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| Photo courtesy of the Pasadena Community Foundation
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A second round of Eaton Fire Relief & Recovery Fund grants from the Pasadena Community Foundation provided a combined $450,000 to 18 nonprofit and church organizations in Altadena and Pasadena, the foundation announced Thursday.
The Eaton Fire fund was created Jan. 8 and so far has raised $12 million, according to the foundation, which has distributed nearly $1 million to 38 Altadena and Pasadena nonprofits.
“This second round of PCF’s fire relief funding derives from our broad and deep engagement the community over the last month,” the foundation’s Director of Community Impact Jeannine Bogaard said in a statement. “PCF board and staff members have had constant conversations with impacted community members while also attending numerous meetings and community gatherings to stay informed of evolving needs. We are grateful to learn from the incredible ‘on-the-ground’ work taking place. PCF’s close relationships with civic, community, and nonprofit leaders will continue to inform subsequent funding in the months to come.”
The second round of funding had an emphasis on organizations that serve older adults who often face unique challenges in a disaster’s aftermath, according to the foundation. Six organizations received grant funding: Convalescent Aid Society, Huntington Hospital’s Senior Care Network, Pasadena Village, Pacific Clinics, Pasadena Senior Center and Pasadena Meals on Wheels.
These 12 organizations received funding to address urgent needs, foundation officials said: YWCA San Gabriel Valley, Altadena Rotary Charities, First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Beacon Housing, College Access Plan, Friends in Deed, Harambee Ministries, New Revelation Baptist Church, Pasadena Audubon Society, Stars, Victory Bible Church and Villa Esperanza.
More than 4,000 individual donors and substantial support from local and national foundations and corporations have enabled PCF to move resources into the devastated community quickly, foundation officials said.
“However, our community’s needs are immense and will be ongoing for months into years,” according to the statement.
On Jan. 17 the foundation provided grants totaling $533,000 to 20 local nonprofits: Altadena Library Foundation, Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena, Casa Treatment Center, Door of Hope, Families Forward Learning Center, Five Acres, Flintridge Center, Foothill Family, Foothill Unity, Impact House, Learning Works, Mentoring & Partnership for Youth Development, My Tribe Rise, National Day Laborers Organizing Network, Pasadena/Altadena Coalition of Transformative Leaders, Pasadena Humane, Pasadena Village, Shepherd’s Door, St. Vincent de Paul at St. Elizabeth Church and Young & Healthy.
In a statement following the first round of grants, PCF President and CEO Jennifer DeVoll said the foundation “will work to unlock government resources and engage local input and expertise to preserve the diversity and beauty of Altadena. We also want to help ensure that generational Black and Latino families can rebuild their homes and their lives, that the creative and artistic community can thrive, and that small businesses can reopen.”
The foundation is continuing to accept donations to the Eaton Fire fund via its website.
The wildfire that started in Eaton Canyon on Jan. 7 amid fierce winds burned for over three weeks, caused 17 deaths, scorched over 14,000 acres and destroyed or damaged nearly 10,500 structures, according to Cal Fire.
Over 100,000 residents had to evacuate, according to published reports.
The Eaton Fire’s cause remained under investigation. Several lawsuits allege Southern California Edison equipment sparked the inferno.
