Altadena Girls was a fire relief success story. A year later, can it still help as L.A. moves on?

by

The s’more bar was finally bubbling at Altadena Girls’ new community space.

In January, wildfires devastated their town, but a group of around twenty to thirty young girls found a bit of normalcy and fun at a “cozy cabin” event in Pasadena. They spent the evening relaxing, making Christmas ornaments, and enjoying activities like glittery makeup and temporary tattoos.

I recently visited Altadena Girls, and it was truly inspiring. Seeing the space – a full 12,000 square feet – finally open to the public after being built from the ground up by 14-year-old Avery Colvert was something special. She founded the organization back in January, and seeing her beaming as she put the finishing touches – garlands and decorations everywhere – really drove home how much this meant to her. It’s a remarkable achievement, and a testament to her vision.

The nonprofit was putting the finishing touches on its podcast studios, practice spaces for bands, and a basement lounge called “Sliving” – a trendy hangout for young content creators designed by Paris Hilton, who created the term to mean living your best life.

Lauren Sandidge, Avery’s mother, shared that they have a video from the very beginning of the project where Avery talked about what she hoped each room would be like. She said being at the event now, seeing those ideas come to life, was an incredible experience.

Among the many charities that formed after January’s fires, Altadena Girls stood out. Avery rallied her community to collect over a million essential items – including clothes, toiletries, and comfort goods – for teenage girls who had lost their homes. The group quickly gained popularity on social media and attracted support from celebrities.

With the anniversary of the fires approaching, Altadena Girls’ long-awaited project is complete – a wonderful new space for kids to gather and have fun.

California

The Eaton fire destroyed over half of the homes on Highland Avenue in Altadena. Despite the devastation, almost all of the residents plan to rebuild and return to the street nearly ten months later.

Like many organizations helping with fire relief, this group is struggling with less funding and public interest.

After the fires, the Altadena Girls group quickly raised over $500,000. However, before they had a dedicated meeting space, their efforts felt inconsistent, and some residents wondered if the group would have enough support and direction to continue successfully in the future. More recently, a fundraising campaign has brought in only $9,000 towards its $500,000 goal after four months.

“We got all this virality and attention, so I think that everything’s been accelerated, including the expectation to have all the answers,” Sandidge said. “I don’t know what next year will look like. We’re working right now around the strategy of ‘can we do all this again without a crisis response?’”

How Altadena Girls started

Following the devastating Eaton fire in Altadena, Avery, who was a student at the badly damaged Eliot Arts Magnet Academy, and her family gathered makeup, toiletries, and clothes to help teenage girls regain a sense of normalcy. Many of these girls had lost their homes or been forced to leave their schools and communities.

I really connected with Sandidge’s story – their family had already gone through so much, losing their home in the Tennessee floods back in 2021. That’s why bringing those donated items to the Boyle Heights warehouse meant so much to them. They weren’t just giving stuff away; they wanted to help these teens feel empowered and hopeful, not like victims of circumstance.

Avery explained in January that after losing everything, she simply wants to help them feel a bit of normalcy amidst all the chaos in their lives.

Fifteen-year-old Avery is a gifted and caring speaker. Along with her mother, who has a background in Human Resources, and Matt Chait, a branding and marketing expert and Sandidge’s ex-partner, she helped Altadena Girls gain significant public attention and became a symbol of hope for a Los Angeles community dealing with loss.

Music

It was a heartbreaking coincidence that the Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed two neighborhoods known for their importance to Los Angeles’s music scene.

California’s First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez praised the initiative, while celebrities like Paris Hilton, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Mindy Kaling shared information about it on social media. Several musicians, including Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, and Hayley Williams, donated items to a fundraising auction supporting Altadena Girls and other charities. Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performed a benefit concert at the Troubadour, and Meghan Markle volunteered at the organization’s warehouse. Numerous individual donors also contributed, giving anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

California

The Eaton fire destroyed over half of the homes on Highland Avenue in Altadena. Despite the devastation, almost all of the residents plan to rebuild and return to the street nearly ten months later.

