"The first round of grants, distributed in February, provided $50 million in immediate relief to more than 120 nonprofit organizations, reaching over 150,000 Angelenos. These grants supported families, displaced homeowners, foster youth, seniors, small business owners, first responders, artists, and others with emergency housing, food assistance, trauma counseling, direct financial relief, childcare, and animal welfare services."
The next $25,000,000 grant money was handed out in June 2025. "The Round Two grants are divided into four categories: Continued Relief for Wildfire Victims and Communities ($5,950,000), Wildfire Recovery ($16,975,000), Critical Information for Fire Victims ($700,000), Symbols of Hope ($500,000), and an another $1,000,000 to fund a FireAid project with the LA County Fire Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation to provide a much needed special firefighting vehicle for Altadena and an additional wildfire preparedness vehicle for the Palisades, in advance of the upcoming fire season." Press release https://www.fireaidla.org/press-releases/fireaid-announces-additional-25-million-in-grants There will be a third round of grants by the end of the year.
Another very important point is the promised recipients of the money. Wildfire victims are receiving the money through nonprofit organizations. That is what was promised since the very beginning. See the press release linked above which lists all recipients and dollar amounts. Checks were given to the wildfire victims from the nonprofits besides services and products. People should read the FireAid and Annenberg websites before attacking them. It's easier to have nonprofits vet the wildfire recipients and give them the money. FireAid, Annenberg would have had to hire, train and pay people to run the programs to give out the money. Makes more sense to have experienced local targeted nonprofits do it so more money goes to the victims.
Next people said that people were keeping part of the funds. Another lie. "Each grant is distributed by FireAid’s DAF with 100% of the money raised from the FireAid benefit concert going directly to fire relief for impacted communities and wildfire victims." This means the philanthropists are spending their own money to administer the grants, funds and programs. There were also sponsors who donated the arena and many other services for free. None of the musicians were paid a penny either. There probably were some costs and fees involved putting on such a huge event.
They also falsely stated that the family foundation the Annenberg Foundation is run out of Pennsylvania. The founder and board members live, lived right here in Los Angeles, California. This includes Wallis Annenberg, Lauren Bon and her other children. Most of the main programs are here in Los Angeles such as the Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, Annenberg GenSpace, Metabolic Studios, PledgeLA, Annenberg Lerner, Annenberg Petspace, Annenberg Center for Performing Arts, Annenberg USC College of Communication to name but a few. In 1989 they had over a billion in assets. They are not a small foundation as cited in the false media articles. The FireAid DAF are also in Los Angeles. "The FireAid Grants Advisory Committee, composed of longtime LA-region philanthropic leaders with deep relationships in the non-profit community, have been working to identify key areas of need, for maximum impact."
Lastly they stated that some of the CEOs, GMs, Directors of the nonprofits make $100,000 a year in salary so only a tiny amount goes to wildfire victims. That's the going rate to run a small to average sized nonprofit. Do you expect employees of an organization to work for free? I doubt the people asking for the donations work for free. I also believe that some of them already received FireAid, Annenberg funds via the many nonprofits who handed out checks, gift cards and free services and products. They just didn't realize where the money came from. I saw people handing out the gift cards. I also didn't realize that money came from FireAid and Annenberg. The grants aren't going to pay the CEO's salaries. They're going to the wildfire victims.
This happens after every natural disaster. We have a natural disaster such as the Maui Fires, Eaton Fires, Palisades fires. Everyone offers to have a event and do fundraising to raise funds for the victims. A large nonprofit and well known respected philanthropists offer to help. They raise a lot of money and give it all to support the cause. Then a few mean people start shitting on them while asking for money and not getting an instant check. Nobody bothers to do any research and they start trashing the philanthropists. Media picks up the rants because it causes a controversy which gives them more traffic to make money off ads. It's absolutely shameful to attack the people who are out there actually helping.
*We received no funds from the disaster fund or FireAid donations even though our organization was in the fire zones rescuing animals and fostering the pets of wildfire victims, see previous posts. We didn't get anything and we didn't even ask for anything. We helped animals because that is our mission and what we do.
Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.
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