Fire Recovery & Rebuild for LA's Youth, Teachers, Schools

Donate to Restore Learning & Normalcy for LA's Youth & Educators ASAP

The Altadena-Pasadena and Palisades fires have devastated Los Angeles.
NOW COMES THE RACE TO GET STUDENTS AND TEACHERS BACK INTO CLASSROOMS AND RESTORE NORMALCY IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. 

  • More than 5,750 students and teachers are displaced.
  • 12 schools and over 12,000 properties in major residential areas are damaged or destroyed.
  • 5 Altadena schools in Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) are substantially damaged; Pasadena Waldorf School, St. Marks School, and Eliot Arts Magnet are destroyed.
  • In Pacific Palisades, Palisades High School is severely damaged while Palisades Charter Elementary and Marquez Elementary are a total loss.
  • Right now across SoCal, 335 schools from Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, and San Diego counties are closed, affecting more than 211,000 students.

District-wide school closures are negatively impacting the educational growth of thousands of students, forcing families to seek alternate arrangements for schooling and facilities in what must feel like an uncertain and unsettling future.

Community spaces have likewise been devastated by the fires:
  • Palisades Public Library is badly damaged and closed until further notice.
  • YMCA Palisades-Malibu has been lost.
  • YMCAs in Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Hollywood, and Santa Anita are endangered.

AS A VETERAN TEACHER AND NATIVE ANGELENO MYSELFliving alongside several evacuation zones and with 25 years of students and colleagues spanning from Pasadena to the Palisades, I know the level of devastation is heart-wrenching and catastrophic in scope. Numerous families I’ve worked with have lost everything, down to their teen musician’s beloved cello and student athlete’s prized sports memorabilia. The same goes for their chemistry teacher, drama coach, school principal, and favorite history professor.


Consider the impact of these losses in a young person’s life that are critical to their education, identity, and well-being:

  • Irreplaceable Keepsakes, Heirlooms, Special Collections
  • Clothing, Electronics, Personal Items & Hobby Gear
  • Musical Instruments, Sports Equipment
  • Technology, Educational Tools
  • Shared Community Spaces
  • Critical Classroom and Support Resources 
Especially after the COVID pandemic, I fear for our students' and teachers' abilities to bounce back amid these new traumas, distractions, and scheduling disruptions.
Our kids & teens cannot afford to fall further behind; their self-confidence should be our top priority.

Backpacks. School Supplies. Wardrobe Redo. Personal Care Products. Instruments. Sports Gear. Tutoring Services. Socioemotional Support. Let’s give L.A.’s students and educators every possible chance to rebound and finish their school year strong.

THIS FUNDRAISER PROVIDES URGENTLY NEEDED & MUCH LOVED RESOURCES TO HELP STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND SCHOOLS RECOVER FROM THE L.A. FIRES, AND BUILD BACK BETTER. YOUR DONATION WILL GO DIRECTLY TO 7 INCREDIBLE, PLEDGE.TO-APPROVED, L.A.-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE & NEEDING OUR SUPPORT, ASAP:

  1. California Community Foundation: Supporting displaced teachers and education workers; rebuilding damaged schools and communities across LAUSD and PUSD.
  2. Altadena Girls Fire Recovery: Helping teen girls (and guys) with the real teen basics they need (wardrobe makeover, beauty products, shoes, accessories, fun tech, personal items, sports gear) to feel normal and confident again in this chaotic time. (Altadena Boys will be supported too!)
  3. 826LA: Helping students 8-18 rebuild their writing skills; mentoring high schoolers through the college and scholarship essay-writing process.
  4. ProjectCamp: Trauma-informed pop-up day camps and play for young evacuees impacted by disaster to be happy, carefree kids again.
  5. LA's BEST Afterschool Enrichment Program: Providing after-school care, safe havens, and youth development programs for K-6 public and charter school students.
  6. Los Angeles Room & Board: Directly supporting displaced and homeless community college students with transitional housing and residential education programs.
  7. Library Foundation of Los Angeles: Providing students with access to books, technology, and learning spaces; spearheading rebuilding efforts for affected public libraries.

EVERY DOLLAR MATTERS. Together, we can help L.A.’s students and teachers look ahead to a brighter future. PLEASE, DONATE TODAY.

With Love & Gratitude,
VANESSA ZIFF LASDON
4th, 5th, 6th Grade Teacher: Curtis School, LAUSD + Teach For America '02 (Atwater Elementary)
Educational Director ✷ Creative Coach ✷ Writer + Editor
W.O.R.D. Ink Agency   
WRITE. OBSERVE. REVISE. DISCOVER.

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