The Ocean Cleanup organization has announced that it received its largest private donation to date, a $25 million gift from Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, Samara, and chairman of Airbnb.org.
“As a nonprofit project with a big mission, we cannot do this alone – we need financial contributions to achieve our goals. Joe’s continued support of the Ocean Cleanup mission is having a direct impact on our work around the world,” said Boyan Slat, founder and CEO of Ocean Cleanup. “Partly thanks to his generous help, we are able to scale up our work in oceans and rivers, which helps us achieve our goal of removing plastic from the world’s oceans. On behalf of the world’s largest ecosystem, we are immensely grateful for this support.”
The nonprofit Ocean Cleanup, which develops and scales technologies to remove plastic from the world’s oceans, stated that it will use the funds to continue and expand its operations in oceans and rivers, as well as for waste recycling and scientific research, including supporting the launch of System 03, the latest iteration of the ocean cleanup system in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
“I’m proud to partner with the Ocean Cleanup organization in their critical work to rid the oceans of harmful plastics,” shared Gebbia. “The Ocean Cleanup has developed systems and technologies that really work on a large scale. To deploy its operations in rivers and oceans, the organization needs to increase its funding. I hope this donation can inspire others to take action.”
Gebbia’s work in design led to the creation of Airbnb and Samara, as well as the establishment of Airbnb.org, his nonprofit initiative that provides housing for people in crisis situations. Gebbia continues to contribute to causes that improve the quality of life for people and the planet. He serves on the board of the Refuge Olympic Foundation, as well as on the leadership council of Tent Partnership for Refugees and UNHCR.