A Fireaid concert raised more than $100 million to help victims in the Palisades and Eaton fires.
Today a friend asked, “did you ever get any of that FireAid Money?”
This editor responded, “No, it went to nonprofits.”
He responded, “So it was a swindle.”
About $100 million was raised by a FireAid benefit concert, and Steve and Connie Ballmer also matched every pledge made during the broadcast, which generated support not only from people living in Southern California, but from across the world. Money was meant to help the victims with immediate and long-term recovery, including rebuilding the nearly 12,000 homes lost in the fire.
Pacific Palisades Community Council reached out to L.A. Clippers Chief Communications Officer Chris Wallace (via the Annenberg Foundation) for more information about who had benefited from FireAid Concert. He was specifically asked about grants targeting Pacific Palisades victims.
Wallace responded “Out of respect for those still navigating loss and rebuilding, FireAid has kept proactive publicity around our efforts intentionally limited . . . .The FireAid grantmaking process was extensive and community informed. It involved local outreach, feedback from those directly affected, and collaboration with nonprofit organizations embedded in fire-impacted neighborhoods.”
He then listed the grantees, 42, mostly nonprofits and said that $21 million had been directed to organizations serving the Palisades and adjacent communities.
This editor looked at the nonprofits/governmental agencies and others who were given grants for the Palisades. No dollar figure was given for the grant amount, but at least two of the websites mentioned a $250,000 FireAid Grant.
Wallace was reached by phone today and asked the amount given to each grantee, and he said it differed. This editor asked if she could see the numbers and he said he would see if that was possible.
One can pull up the nonprofit websites and with the exception of one or two, there are no actual numbers for fire victims helped. Many nonprofits do not seem to be Palisades specific.
If one puts in the nonprofit’s website and the number 990, one can see the revenue (most nonprofit revenue comes from grants). One can also view expenses and the salaries. A 990 filing is required for nonprofits.
Tonight, CTN examines grantees who supply food.
Of the 42 grantees listed, eight mentioned food. As one resident said, “If people wanted food, give them money so they could go buy their own.”
If any resident received food after relocating from the fire from any of these organizations, please reach out to editor@circlingthenews and tell me how often and how much.
On future nights, this editor will examine FireAid grants given to the county and to other nonprofits who say they have or are providing vital aid.
FOOD:
It appears that Pacific Palisades residents who had to evacuate to different areas were/are well fed. Here’s a list of nonprofits that received FireAid money, all serving Palisadians, according to the letter sent to the Palisades Community Council from Wallace.
- “Food Forward: fresh produce and fruit to all areas.”
Food Forward fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people experiencing food insecurity, and inspiring others to do the same. https://foodforward.org/
Revenue (2023) $175,170,201 (nearly 100 percent came from donations), Expenses $174,912,851 Executive Compensation $593,905 Salaries and Wages $2,400,016.
- “Project Angel Food: providing medical tailored meals in all areas.”
Project Angel Food prepares and delivers more than 1.5 Million Medically Tailored meals each year, free of charge to homes of men, women, and children affected by life-threatening illnesses. https://www.angelfood.org/
Revenue (2023) $31,873,078 (98.1% from donations) Expenses $12,429,461 Compensation $307,755 Salaries and Wages $5,174,262
- “Restaurants That Care: provided support for independent restaurants forced to shut down no matter the geography.”
Restaurants Care provides hope and stability to food + beverage workers in California who are in crisis. Through the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund – LA Fire Recovery Grants, we’re providing $10,000 grants to over 200 independent restaurants and food trucks in LA County impacted by the fires. These funds, powered by donations from American Express, Resy, Postmates, and FireAid, can be used for your restaurant’s greatest need in your recovery efforts. https://restaurantscare.org/ Did the restaurants and food trucks in Pacific Palisades receive these grants? There was no 990 available with Restaurants that Care.
- “Our Big Kitchen LA: meals delivered to all fire victims across the county including the Palisades.”
