This year’s Basil Paterson Scholarship for Home Care Workers Fundraiser will honor Brian Chesky, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Airbnb for his work to support healthcare workers during the pandemic. Support that included providing 30 days of free housing to 1199SEIU members in NY, NJ, DC, MA, MD and FL, and committing more than $250,000 to aid healthcare workers.
In 2007, Brian and Joe Gebbia became Airbnb’s first hosts. Since then, Brian has overseen Airbnb’s growth to become a community of over four million hosts who have welcomed more than 800 million guests across 220+ countries and regions.
A graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design, Brian has embedded his creative roots in Airbnb’s culture, product and community. This design-driven approach has enabled a system of trust that allows strangers to live together, and created a unique business model that facilitates connection and belonging.
Brian is a signatory to the Giving Pledge and has committed to donating the net proceeds of his CEO equity compensation to community, philanthropic and charitable causes. Originally from Niskayuna, New York, Brian is an Airbnb Experience host in San Francisco.