas. Nuestro equipo de GEM LATAM se desplegó inmediatamente en México, y actualmente está sobre el terreno en Acapulco coordinando la distribución de ayuda de kits de alimentos familiares y necesidades en las áreas afectadas por este devastador desastre. GEM LATAM está trabajando en conjunto con agencias gubernamentales, incluida la Oficina del Gobernador del Estado de Guerrero México, la Cámara Nacional de Comercio y Servicios y Turismo de Acapulco. @globalempowermentmissionlatam
@globalempowermentmissionmena #bstrong in partnership with anera is distributing emergency directly to people in shelters in Khan Yunis.
These are methodical smart partnerships with different systems. Everything that we do is carefully strategized to ensure that our aid only gets into the hands of civilians in dire need. Thank you to our incredible partners @aneraorg who risk their lives doing this work in the most dangerous place on Earth right now, Gaza.
These kits are specifically designed for Hygiene Management. They are are packed with essentials such as shampoo, soap, brushes, nail clippers, menstrual pads, wipes, sanitizer, deodorant, and vital undergarments for women.
GEM Mena has set up significant infrastructure outside of Cairo on the roadway to the Rafah Gate. We anticipate on deploying full size trucks to Gaza in an organized manner by next week.
GEM has already received clearances.
#bstrong @bethennyfrankel #anera
Maui Fires Update
It’s been almost 3 months since “Lahaina and other parts of #Maui experienced the worst fires in US history. Our teams were there on day 2 and immediately established our GEM Hawaii office in Kahalui.
The GEM Hawaii team is made up of 100% Hawaiian locals.
To date, we have served 41,648 individuals from our Kahana distribution center in partnership with @countyofmaui @mauibrewingco. The total economic impact of our volunteer’s works is $158,942. We have helped 108 families commit to long-term housing with our rent support program. We have distributed $499,700 in Bstrong Visa cards, and supported 94 Tradesmen with new tools valued at an average of $1500 per person.
We have also completed the design process for our school renovation project, and are working through the permitting phase.
GEM Hawaii is committed to the long term recovery process. To learn more please visit our bio-links.
#Hawaii #Maui @bethennyfrankel @sailtrilogy @countyofmaui @mauibrewingco @kainoagram @stableroadfoundation @edfreedman @hawaiifoodbank @hawaiinewsnow #David&NicoleTepperFoundation @hawaiicommunityfoundation
In this @msnbc interview, @jdbalart and GEM founder, @michaelcapponi discuss 3 very difficult responses that our global branches are responding to simultaneously.
The first section is our role in the Palestinian civilian humanitarian situation. The second, is how we have been supporting evacuees in Israel since day 2 and the 3rd is our response in Acapulco for #hurricaneotis survivors.
@globalempowermentmissionmena
@globalempowermentmissionlatam
@bethennyfrankel
@smartaidint @aneraorg
@pandemicofloveusa
GEM has a multi pronged approach to the Israel-Hamas war.
This is the latest @bbc World News interview update on aid for Palestinians. GEM founder and president @michaelcapponi from our @globalempowermentmissionmena MENA regional base outside Cairo, Egypt. #bstrong @bethennyfrankel @aneraorg #gaza #egypt
@globalempowermentmissionlatam’s Hurricane Otis update from #Acapulco. Supply trucks in transit. #hurricaneotis #alcapulco #bstrong
PALESTINIAN support update. Our @globalempowermentmissionmena branch is working with 2 trusted organizations that have operated inside Gaza for over a decade. They are distributing small food and hygiene kits on a daily basis to shelters and schools in Khan Younis. This support is focused mainly on children for now. Our partners have sourced the supplies locally on our behalf. In addition, GEM is now part of a newly formed coalition along with 6 reputable INGO’s. GEM Mena will initially only play the role of operating a major warehouse in the 10th of Ramadan district in Egypt. This warehouse will amass food, medicine and shelter supplies only. We are coordinating efforts with the Egyptian Red Crescent, IOM, World Food program and our partners @aneraorg. As of now, it appears that only the ERC is authorized to cross the Rafah Gate. We have had loaded trucks of food waiting clearance for 10 days now. This new coalition will allow us to be able to have significant impact through collective efforts.
ISRAEL update. Next post Palestine update.
2 cargo planes of aid arrived in Israel from Miami with a value of $905,119. Many more in cue awaiting clearance. Working with 6 Synagogues in South Florida with a minimum commitment of shipping 50 containers. Over $290,000 in local Israeli supplies purchased and distributed by our partners @smartaid to date. Distributions take place daily in Israel supporting Kibbutz Movement shelters throughout the country. In Israel, we are supporting Israelis, Israeli Arabs and Ethiopian refugees. Over 130,000 evacuated to date. In addition, GEM has processed $790,319.96 for the Israeli Business Forum Fund operated by GEM. This is for short term incidental cash for Israelis. We have also supported Israeli evacuees with Bstrong cash cards who flew into Tampa, Florida through the Florida Dept of Emergency Services.
Acapulco, Mexico was devastated by a Category 5 hurricane on October 25th. The storms caused flooding, extreme structural damage, road destruction, affecting nearly 900,000 people. At least 27 are dead and several others missing, according to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador`s office. Hurricane Otis is the strongest hurricane on record to hit Mexico`s Pacific Coast, making landfall as a Category 5 with winds up to 165 mph. Prior to Otis, the strongest hurricane on record to hit Mexico`s Pacific Coast was Category 4 Hurricane Patricia in 2015.
This city is and surrounding areas are quite low-income and depend heavily on the tourism industry, which has now been severely impacted. Some of the hardest hit infrastructure in Acapulco was the resort hotels along the coastline. Our GEM LATAM team immediately deployed to Mexico, and is presently in Acapulco.
To find out more about this disaster and how you can help GEM support this mission, please visit the link above in our bio and donate. #GEMmissions #Bstrong #hurricaneotis #disasterrelief #acapulco #mexico