I was really relieved to hear that Altadena Girls bounced back so quickly after the fire! They announced they’d already found a new space – a 12,000-square-foot office right in Pasadena. It’s great to see them getting back on their feet so fast.

Even though the organization’s physical location wasn’t scheduled to open for ten more months, it quickly began receiving recognition, which was especially welcome in Los Angeles at a time when people were looking for inspiring figures. In February, Avery received the Time100 Women of the Year Impact Award.

Altadena Girls grew into a full-time job for Sandidge and her team, which now includes five staff members (both full- and part-time) and a lot of dedicated volunteers. She quit her previous job in April and began running the group with Ruby Birns, an event and content creator she met at one of the first Altadena Girls gatherings.

The new center opened in November and is currently welcoming teen girls from the San Gabriel Valley, with priority given to families impacted by the recent fires. So far, Altadena Girls has offered activities like karaoke, Afro-jazz dance, and movie nights three days a week. The center also provides quiet spaces for students who need to relax. They plan to expand to five days a week next year.

Young people who frequent the space expressed relief at having a dependable spot to connect with friends who have been affected by the fire.

California

The Altadena community came together over Labor Day weekend to celebrate the reopening of the beloved Altadena Town & Country Club.

Twelve-year-old Journey, a regular at the dance classes, explained that she’s been coming every week since her school in Altadena closed and many of her classmates moved away. She’s glad she’s been able to reconnect with some of them at Altadena Girls, which has helped her cope with the loss of her school. ‘Dwelling on negative things isn’t good for your well-being,’ she said. ‘This place really feels like a second home to me.’

I recently spoke with 14-year-old Lauren after a karaoke night, and her story really stuck with me. She and her friends belted out the entire ‘Wicked’ soundtrack – she said it was a much-needed escape. You see, Lauren’s family lost their home in a fire just as her mother began battling cancer. It’s incredibly moving to hear how something as simple as singing with others offered a respite from all that, a space where she felt accepted and understood, without any judgment about what she was going through. It’s a reminder that connection and compassion can be lifelines during incredibly difficult times.

Altadena Girls has been a safe haven for children in need, but after the fires, larger, well-known charities came under scrutiny regarding how effectively they were helping.

Growing pains

Details about Altadena Girls’ finances aren’t available to the public yet. They only recently received official nonprofit status, so their yearly financial reports are now accessible to anyone who wants to view them.

As a big supporter of Altadena Girls, I learned a lot of their initial fundraising efforts went directly into making their programs happen – things like putting on events, paying staff, and getting their space in Pasadena ready. They were incredibly resourceful though – a huge amount of the actual design and construction work was generously donated, which really helped them stretch those early funds!

When wildfires forced families from their homes and they were struggling to find help, Altadena Girls quickly organized several positive events and collected donations to support them.

Voices

Lopez: Nine months after the Eaton fire, ‘moments of wavering, or wanting to give up’ on ever returning

People in Altadena who were initially eager to rebuild after the damage are now reconsidering, as the difficult and exhausting work has worn them down.

In May, the group hosted a prom for girls in Altadena who weren’t able to attend their own because of the fire. They also organized a free shopping event before school started, giving families affected by the fire essential items they needed.

Although it was initially stated that on-site mental health services would be provided to help students heal, Altadena Girls’ does not actually offer clinical therapy at the school.

We’re still finalizing the details of our programs, but we’re very pleased with the art and music therapists we’re working with,” Birns explained. “We want to offer therapy in a way that feels natural and empowering, rather than like we’re dictating someone’s recovery process.

Some people criticized Altadena Girls’ social media posts about the slow progress in opening the center.

One person commented, asking what happened to the money donated after the fires, noting many others had also contributed. The organization responded with an apology, explaining they announced their plans prematurely, before fully assessing the effort and time needed to make them a reality.

California

Arborists in Altadena estimate that the town has lost at least half of its trees since the Eaton fire, and they’re worried about losing even more.

People working to rebuild Altadena share the frustration with how slowly things are moving. What started as hope for many residents has now turned into disappointment and anger.

Emmy-nominated filmmaker Ondi Timoner, whose home was lost in the Eaton fire, explained that even though people have short attention spans, the impact of the fire was deeply felt throughout Los Angeles. She’s made a film called “All the Walls Came Down” documenting the fire and the community’s efforts to rebuild.

