August 18, 2023
The Aegon Transamerica Foundation is stepping up to help the people of Maui, Hawaii, after a series of wildfires devastated the island, including the historic community of Lahaina. The Foundation announced on August 18 that it will donate $100,000 to the American Red Cross to support disaster relief efforts, and will match donations made by Transamerica employees dollar-for-dollar.
The wildfires, which ignited in early August, resulted in the largest natural disaster in Hawaii’s history and one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history, with over 100 lives lost and more than 2,000 structures destroyed or damaged.
“The destruction and loss of life unfolding in Maui is heartbreaking, and our thoughts are with those who were directly impacted or lost loved ones,” said Maurice Perkins, president and chair of the Aegon Transamerica Foundation. “Disasters of this magnitude require widespread support, and I’m glad that we can step up and be a force for good for our Hawaiian customers, friends, and family.”
Transamerica and World Financial Group (WFG), a subsidiary of Transamerica, have deep ties to Hawaii. In 1933, Transamerica founder A.P. Giannini helped the late Lawrence Takeo “L.T.” Kagawa establish Occidental Underwriters of Hawaii, ensuring accurate pricing and equal access to life insurance for all U.S. residents. Today, Transamerica has more than 35,000 insurance customers and over 59,000 retirement plan participants who reside in Hawaii. WFG has nearly 500 licensed agents in Hawaii—some of whom were directly, and catastrophically, affected by the wildfires.
In addition to the Foundation’s emergency grant to the Red Cross and the employee match, the WFG Foundation will match up to $250,000 in personal contributions from WFG agents. These combined contributions will directly support the Red Cross in helping to shelter, feed, and provide care to families as they work to recover and rebuild.
