Scripps' Hurricane Ian relief fund raises nearly half a million dollars for Florida residents

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Oct 18, 2022, 10:23 ET

CINCINNATI, Oct. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- To support ongoing relief efforts following Hurricane Ian, The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) has helped raise $470,000 for people and communities impacted by the storm. 

Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm with 155-mph winds (2 mph short of a Category 5), made landfall in Florida on Wednesday, Sept. 28, leaving a path of destruction. Cleaning up and rebuilding southwest Florida is expected to cost tens of billions of dollars. 

Logo - Scripps Howard Fund

Through the Scripps Howard Fund, the company's philanthropic arm, Scripps created a hurricane relief fund in the days immediately following the hurricane. To date, $325,000 has been donated by Scripps viewers to help with local recovery efforts. Scripps stations across Florida are working directly with local organizations to make sure every cent given goes directly to help people and communities hardest hit.  

To donate, text the word STORM to 50155 and follow the prompts. You can also click here to donate.  

"We are humbled by Scripps' audiences across the country who have stepped up to help people impacted by one of the most devastating storms in Florida's history," said Adam Symson, Scripps president and CEO. "Their donations to this fund will support ongoing relief efforts that could take months, even years."

Scripps owns five television stations in Florida, including WFTX in Fort Myers and WFTS in Tampa. As Hurricane Ian charged toward the Florida coast, their employees worked tirelessly to provide coverage of the storm, while – in some cases – their own homes were being threatened, damaged or destroyed.   

"Our Florida employees set their personal needs aside so they could keep their communities informed and continue with critical news operations during Hurricane Ian," Symson said. "We are grateful for their relentless dedication and courage."

To help Scripps employees adversely affected by the hurricane, the Scripps Howard Fund also created the Hurricane Ian Employee Relief Fund to provide relief to Scripps employees who suffered direct losses in Florida counties that were declared a federal disaster. The Employee Relief Fund, totaling $145,000, was funded entirely by gifts from fellow employees, company leaders and Scripps family members. 

WFTX has compiled information to help Florida residents after Hurricane Ian. You can find links to recovery centers, shelters and relief efforts at Fox4Now.com. 

Crews from multiple Scripps stations across the country traveled to help with Hurricane Ian coverage or provide remote assistance. Scripps' national news network, Newsy, also provided content and produced near-continuous coverage of the storm for its national audiences.  

About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media company focused on creating a better-informed world. As one of the nation's largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of 61 stations in 41 markets. The Scripps Networks reach nearly every American through the national news outlets Court TV and Newsy and popular entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Defy TV, Grit, ION Mystery, Laff and TrueReal. Scripps is the nation's largest holder of broadcast spectrum. Scripps runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and is the longtime steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, "Give light and the people will find their own way."

SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company