People in the community are still losing their homes and struggling to make ends meet. The situation is critical and requires immediate attention.

California

The Collaboratory in Altadena helps residents find support for essential needs like food, housing, permits, mental health services, and childcare. Even a year after the devastating Eaton fire, many in the community still require this assistance.

Michelle White, with the nonprofit Neighborhood Servants, is helping run the Collaboratory in Altadena. It’s a center where people affected by fires can connect with case managers who can guide them to various organizations offering help with basic needs. She explained that her group is concentrating on providing practical, everyday support, especially because getting charitable assistance can be difficult.

Although most of the media attention has moved on from Altadena, the residents who rely on our services are still here. We’re one of just a few organizations consistently providing support, and many people are coping with loss while also working to help their neighbors, according to White.

Birns explained that Altadena Girls aims to help teens find the support they need, and also to foster various paths toward recovery and well-being.

We want to create a welcoming and consistent environment where children feel comfortable returning, and staff recognize them personally,” Birns explained.

Challenges moving forward

Because Altadena Girls’ initial fundraising went so well, any future difficulties might feel even harder to overcome.

You know, after covering a lot of charity events, I’ve learned a valuable lesson: the initial buzz doesn’t always last. As Sandidge pointed out, a glamorous kickoff with famous faces can fade quickly. A few months down the line, those same celebrities often become unreachable, and frankly, they’ve moved on to the next event. It’s a reminder that genuine, sustained support is what really matters, not just a flashy premiere.

California

The Davila family discovered the perfect house in Altadena and are planning to rebuild after a fire sadly destroyed homes that had been in their family for three generations.

Altadena Girls recently received over $113,000 in donations, including a generous contribution from Kevin Lyman, founder of Vans Warped Tour, and new support from popular Los Angeles businesses like Alfred Coffee and Erewhon. To help cover costs, the event space is also available for rent for $250 per hour, with a five-hour minimum. It’s described as a versatile and beautifully designed area ideal for events, performances, workshops, and photoshoots.

Altadena Girls wouldn’t share the exact cost of renting the community space, but stated it was less than $100,000 per year.

I was curious about how much money Altadena Girls has on hand to cover things like staff pay, their office space, putting on events, and supporting the community. They told me that information will be available when they make their financial reports public, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for those!

The scrutiny on what began as a teen’s amateur operation has been humbling, Sandidge said.

The sudden surge of public attention was overwhelming for our family,” Sandidge explained. “Everyone wants to know our next steps, and there’s this idea that because a celebrity volunteered, we’re set financially for a couple of years. It’s been difficult because people assume we’re okay and don’t understand we still need support.

Altadena Girls has hired Shannon Silber Shapiro, who previously worked with the charities of Katy Perry and Matthew McConaughey, as its new executive director. Meanwhile, Chait, who was involved in the organization’s early events with Avery, stepped down from their position on March 17th.

Chait explained that she and Avery had different ideas about how to move forward with Altadena Girls, covering personal, professional, and financial aspects. She praised Avery as a gifted and determined person with a kind heart, and expressed confidence that Altadena Girls is just the beginning of Avery’s many future successes.

Altadena Girls gained initial momentum thanks to media coverage and public interest, but long-term success depends on securing funding from companies and charitable organizations.

Music

A longtime collaborator of Ornette Coleman and a key figure in free jazz lost nearly everything in the Eaton fire, but he still has his music and drive. He says that in Los Angeles, a resilient spirit is essential for survival.

Last November, Avery attended a Town & Country magazine event alongside Ella Emhoff, a well-known style influencer and Kamala Harris’ stepdaughter. Meghan Markle actually interviewed Avery for the magazine as well. Whether Avery continues to focus on Altadena Girls in the future is up to her, but it will always be an important part of their family’s story, according to Sandidge.

I’m committed to doing everything necessary for our success,” Sandidge stated. “We have the building, and we’re ready to go, but there’s still a lot of work ahead of us to fully establish ourselves.”

Read More

2025-12-11 14:36