Raymond James Hurricane Helene relief efforts

As Chair and CEO Paul Reilly wrote last week, Raymond James is so much more than a company – we are a family.

Our business continuity efforts have been well-planned and well-executed – a sincere thank you to all involved. Even more impressive is the care, concern and prayers so many advisors and associates throughout the country have provided to colleagues, their families and their communities coping with the impacts of Hurricane Helene.

We are in this together.

As we continue to see the devastation left behind by Helene, we know many will have a need for more assistance. To that end, Raymond James is contributing up to $6.5 million to support our associates and communities as we rebuild, together.

• To help with the cost of evacuation, travel and other storm-related expenses, the firm is providing a $1,000 Hurricane Relief Stipend to eligible associates in Florida most impacted by Helene. In addition to this almost $5 million of associate relief, all impacted associates are also eligible for three extra days of award time as they manage recovery efforts. 

• Raymond James has always prioritized supporting our communities. In this time of need, the firm is donating $1 million to the American Red Cross and other disaster response partners for victims of Hurricane Helene. We will also match up to $250,000 in donations from advisors and associates to the American Red Cross and United Way Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund, both trusted partners providing relief for those in need. 

• Raymond James wants to support all advisors and associates impacted by Helene – including Southeast communities not originally in the storm’s track, such as my hometown of Augusta, GA. One way we will do that is by donating $250,000 to Friends of Raymond James, which is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit providing financial relief to associates and advisors who find themselves faced with a personal hardship. Since its inception 25 years ago, the non-profit has disbursed over $2.5 million, fulfilling more than 850 requests for financial support.

Finally, understanding this is a difficult time for many, please remember to take advantage of the numerous mental health resources available to you from the firm. The Employee Assistance Program is available 24/7 for support and guidance.

On behalf of Paul Reilly, the Board of Directors and the entire leadership team, I want to thank you for all you are doing for your fellow associates, clients and communities. Challenging times like this highlight the importance of always putting people first, which has always been the foundation of Raymond James. As we have always done since our founding, I am confident we will come together to rebuild our communities stronger than they were before Helene passed through!

Paul Shoukry

President, Raymond James Financial