Movies

FireAid’s concerts raised $100 million for recovery. Six months later, “there’s still such significant need”

BBG News

As the wildfires swept across Pacific Palisades and Altadena in January, it was clear to Michael Flood, CEO of the L.A. Regional Food Bank, that there would be a significant surge in the need for assistance.

During January through March, I witnessed an unprecedented surge in demand for food relief as numerous individuals were forced from their homes and lost essential services like power and water. Now, the need remains just as high. People have had to seek shelter with loved ones across the county, and our February food bank in Inglewood was a stark reminder of how widespread this displacement has been due to both fires.

The food assistance organization that caters to over 300,000 Angelinos each month received substantial aid from the FireAid charity concert in January. This concert was orchestrated by Steve Ballmer, owner of the Clippers, and music industry titan Irving Azoff. It boasted numerous top-tier artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, who performed at Kia Forum and Intuit Dome. The event, coupled with matching donations from Ballmer and his wife Connie, amassed a staggering $100 million for wildfire relief efforts.

Approximately half a year post-fire incident, The Times reached out to more than a hundred organizations that received funding from FireAid. These organizations were involved in various sectors such as food relief, housing, mental health support, childcare services, and ecological restoration efforts. An analysis of the grants provided and their corresponding activities indicated that FireAid served as a vital source of aid during the most critical phase of the disaster and continued to provide assistance afterwards.

Lisa Cleri Reale, a member of FireAid’s grant advisory committee, emphasized that our actions were carefully considered, with the primary aim being to address the needs of fire survivors and act in their best interest.

Music

Mikael Wood and August Brown attended the charitable events, FireAid benefit concerts, held at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome and Kia Forum. These shows featured popular artists such as Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Green Day, Stevie Wonder, and numerous others.

Even though the grant recipients are still dealing with the complex, interconnected issues that plague a post-traumatized Los Angeles, it’s clear that this task will call for continued financial commitment and efforts for many years.

With rental costs skyrocketing and food prices jumping by 25%, it’s placing an enormous burden on individuals who are already finding it tough to cover their essential expenses,” Flood remarked. “Despite being half a year past the fires, the demand for aid remains incredibly high.

During breaks between sets, FireAid shared heartrending personal accounts of immense sorrow. For instance, the Williams family from Altadena recounted their experience when they received a warning call at 3:30 in the morning. Rushed preparations were made, as they hurriedly collected essential items such as their grandmother’s cherished clock, their father’s remains, and their beloved 47-year-old parrot named Hank. Tragically, out of the five family members present, four homes were destroyed, and they are currently finding it difficult to secure new living arrangements.

For those music enthusiasts contributing during Stevie Nicks’ and Sting’s performances, it was reasonable to inquire about the selection of these particular groups, and how they were impacting families like the Williams’. In late May, the Palisades Community Council wrote a letter to the Annenberg Foundation and FireAid organizers, expressing concern over the grants and requesting transparency on their distribution, as well as an explanation for the decision-making process behind them.

FireAid organization shared the complete schedule, granted sums distributed so far, as well as details on upcoming funding rounds and instructions for small organizations to submit their applications.

Reale stated that this philanthropy is unique compared to others. Just like a special magnifying glass is focusing on us, there’s an expectation from concert-goers, website donors, musicians who volunteered their time, and everyone else involved, that their contributions are being used effectively. While our primary concern is the well-being of fire survivors, we also want to be transparent with FireAid donors about our decision-making process.

California

6 months following the most devastating wildfire ever recorded in Los Angeles County, let’s explore the progress made in cleaning up the Eaton and Palisades fires, the actions taken by authorities, ongoing investigations, and any resulting lawsuits.

To illustrate their grant-giving approach, FireAid reps demonstrated that their initial focus was on supporting organizations that directly provided financial aid, food, and temporary housing to disaster survivors.

Last February, I was privileged to witness an extraordinary act of generosity: a generous donation of $1 million was given to the L.A. Regional Food Bank, swiftly followed by another grant worth $250,000. This funding was instrumental in hiring additional drivers, forklift operators, and warehouse workers during the aftermath of the devastating fires. As Flood, a representative from the food bank, eloquently put it, “We’re a year-round program, so when disaster strikes, that gets laid on top of it.” In essence, these funds served as an essential reinforcement to their ongoing efforts in processing and distributing donations during critical times.

In the wake of the February grant, the organization Inclusive Action disbursed $500 cash grants to landscapers, street vendors, and other outdoor workers who had either lost their jobs or homes due to fires. The direct-aid group, Change Reaction, received a $2 million allocation from the initial round of FireAid grants.

