Puerto Rico’s No.1 Monica Puig announced Wednesday on Twitter that she has set up a fundraiser to help her country’s victims of Hurricane Maria.

“I am heartbroken to wake up here in Tokyo this morning and see the devastation that hurricane Maria caused in Puerto Rico,” Puig said.

“I promise to do everything in my power to help my beloved island and fellow Puerto Ricans to rebuild, heal and restore Puerto Rico.”


Already battered by Hurricane Irma a few weeks ago, Puerto Rico suffered a direct hit from Maria’s Category 4 winds and torrential rainfall - one of the worst storms recorded in Atlantic history, and the strongest storm to hit Puerto Rico since 1932.  

The island was left in the dark with 100% of Puerto Ricans losing power, and officials are just beginning to catalog the extensive damage which so far has claimed at least one life.


Puig, who brought home Puerto Rico’s first gold medal at last year’s Olympics in Rio, has asked “anyone willing to help rebuild the island” to donate via a YouCaring fundraising drive - 100% of the proceeds will go directly to relief efforts in Puerto Rico.

In less than 24 hours, Puig had already reached more than half of her $25,000 USD goal.

Click here to donate to Puig’s YouCaring fundraiser!

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