OBKLA unites volunteers to cook and package meals for those facing hardship. These meals are then provided to social service organizations for distribution, such as Venice Family Clinic, People Concern. https://www.obkla.org
Revenue (2023) $1,068,739 in revenue and $1,052,618 in expenses. Executive compensation $52,713, other salaries $10,050.
- “LA Regional Food Bank: food was distributed to all fire victims.”
Since 1973, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has worked to mobilize resources in the community to alleviate hunger. https://www.lafoodbank.org/
Revenue (2023) $259,235,417 (98% comes from donations), Expenses $253,523,053. Executive compensation $1,568,849 and other salaries $16,344,233
- “Jewish Family Services: multiple services for individuals and families including older adults needing hot meals.”
We provide nutritious groceries to people experiencing food insecurity, offer warm meals and social interaction to older adults and people with diverse abilities, and deliver meals to our home-bound neighbors. https://www.jfsla.org/
Revenue (2023) $87,848,846, (95% comes from donations) Expenses $60,813,005 Executive compensation $1,548,646 and other salaries and wages $15,632,360.
- “Westside Food Bank: providing food and basic supplies to those fire victims in the Palisades and beyond.”
Westside Food Bank coordinated with the City of Santa Monica to open a weekly pop-up food pantry in a city park that provides more than 17,000 pounds of food for more than 500 households each week. We also have opened two pop-up pantries: one in Culver City and the other in the west LA area. We are also working with Meals on Wheels West to provide boxes of groceries that volunteers deliver to homebound seniors along with their prepared meals. https://www.wsfb.org
Revenue $6,400,300 (98% comes from donations), Expenses $7,994,851, compensation $321,176 and other salaries $662,257
- “Meals on Wheels West: providing Meals to elderly fire victims in the Palisades and beyond.”
Meals on Wheels West provides community-based services that nourish and enrich the lives of our homebound neighbors of all ages by providing nutritious meals, friendly calling and friendly visiting, including referrals to other services that promote independent living and wellbeing. Delivering More Than a Meal to clients in Santa Monica, Venice, Marina del Rey, Del Rey, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu. https://mealsonwheelswest.org/
Revenue $1,797,849 (95% comes from donations), Expenses $2,071,340 executive compensation $114,326 and other salaries/wages $428,996
This is so disgusting. The one organization that actually did supply food that made it to Palisadians, through the American Legion, was World Central Kitchen, and they’re not even on your list.
Thank you Sue. I believe that some of the disconnect is the misnomer that all Palisadians have financial resources and don’t need this AID money. This could not be further from the truth. The fact that only 30-50% of residents can afford to re-build says it all.
While it is a good thing that a highly reputable foundation like Annenberg offered to step in and oversee distribution of funds – it is an extremely challenging task and other disasters have shown it can be highly problematic.
The reality is the money was raised based on messaging that fire victims would benefit directly.
A good case study is the American Red Cross and raising tons of money during the 2001 Alpine-Viejas Fire, For the most part, the majority of funds did not go directly to victims. And while funds raised were earmarked for future disasters because the cost of disaster response happens before the disaster occurs, the California Attorney General implemented a number of changes. These included fundraising messaging as well as the concept of oversubscribing or notifying public that enough funds had been raised for the particular disaster and further fundraising was not needed. The American Red Cross did a phenomenal job during the recent wildfires. I was very impressed.
Hi Sue,
A friend recently told me about a second around of financial aid available from American Red Cross. I called Red Cross to apply and a week later, I received $3200. Perhaps this was part of what’s distributed from the pool of money donated from Fire Aid Benefit concert. Thanks for looking into where the money went. It is important to keep track and account for how public money was spend.
I lost my appetite after reading the salaries being paid to employees of these food nonprofits.
Lynn, I second that. WCK fed us every day. Their food was so delicious and nutritious. Thank you World Central Kitchen!
I’ve sent your story and emailed the Annenberg Foundation asking for an explanation. I wonder if the Eaton fire residents are having the same conversations? Thanks, Sue.
Meanwhile, Eric Church is just building homes for people who lost them in Helene.
https://chiefcares.org/eric-church-and-chief-cares-break-ground/
Yes, I had several meals from World Central Kitchen when I picked up my mail.