PCF funding supported Harambee Ministries and recent Dena Relief distribution events.
Pasadena Community Foundation announced a second round of Phase 1 Eaton Fire funding on February 6, 2025, which provides our community partners with additional flexible funding as they help our community respond to the disaster. You can read about PCF’s phased funding here.
In the last 6 weeks, these organizations have worked tirelessly to provide supplies, comfort, and hope. Here we profile a selection of grantee organizations and how they are using PCF’s Phase 1/Round 2 funding:
A focus on older adults
PCF placed a special focus on older adults with this funding round because of the unique challenges they are facing. More than 21% of Altadena residents are 65 or older, according to the U.S. Census – more than the national average of less than 18%. Many have been long rooted in the community and now experience a home loss and/or a drastic alteration of their social support systems. As Katie Brandon, Executive Director of Pasadena Village, explains, “Older adults can face barriers to access resources, as well as relief and recovery information.”
With PCF funding support:
- Convalescent Aid Society is providing replacements for durable medical equipment (e.g. wheelchairs, hospital beds, walkers, etc.) that were lost in the fire.
- Senior Care Network at Huntington Health is supporting low-income seniors with mental health issues, which have become more severe post-fire.
- Pasadena Senior Center is focusing on its mental health clinic to address clients’ overwhelming emotions of grief, depression, and shock.
- Pasadena Village is also focusing on mental health, according to Katie Brandon. “The older adults in the Altadena/Pasadena area are resilient, but this disaster has a huge impact on their mental health. PCF’s funding is allowing them to connect with each other to offer peer-to-peer support. We are partnering with other organizations to offer sessions with licensed therapists and group therapy at no cost to those who need it.”
FAITH-BASED Support
PCF also included three faith-based organizations that have served as supply distribution centers and have convened multiple partners to provide extraordinary aid to our community.
- First AME Church has provided direct cash assistance to the 50+ congregants who have lost their homes while also overseeing community outreach, Sunday breakfast, and workshops that guide FEMA documentation, legal support, etc.
- New Revelation Baptist Church has been on the ground since day one, offering meals, gift and transportation cards, a laptop giveaway, mental health support, medical assistance, laundry and childcare services, exercise and wellness sessions, ‘Lunch & Learn’ legal support, and more.
- Victory Bible Church has 43 congregant families lose their homes, and 90 more have been impacted. VBC immediately created a call center to assess community need and has provided a range of services and giveaways, paid for hotel stays, and are now moving into finding temporary and permanent housing.
Finally, many of PCF’s long-standing nonprofit partners continue incredible work with their client bases with the help of Eaton Fire Fund support.
- Altadena Rotary used PCF funding to purchase $10,000 in gift cards for fire-impacted families, which were then distributed at a community event on February 8. At the same event, the Altadena Library Foundation distributed 100 mobile hot spots that PCF helped purchase.
- Friends in Deed is providing cash assistance and has helped individuals move into new rental homes by covering security deposits, move-in costs, and furniture. They have expanded their emergency motel voucher program and supplied food pantry clients with air purifiers.
- Harambee Ministries, in partnership with Brandon Lamar and the Dena Relief effort, hosted a distribution event on January 31. An estimated 1,500 community members received shoes, hot food, home necessities, air purifiers, gift-cards, and much-needed fellowship.
- Stars has placed a special focus on young people and their families. They have hosted resource fairs and established a Drop-In Center for students to access supplies, gift cards, mental health support, and connection with peers and mentors.
- Villa Esperanza had 100 staff, clients, and families impacted by home loss or displacement. Clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities have lost vital coping tools for everyday life; this includes critical therapy hours, specialized equipment, and safe, familiar environments essential for their development and well-being.
