Why Puerto Rico?

After becoming friends with Puerto Ricans that were part of the diaspora in Fredericksburg, Virginia, the founders took a trip to the island in the fall of 2021. In the short time they spent there, they fell in love with the food, the people, and the culture. At the same time, they also learned about the devastating effect Hurricane Maria had on the island. They learned about the recovery efforts, the losses, and the struggles that were still present even years after Maria had passed.

Shortly after the year anniversary of their trip, hurricane Fiona made landfall on Puerto Rico’s southern coast. The storm, while weaker than her predecessor, brought a torment of flooding and winds that destroyed already dilapidated infrastructure. One of the greatest hits was to the island’s power grid; the result was an island-wide blackout that lasted days. Some areas did not have their power restored until nearly three and a half weeks after the storm had passed. 

This series of experiences is what led our founders to look for ways to help and give back to the community that inspired them. Recognizing the bounty of solar energy for the island, it was determined the best plan of action would be to provide solar resources to communities that were primarily reliant on the power grid. From these ideas, Bori First was founded with the intention to connect the Puerto Rican diaspora back to its homeland by turning donations into renewable energy resources.