As a cinephile taking notes after this week’s press conference, I jotted down an interesting piece of news: Wade Trimmer, the head honcho at Reaction, shared that they extended financial aid to 2,500 individuals, granting each recipient up to $15,000 to cover urgent housing and transportation expenses right away.

In my perspective, our goal was to bring stability to as many homes as possible since a stable environment fosters sound decision-making. For the affluent residents in Palisades, this task proved to be an all-consuming job and a real nightmare, but dealing with it all was unavoidable. However, in Altadena, we encountered an older population residing in multigenerational households. So, when one house burned, the impact stretched to at least two or three other households.

The financial aid supported Elizabeth Jackson, proprietor of White Lotus Fitness Studio situated in the Palisades, which employed 14 fitness trainers. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed both her home and business. “We lost every single client at the studio as they too had lost their homes,” Jackson lamented. “They’re all rebuilding their lives from scratch.

Via a regular cast member of White Lotus, Jackson managed to connect with Change Reaction, who utilized some of their FireAid funds to provide $1,000 to each White Lotus staff member and replace the fire-damaged equipment. This allowed Jackson to reopen in a smaller location nearby. She plans to return to her original property once it has been rebuilt.

She remarked, ‘That backing was like a beacon in all the darkness that unfolded.’ Losing the studio is indeed unfortunate, but experiencing such radiance has an impact far greater than any negativity. It’s what sustains me.

Music

Unfortunately, in a tragic twist of fate, the Palisades and Eaton fires devastated two L.A. neighborhoods that held special importance for the city’s music scene.

The destruction caused by the fire zones was beyond imagination. Team Rubicon received a $250,000 grant for immediate tasks such as clearing debris, preventing floods, and removing vegetation. As stated by their spokesperson, Thomas Brown, FireAid grasped the volatile nature of wildfire response and valued adaptability during both emergency aid and long-term recovery. They provided funds at a crucial juncture, acknowledging the significance of Team Rubicon’s work.

Injured and relocated pets obtained complimentary veterinary services courtesy of organizations such as the Pasadena Humane Society and Community Animal Medicine Project. However, those who were responsible for aiding others were themselves struggling. Numerous local nonprofit employees had their homes and workplaces destroyed, necessitating assistance to keep them afloat while they continued serving others.

As a dedicated movie buff, I’d rephrase it like this: “Back in Altadena, where my team and many others faced devastating losses – homes gone, or being the sole house left on their street – Stacey Roth from Hillsides, a Pasadena foster care and youth mental health facility close to the Eaton fire zone, shared her experience. Our main residential building at Hillsides took a hit with significant smoke damage. But thanks to the FireAid grant, we were able to relocate our most vulnerable residents to nearby hotels, ensuring their safety during these challenging times.

Michael Sidman from Jewish Family Service found himself homeless after the Eaton fire in Altadena claimed his own residence. “I consider myself fortunate to have a robust support network,” he stated, “but dealing with this ordeal has been nothing short of a nightmare.” Pondering about individuals facing such hardship without family assistance and uncertain about accessing services, leaves me perplexed as to how they manage.

The organization primarily utilized a $250,000 grant from FireAid for extensive disaster case management tasks, focusing on helping survivors navigate the FEMA bureaucracy. Initial grants were also distributed to organizations such as Legal Aid, Bet Tzedek Legal, and Public Counsel to assist with insurance claims. The destruction of documents in the fires made it difficult to prove residence and home ownership, so these groups helped alleviate that challenge.

Initially, individuals were unsure about their temporary shelter, struggled to find sustenance, and were deeply distressed regarding their mental wellbeing, as Sidman explained. However, the focus has now moved towards addressing long-term consequences and recovery strategies, offering guidance on how they can rebuild their lives systematically.

Over time, as the process of recovery progressed, FireAid started placing more emphasis on long-term initiatives in its upcoming $25-million funding cycle. These included insurance assistance, handling cases with local government, providing mental health resources, guiding home rebuilding permit procedures, and aiding in environmental restoration.

Or, as the recovery weeks went by, FireAid broadened its focus for the second round of its $25-million grant to encompass long-term endeavors such as insurance, government liaison, mental health care, helping with home rebuilding permits, and ecological restoration.

Providing financial assistance is important, but it’s equally crucial to guide people towards future stability,” Reale explained. “Although rebuilding seemed distant in January, we understood that people needed to manage their finances. Many of the fire victims our grantees were assisting were financially vulnerable even before the fires. Our role was to help them achieve financial security so they wouldn’t struggle when they were ready to rebuild their lives.

