Max Einhorn
Student

During the 2007 San Diego wildfires, high school student Max Einhorn became aware that many San Diegans were not prepared to deal with emergencies. Volunteering at 211 San Diego, the disaster hotline, made him realize the need for disaster preparedness since future natural disasters are inevitable.

Einhorn has always been interested in business and philanthropy. He saw an opportunity to do both by starting the Entrepreneurs Club at La Jolla High School. The club continues to grow and raise money for disaster preparedness, but Einhorn says the greatest challenge in getting it started was navigating the bureaucracy of public high schools and motivating students to participate. By bringing in well-known local entrepreneurs to advise club members about their work at each week’s meeting, the club got the “cool factor” to attract participants.

Einhorn has participated in community service his entire life, but knowing that he created this program and that it is succeeding is more than enough to motivate and make him enjoy all of the work he put in. He also appreciates the networking skills he’s acquired through his involvement with 211 San Diego, the Red Cross and the San Diego Unified School District. His new favorite word is persistence.

When it comes to disaster preparedness, Einhorn believes that we are all in it together.

“Every family and business that can take care of itself is one less burden for relief agencies. It’s a pleasure to know you are making your community safer,” Einhorn says. “For example, when it comes to earthquakes, it’s a matter of when, not whether, the next one hits and we all have to pull together."