Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and Miranda Kerr are helping erase $550 million in medical debt for more than 261,000 Californians while supporting Los Angeles wildfire survivors. (Photo: Instagram)
CEO Evan Spiegel and his wife, model and entrepreneur Miranda Kerr, are being recognised for their philanthropic efforts, which include helping erase $550 million in medical debt for more than 261,000 Californians and supporting Los Angeles wildfire survivors. Bush Points of Light Awards in Washington, D.C., on October 13, says the recognition should also highlight the urgent need for continued assistance to families still struggling to recover from the devastating January 2025 wildfires. The January 2025 wildfires had a deeply personal impact on Spiegel. More than 100 Snap employees were affected by the disaster, and the technology entrepreneur watched on television as his childhood home caught fire. More than 16,000 structures were destroyed, and thousands of residents were still awaiting more than $15 billion in federal aid by August, according to The Guardian. Through the Department of Angels, a nonprofit supporting people recovering from the 2025 wildfires, Spiegel has helped provide targeted grants and bring survivors’ experiences to the attention of decision-makers at local, state and federal levels. In June, Spiegel and Kerr announced that they were helping eliminate $550 million in medical debt owed by more than 261,000 Californians, The Los Angeles Times reported. The couple, who married in 2017, have three sons together – Hart, Myles and Pierre – while Kerr also shares her eldest son, Flynn, with her former husband, actor Orlando Bloom.
“Angelenos are still waiting for federal assistance,” he told PEOPLE. The Snap CEO said his approach to philanthropy stems from the belief that people are connected and have a responsibility to support one another. “What really inspired me is this notion that we’re all interconnected as people, and we have an obligation to reach out and help one another,” Spiegel said. The house where we started Snapchat was up in flames,” he said, describing the moment as surreal. Spiegel said residents wanted clear answers about whether it was safe to return to affected areas and rebuild their homes. “One of the biggest questions we were hearing from our friends and our neighbors was just, ‘Is it safe?’” he said. Spiegel said, adding that the research could prove valuable as communities across the United States confront urban wildfires. All you want to do is focus on helping them get better,” she told the newspaper. Spiegel said the couple had received heartfelt letters from people affected by the initiative. One interaction at Snap’s headquarters particularly stayed with him: a staff member working in the company cafeteria told him she had translated a letter for her Spanish-speaking mother. The woman explained that her mother had been moved by the experience and told her, “Mom, I worked there. Spiegel said the encounter helped him understand the personal impact of the initiative. Spiegel described balancing his work, charitable commitments through the Spiegel Family Fund and Snap Foundation, and raising four boys as a constant “juggle”. “When it’s going downtown to pack meals or our kids baking cookies for the local women’s shelter, we try to make it something that we can do together as a family,” he said. “Miranda just has such a big heart,” he said. Spiegel said he hopes to teach his children that their opportunities come with a responsibility to help people who are less fortunate. “I really just want to help them be the best selves, but also to really understand that one of the amazing gifts in their lives is being born in America,” he said. “They have a real obligation to use their incredible good fortune and good luck to give back to other people who might be less fortunate,” Spiegel added. “That’s something that’s really a rewarding and fulfilling thing to do.”
Snap Inc. Spiegel, who received an honour at the 8th annual George H.W. Spiegel stressed that many Los Angeles residents are still waiting for the support needed to rebuild their lives after the fires While expressing gratitude for the recognition. “So at a moment when, obviously, I’m grateful to receive this award and obviously grateful for the work we’ve accomplished so far, I think it’s also just really important to reflect on how much more we still have to do. Spiegel was among five people recognised for their service and charitable work across the United States. Other honourees included David M. Rubenstein, co-founder of investment firm The Carlyle Group, and Olivia Zhang, founder and CEO of Cancer Kids First. “My sister was like, ‘Hey, I think dad’s house is burning on TV right now. I was like, ‘What?’” he recalled. “And we all gathered around the TV, and sure enough, it was my father’s home. More than a year later, Spiegel remains concerned about residents who are still unable to rebuild their homes. The couple’s philanthropy has also focused on questions surrounding the long-term health effects of the wildfires. “‘Is it safe to return? Is it safe to rebuild?’” The Spiegel Family Fund contributed to the launch of the Los Angeles Fire Human Exposure and Long-Term Health Study, which aims to examine both the immediate and longer-term health consequences of exposure to the fires. “Over the next decade, we’re really going to be understanding not only the short-term impacts, whether it’s safe to return, but longer term – what are the health impacts? Kerr explained that the initiative was intended to ease the financial burden on families dealing with illness and allow them to focus on their loved ones’ recovery. “When someone you love is sick. “That’s why we wanted to support this effort and help relieve medical debt, so families can focus on caring for their loved ones and really supporting their healing. Beyond large-scale donations, Spiegel and Kerr try to make giving back a part of everyday family life. However, he and Kerr make an effort to involve their children in activities that benefit others. “The door is always open at our home, and her care for everyone around her is something that’s really inspiring to me. He also wants to continue supporting initiatives that help young people develop creative skills.
Spiegel also praised Kerr for her generosity, saying her compassion had been evident since the early days of their relationship.
For Spiegel and Kerr, the focus remains on using their resources to support families facing financial hardship, help communities recover from disasters and encourage the next generation to make a difference. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.