Nonprofits Score Big from FireAid: Individuals Not so Much

One hundred million dollars was raised for victims affected by the Palisades and Eaton Fires.

Palisades victims have said they have received no aid. Who has received the money? Nonprofits. But even the amount they have received has not been disclosed.

National news, Instagram, videos and Youtube showed the fires as they raced through the two towns on January 7, 8 and 9, destroying nearly 12,000 homes.

Fire victims scrambled to find housing with relatives, friends, at Airbnbs, motels and apartments. Most families moved more than once and this editor spoke to a family that moved seven times before finding a rental house, that could accommodate their two large dogs.

Left without clothes, furniture, and most of their belongings, people fought to subsist. FEMA and Red Cross stepped up instantly to help.

Insurance was not helpful to many, and some insurance companies seemed to delight in putting victims through numerous adjustors just to receive a portion of proceeds.

It seemed a godsend to many that a FireAid Concert was held and some of that money might go to victims to help replace belongings, pay rent and start to save to rebuild.

People across the country wanted to help. They sent money to concert organizers thinking it would help individuals who needed to buy a bed or dishes or to buy clothing for families.

In May, a reader wrote to CTN and asked when he would receive funds. This editor checked and found out that FireAid money went to the Annenberg Foundation, so that they could  dole out grants. But the grants did not go to individuals, but instead went to nonprofits.

The list of nonprofits was released, and many had no affiliation with Pacific Palisades. CTN asked for nonprofits specific to the Palisades and was given a list of 42. CTN asked how much money went to each nonprofit but has still not received an answer.

Tonight a few more nonprofits who received FireAid are examined.

Home Grown: Supported 53 early childhood education providers in the Palisades.

“Our mission is to build a more inclusive child care system that values and supports home-based childcare (HBCC) as a quality option for families and children. https://homegrownchildcare.org/

(Editor’s note: The only listing I could find was based in Eureka, Ca. and has been tax-exempt since October 2021. If a reader can find the 990, let me know and I’ll update this listing.)

Disability Community Resource Center: County-wide program. www.dcrc.co

TJ Hill the executive director, wrote to CTN in an email that DCRC received a total of $250,000 in Fire Aid funding, which was committed entirely to direct assistance for wildfire survivors. “By combining this with other recovery resources, we’ve been able to make nearly $500,000 in total aid available to people with disabilities and older adults impacted by the fires.  This is a first of its kind disaster recovery fund specifically targeted to individuals who are most impacted with uncompensated costs.

“To date, we’ve assisted 12 individuals with direct aid, including residents from Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Eaton, and Pasadena.” He was asked if any of the 12 were Palisadians and responded, “One of the individuals from the Palisades is a parent of a child with significant disabilities. Out of respect for their privacy, I’ll reach out to them to request consent before making any introductions.” An introduction was never made.

Revenue (2023) $2,022,502 (85.2% from donations) and Expenses $1,704,191. Executive Compensation $144,436 and other salaries and wages $911,793.

Special Needs Network: county-wide support responding to unique needs of displaced individuals with autism. https://snnla.org/

“Special Needs Network, Inc. (SNN) is a nonprofit grassroots organization responding to the crisis of autism and other developmental disabilities in underserved communities.”

Revenue (2023) $15,689,833 (49.2% from donations) and Expenses $13,829,470. Executive Compensation $300,766 and other salaries and wages $8,560,060.

La Voice Benevolence Fund: support to over 70 spiritual communities across all faiths and geographies. https://www.lavoice.org

“We believe everyone in Los Angeles County Deserves a life of equity and abundance. Each year, LA Voice wins victories that empower and improve lives. Some of our biggest victories in the past five years include:

* Helped to pass and organized for full implementation of Prop 47, which has helped thousands get their lives back on track by reducing sentences and changing records for non-violent offenders.
* Passed the Fair Chance Initiative which makes it easier for formerly incarcerated individuals to find work.
* Contributed to the passage of Prop 57, a state ballot measure which increases parole and good behavior opportunities for people with nonviolent felonies and allows judges, not prosecutors, to decide whether to try certain juveniles as adults in court.
* Played a major role in passing SB54, making California a “sanctuary state”
* Advocated the city and county of Los Angeles to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in affordable housing, and raised over a billion in funds for the homeless through our work to pass Measure HHH and Measure H.
* Increased voter turnout in low-propensity voting populations. In 2016 and 2017, our volunteers and paid phone team of formerly incarcerated voters had nearly 60,000 conversations with voters across the county.

Revenue (2023) $1,347,627 (100% from donations) and Expenses $2,853,247. Executive compensation $177,351 and other salaries and wages $1,644,926.

Pilipino Workers Center: helped home care workers from the Palisades. https://www.pwcsc.org/

“We build collective power to demand better living and working conditions in order to secure the dignity, safety, and economic stability of the Pilipinx community.”

Revenue (2023) $2,968,660 (95.3% from donations) and Expenses $2,658,366. Executive compensation $92,381 and other salaries and wages $904,905.

Labor Community Services: also helped Palisades workers. https://lcs-la.org/

“Labor Community Services (LCS) provides a safety net for unemployed or underemployed workers and their families, whether it be through our food programs, disaster relief fund, trainings, or financial literacy.”

Revenue (2023) $16,873,258 (99.3% from donations) and expenses $1,975,632. Executive compensation was $125,000 and other salaries and wages was $402,026.

Santa Monica College Foundation: temporary housing, food, clothing and transportation for residents on the west side including the Palisades impacted by the fires.

Along with community donations, SMC was able to collect “thousands and thousands” of blankets, sharing gently used ones with families at the First AME Church in Pasadena who were displaced from the Eaton Fire. National brands also pitched in, with Kut from the Kloth donating two box trucks full of new jeans, jackets and tops; blackcrows donating new clothes and jackets and doublesoul donating 8,000 pairs of brand-new socks.

“With over 100 SMC students and dozens of staff members reporting displacement from the fires, the SMC Foundation will be issuing emergency grants, with over $154,000 raised so far via the Santa Monica Community College Disaster Support Fund. SMC also received a $250,000 gift from The Ballmer Group to this end and will begin issuing grants next week.”

Revenue (2023) $4,860,408 (76.7% from donations) and expenses $2,942,303. (Net Assets $35,517,300). Executive compensation $102,681, and other salaries and wages $266,864.