Local philanthropists have provided $4.55 million to rebuild homes in Altadena lost in the deadly, destructive Eaton Fire.
The Altadena Builds Back Foundation, or ABBF provided the funding to San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity to rebuild 22 homes over three years in west Altadena for low-income, underinsured and uninsured homeowners, the foundation announced Friday.
Many of the applicants — whose average age is 72 and who have lived in their homes for decades — are part of multigenerational families or are seniors on fixed incomes, foundation officials said.
The ABBF is an offshoot of the Pasadena Community Foundation. The grant is the largest ever distributed from a PCF fund that officials said marks an important milestone in long-term fire recovery efforts for Altadena residents.
During post-fire outreach efforts in the area, San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity noted local homeowners’ desire to rebuild their homes and stay in Altadena. But many low–income, fixed-income or underinsured fire survivors face daunting funding gaps that make rebuilding a not-so-viable option.
“Pasadena Community Foundation and its supporting organization Altadena Builds Back Foundation believe that recovery must begin with — and be led by— our community,” ABBF Project Director Candice Kim said in a statement. “This inaugural grant is a powerful first step for ABBF. It embodies our deep, decades-long commitment to Altadena and our trust in SGV Habitat to deliver community-rooted solutions.”
SGV Habitat’s recovery and rebuilding plans include offering case management and financial support with an emphasis on ensuring that survivors rebuild without taking on new debt.
“Due to our diligent efforts, we received the first rebuilding permit in Altadena earlier this year,” SGV Habitat CEO Bryan Wong said in a statement. “Now with the first grant from the Altadena Builds Back Foundation, we can provide hope to 22 households over the next three years. Many residents are reaching out to us trying to find options to affordably rebuild. With partners like ABBF, this is possible.”
Working with Los Angeles County and The Foothill Catalog Foundation, another nonprofit that helps with fire recovery, SGV Habitat has submitted preapproved designs for homes and accessory dwelling units to accelerate construction timelines.
“This is not just about rebuilding homes — it’s about restoring hope, stability, and a future,” Wong said. “These homes represented generations of resilience and legacy. With this support, families can begin to rebuild more than walls—they can rebuild lives.”
Pasadena Community Foundation spokeswoman Sarah Hilbert said the $4.55 million grant comes entirely from donors who earmarked their gifts for the long-term recovery efforts in Altadena.
The Eaton Fire burned throughout January, scorching over 14,000 acres, destroying or damaging over 10,500 structures and causing the deaths of 18 people.
