Ashton & Mila raise $30 million for Ukraine....and give it to companies Ashton has invested in

[poisoned_summer]

“We hit our goal!”

Actors Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher thanked donors Thursday in a video update announcing that they had exceeded their $30-million goal benefitting victims of the Russian invasion.https://t.co/RKTnwuwoQd
- Los Angeles Times (@latimes) March 21, 2022
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have raised over $30 million for Ukrainian refugees

Comments

[ladychips]

no clue what flexport is but people on airbnb have been super generous and helpful, i hope some of that money goes to the people hosting refugees via their listings

[obliquium]

OP's summary is bullshit and I'm deleting my original comments about AirBnB because the donation is going to AirBnB's non-profit org. Sorry for all the edits ladychips!!

Leaving this though, because it still stands (tl:dr don't ever donate to for-profit corporations): Publicly traded company have a legal obligation to shareholders to do their best to remain profitable and generate good returns. There is always some leeway to take a bit of a financial hit by donating funds or services to a (popular and scandal free) cause because it helps promote or provide 'good will' the company's brand, but it can't be a big enough amount to noticeably alter returns on investment. Most of the time corporate donations are justified as tax write offs, because it also supports the bottom line. There's a inherent conflict of interest in donating to publicly traded companies and you should absolutely NOT do so when there are genuine non-profit organizations and charities operating out there and providing similar services.

[sashheers]

Airbnb does a LOT for refugees and are actually a great company in that one aspect. They're partly responsible for totally fucking up the housing market in some cities though and sure as fuck don't need any donated money.

[chllschse]

I am assuming they donated to Airbnb.org which is a non-profit that actually works with other non profits to provide emergency housing for people…..but I could be wrong.

[sashheers]

Airbnb made BILLIONS of dollars last year. As if their non-profit arm needs donations.

[backrolls]

airbnb opperates in occupied lands though.

[spanishsaharaa]

They are a horrible company that displaces people. Not to mention how they displace Palestinians off their own land and literally evict them. Fuck them.

[backrolls]

airbnb allows people to rent from israelis, the homes of palestinian refugees who aren't allowed to return to their land lol.

[chllschse]

Yep but that’s not what people were upset about it. They just saw well known corporation that Kutchner was an early investor in. And people assumed he donated to the corporation, I was simply pointing out that he donated to their non profit org.

[backrolls]

oh for sure, i agree - that's not what most are concerned about.