Over the past few weeks, all of us at the Packard Foundation have been following the news of the tragic fires in Los Angeles County with shock, sadness, and concern. As firefighters continue to make progress to contain the fires, families across the region are taking stock and coming to terms with unfathomable loss. Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted.
To help respond to the immediate needs of those in crisis, we will be providing $150,000 in funding to be split between two existing Foundation grantee partners:
- The Black LA Relief and Recovery Fund, which is supporting community organizations on the ground working to meet immediate and long-term needs of Black communities; and
- Latino Community Foundation, which is providing emergency support to low-income and undocumented Latino and Indigenous workers and families.
It’s still too early to grasp fully the impact of these fires. What we do know is that while wildfire has long been a fact of life in California, evidence and recent experience both suggest that climate change is making fires more frequent, more intense, and more difficult to contain.
As we all face a future that promises more uncertainty and risk, it’s essential that we pursue long-term solutions to the climate crisis while simultaneously helping communities build resilience to its effects. Our collective future depends on it.
We are also reminded in this moment of the true power of community – allowing us to draw on each other’s strength, collectively support those who need help, and remind ourselves and each other that none of us must face this alone. We know that LA will rebuild stronger, more resilient, and more vibrant than ever. To our grantees and partners, alongside our friends, family members, and neighbors in LA, we wish you strength in the difficult days ahead.
