Statement from FireAid:

There has been an increasing amount of misinformation being shared online about the distribution of FireAid funds. We want to address concerns and be certain that Angelenos and the thousands of donors who generously contributed have a transparent view into how FireAid is putting their dollars to work. Key information is below. The Los Angeles Times contacted over one hundred organizations that received FireAid funds. They reviewed the beneficiaries’ grants as well as how they spent the money and they determined “FireAid was an urgent lifeline in the worst of the disaster and beyond.” Their investigation documents the impact FireAid has had to date:

• In the wake of the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires which were estimated to have caused $250B in damages, FireAid brought together the LA community and raised $100 million to help fire survivors recover and rebuild — quickly, efficiently, and with dignity.
• To most effectively deliver aid to the community as quickly as possible, we partnered with vetted and trusted local nonprofits who had the capacity and infrastructure to directly reach the individuals in need. This assistance provided food security, housing, resources for schools and more directly to individuals in the affected communities.
• To date, FireAid has distributed two rounds of funding totaling close to $75 million to organizations helping people on the ground and expect to distribute the remaining $25 million by the end of the year. The funds address the urgent needs from individuals in our communities— from immediate financial assistance, to childcare, groceries, mental health and housing and rebuilding public spaces as well as fire prevention. The grants have been distributed to more than 160 frontline nonprofits, schools, and local organizations which were vetted by global investment banking, securities, and investment management firm, Goldman Sachs working to respond to the crisis and each recipient is required to report on fund usage to ensure full transparency and impact. The year-end results, which are due in December 2025, will be audited by FireAid’s auditor, KPMG.
• FireAid along with our community partners will continue publishing additional information documenting how the funds are directly reaching survivors.
• The early results are powerful and personal. Hundreds of thousands of families, workers, students, and volunteers have already been directly helped.
• The early results are powerful and personal. Hundreds of thousands of families, workers, students, and volunteers have already been directly helped.

The full list of organizations, broken down by category, can be found HERE but below are just some of the examples.

• The Change Reaction issued 2,500 direct cash assistance checks to individuals — offering immediate relief for groceries, rent, and emergency supplies.
• LA Regional Food Bank distributed over 50 million pounds of food and household essentials to families cut off from basic necessities.
• Project Camp hosted 10 pop-up trauma-informed day camps, delivering 10,000+ hours of free childcare for nearly 1,000 families.
• 211 LA hired 40 new care coordinators to assist more than 6,000 displaced families, connecting them to housing, legal aid, and government benefits.
• Bet Tzedek Legal Services deployed additional paralegals and estate planning teams to help homeowners denied by FEMA or insurance and those needing new legal documents destroyed in the fires.
• YMCA of Metropolitan LA supported 20,000+ fire-impacted individuals, distributing essentials, granting over 1,300 free facility passes, and delivering Chromebooks, sports equipment, and emergency funds to families.
• Westside Food Bank, Project Angel Food, OBKLA, and others provided daily meal support to seniors, individuals with chronic illnesses, and displaced residents across impacted neighborhoods.
• Foundation for the Los Angeles Community Colleges delivered direct payments to hundreds of displaced students and staff, helping them stay in school and secure housing.

While there is much more work to do, the money raised through FireAid is delivering much needed assistance to as many people as possible, to foster healing and help LA recover stronger than before.