California

In an attempt to prevent displacement of residents due to profit-driven redevelopment, some charities are acquiring burnt plots in Altadena. This strategy aims to curb disaster-induced gentrification.

The extensive fires have caused major disruptions in schools and childcare facilities for numerous young families, leaving many of them either without a home or far from their loved ones and necessary resources.

Victor Dominguez, the president and CEO of YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, stated that the FireAid grant enabled them to offer urgent childcare to around a thousand displaced kids. Additionally, it provided mental health support and camp activities so children could reconnect with their communities which were affected by fires.

According to Dominguez, many young children in their neighborhoods have faced numerous traumatic events. Following the fires, these kids and their families found refuge in a safe place they could trust. Now, it’s becoming clear that this is an extended ordeal for them. Fortunately, we were able to recruit more licensed social workers, and funds from FireAid were instrumental in providing the necessary support.

The demand for mental health services continues to be a significant and ongoing issue, particularly affecting young people and children. As stated by Reale, he visited the Sears building where Pali High is temporarily located a few months ago, and saw a large wall adorned with messages from students about their feelings following the fires. It was evident that the trauma had not disappeared, as healing takes time.

In my perspective, a significant portion of the aid distributed was less conspicuous to the general public, but it undeniably saved lives for those who received it. Among the most prominent FireAid projects were the reconstruction and refurbishment of damaged public green spaces, such as Loma Alta Park, which is situated near Altadena. Another site, Palisades Park, is set to open this summer.

As people living in the charred regions plan to rebuild their houses, concerns such as soil analysis, cleanup, and permit acquisition have surfaced as fresh administrative hurdles that FireAid grants will need to address in order to facilitate smooth navigation.

The question of how best to aid in rebuilding, or even if it’s necessary at all, is a multi-layered issue. For the upcoming third round of grants from FireAid, there’s a strong likelihood that they will prioritize long-term strategies for reducing the impact of fires and increasing the ability of environments to withstand them, as these types of incidents are virtually unavoidable in the context of climate change.

In truth, we don’t have enough funds to reconstruct every destroyed property,” Reale explained. “Instead, we can focus on providing resources or methods that will benefit many when they decide to rebuild. These could be sustainable models. We can no longer rebuild in the same manner, so we will direct our funds towards initiatives that aid people with home fortification strategies and measures to prevent and lessen future fires.

Voices

Lopez: Six months after the fires: ‘We have lost a lot. We never lost each other.’

As a passionate film enthusiast, I can’t help but wonder: Will the charm of Altadena and the Palisades still resonate, holding even a fraction of their former glory? The displaced residents dwell in a realm suspended between anticipation and melancholy.

In less tangible cultural communities, which include music studios, rehearsal spaces, and artists’ residences that were destroyed by the fires, recovery will be scattered or dispersed rather than focused on a specific point. The January concert made FireAid an ideal match as a partner for MusiCares, the charitable arm of the Recording Academy. MusiCares, however, declined to reveal the exact amount donated by FireAid, but did mention that this grant was part of the $6.25 million in aid given to 3,200 musicians affected by the fires for purposes such as rebuilding studios, covering medical expenses, and evacuating burn sites.

A significant concern arising from recent fires is the potential for gentrification and financial speculation. Historically desirable areas like The Palisades may find it challenging for working-class residents to reclaim affordable housing units they’ve lost. Meanwhile, Altadena – a community with deep roots in African American history and numerous blue-collar families – risks seeing its longtime inhabitants displaced once more, this time by economic factors.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the Black LA Relief and Recovery Fund, where I proudly serve as a voice, will leverage our FireAid grant to empower local residents. Our goal is to help them regain control, rebuild their homes, and stand resilient against political and financial challenges such as land grabs and gentrification.

As a devoted supporter, I can’t help but express my admiration for FireAid’s extraordinary efforts in organizing a concert reminiscent of the Concert For Bangladesh and Live Aid. However, the $100 million raised is merely a tiny fraction compared to the colossal damage inflicted on Altadena and the Palisades, which amounts to billions. (Remember, small nonprofits can still apply for grants in the final round.)

Admitingly, Reale and other organizers of FireAid acknowledge that the amount of aid required is overwhelming, causing universal distress while being riddled with class and racial divisions. The FireAid concert significantly influenced organizations aiding survivors directly on the ground. However, it’s far from sufficient to address the need, and could never be so.

Initially, our concerns were mainly about essential needs. However, the stark realization dawned on us – ‘I’ve lost my home, I can’t return.’ As Roth from Hillsides put it, “What we’re witnessing now is providing aid to help people come to terms with this harsh reality and find a way to progress.

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2025-07-23 13:33

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