Summary
realizing i’m the first person in my bloodline to read the words ‘airbnb gala red carpet’ one after another they’re just making up events for anything…
What this means for you
This story concerns Airbnb's nonprofit, which the article says provides free and temporary housing to families impacted by crisis or disaster, and which the article reports will expand to supporting families facing displacement due to domestic violence, veterans in need, or those traveling for medical needs. For Chinese readers in the US, that describes categories of housing help rather than any change to visas, immigration status, employment or education, none of which the article discusses. The article says Airbnb will donate a portion of its commercial revenue from each stay booked, which it states amounts to 10 cents, and that this is intended to generate $500 million for the nonprofit over the next five years to help it provide free housing for 1 million nights each year. The article does not say whether this donation changes the price guests pay for a stay, so readers should not assume a cost impact either way. The gala itself was invite-only, with no tables or seats sold, and the article says fundraising was not the focus and no fundraising target was set.
Airbnb’s nonprofit held its inaugural gala on Wednesday in Los Angeles, and the internet had one reaction — the what gala?
realizing i’m the first person in my bloodline to read the words ‘airbnb gala red carpet’ one after another
they’re just making up events for anything now https://t.co/wwRDmA7Wfo
In case you missed it, back in 2020, Airbnb launched a nonprofit that provides free and temporary housing to families impacted by crisis or disaster. Its gala makes sense, actually, in that significant causes often throw splashy events to please big donors.
In a press release shared with TechCrunch this week, Airbnb noted that the gala marked the launch of a new initiative for the nonprofit, in which Airbnb will start donating a portion of its commercial revenue from each stay booked starting from the day of the gala, October 28. The cut amounts to 10 cents, to be exact, but Airbnb did make $12.2 billion in revenue last year.
This initiative will help generate $500 million that will then go to the nonprofit over the next five years to help it provide free housing for 1 million nights each year, per the release. It will also let the company expand to supporting families also facing displacement due to domestic violence, veterans in need, or those traveling for medical needs.
A spokesperson for Airbnb said that the night was for its supporters and “marking the next chapter of our work.” Airbnb said that people had the option to donate, but “fundraising wasn’t the focus of the evening” and that the nonprofit “didn’t set a fundraising target.” The idea is for the Gala to happen each year, and last night was invite-only, the spokesperson said, with no tables or seats sold.
The gala was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, with a live performance by Charli XCX, and food was curated by Chef José Andrés of World Central Kitchen. The guest list featured Serena Williams, Demi Lovato, Charlize Theron, and Cynthia Erivo. For the celebrities, it was a glamorous night in society for a helpful cause, joining the ranks of other Los Angeles events, like the Baby2Baby Gala and the Academy Museum Gala, as a place to be seen.
Still, people were literally confused as to why Airbnb was having a gala and how it attracted top-tier celebrities.
How the hell does Airbnb has a gala https://t.co/Kx7TUiyvfa
If you told me literally one day ago that A-list celebrities would be attending an Airbnb Gala I would say what the FUCK are you talking about https://t.co/URgwQnSgVG
the concept of an airbnb gala https://t.co/Q5LdCrGHLw pic.twitter.com/q2WegX3D5a
Absolutely stunning. What the FUCK is the Airbnb Gala. https://t.co/sWexvP6fou
i went to the airbnb gala and everyone knew you https://t.co/DBiakwlQV4
Again, a lovely event, and another data point showing that throwing a gala is one of the best ways to get rich people in a room to pay money and get media attention. And now a bunch of people on the internet know that Airbnb helps people in need, rather than perpetually making the news for negatively impacting the housing market.
This piece was updated.
Source: TechCrunch
Join the discussion
Have you or someone you know ever needed temporary housing during a crisis or disaster, and did you know where to look for help?
