FireAid
The first round of grants targeting wildfire relief efforts in Los Angeles following last month’s all-star FireAid benefit concerts were announced on Tuesday (Feb. 18). The $50 million-worth of phase one gifting — representing half of the estimated $100 million raised by the shows — will prioritize “community-based organizations that are on the front lines of wildfire relief.”
The groups, which organizers said have the infrastructure, experience, and in-place relationships to “efficiently and equitably” deliver assistance to fire-impacted individuals, are each for $100,000 or more and targeted toward immediate relief; phase two will be more focused on rebuilding efforts following the series of fires that killed 29 Angelenos and destroyed more than 16,0000 homes and structures.
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The organizations are split into several buckets, including emergency aid to children and families, school recovery funding, targeted support for vulnerable youth and foster youth and funds to help with educational continuity via a grant to A Sense of Home.
The community hubs and conveners grant will send funds to Abundant Harvest LIFT, a community crisis center that distributes information, financial assistance and connects individuals with critical resources for survivors of the Eaton Canyon fire. Other groups covered by this grant include: Chabad Jewish Community Center of Pacific Palisades, Clery Community Coalition, Inc., Deliverance Tabernacle Church, First AME Pasadena, Flintridge Center, Friends Indeed, Harambee Ministries – Pasadena, Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, Kehillat Israel Synagogue, LA Voice Benevolence Fund, Masjid al Taqwa, NAACP of Pasadena, Pasadena Church, Pasadena City College Foundation, Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center, Pasadena Seventh Day Adventist, St. Vincent de Paul Society’s St. Elizabeth Conference of Altadena, the Santa Monica College Foundation, Victory Bible Church Pasadena and YMCA Metro.
Disaster relief will distribute direct cash aid for Angeleno’s most critical needs, as well as coordinated efforts to clear hazardous waste, test water quality and restore safe living conditions. The grantees for those efforts include: Alliance for a Better Community, Black LA Relief & Recovery Fund, Brotherhood Crusade, CA Conservation Corps, CA Native Vote Project, Change Reaction, CORE, Heal the Bay, Jewish Free Loan Association, LA Conservation Corps, LA County Household Relief Fund, LA Works, Inc., Latino Community Foundation, My Tribe Rise, Pasadena Community Foundation Eaton Canyon Fire Relief Fund and Team Rubicon.
Grants covering food access and security needs for those displaced residents who are in shelters without cooking facilities and who face challenges sourcing nutritious meals will go to: Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, Hollywood Food Coalition, Hunger Action Los Angeles, Los Angeles Food Policy Council, Las Angeles Regional Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Saint Vincent, Meals on Wheels, West, Office of Food Equity, Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles, Project Angel Food and Westside Food Bank.
Aid for frontline, displaced workers and small businesses to assist first frontline workers possibly facing displacement, financial strain and mental health challenges, as well as workers who commuted to affected areas for jobs and small businesses needing relief to rebuild will go to: CA Firefighters Benevolent Fund, IDEPSCA, Inclusive Action For the City, LA Region Worker Relief Fund, Labor Community Services Program of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Black Worker Center, Philipino Workers Center and Restaurants Care Project.
Health and housing assistance for wildfire survivors facing physical and mental health challenges due to exposure to smoke and poor air quality, as well as stress and trauma, include: Dena Heals, Didi Hirsch, Door of Hope, Foothill Family Service, Greenline Housing Foundation, LA Coalition of Community Clinics, LA Family Housing Corporation, LIFT-Los Angeles, NAMI Westside LA, Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County, Pacific Clinics, St. Joseph Center, The People Concern, Union Station Homeless Corporation, United American Indian Involvement and Vision y Compromiso.
Los Angeles’ vast musical community will also get some assistance after many musicians and artists lost their homes, equipment, studios and income in the fires. The funds will provide direct aid to affected artists, as well as mental health services, employment in community programs and support for small arts organizations to ensure their survival. The grantees include: Armory Center for the Arts, LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund, LA Commons, LA County Arts & Creative Recovery Fund, MusiCares Foundation, Music Health Alliance – Music Industry Mental Health Fund and Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.
Organizations helping Angelenos facing displacement, trauma and having trouble navigating survivor services who will receive funds include: 211LA, Bet Tzedek, Dena Care Collective, Imagine Los Angeles, Inc., Legal Aid of LA, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County – BAILA and Public Counsel.
Schools around the L.A. region have had classes severely disrupted due to the fires while some have faced closure as displaced students — especially those from low-income households in college — struggle with housing, financial aid stability and campus resources. Aid for those groups will go to: California Charter School Association, Communities in Schools of Los Angeles, LA Community College Foundation, LAUSD Foundation, Pasadena Educational Foundation, Palisades Charter HS and Project Camp.
Supportive services for vulnerable populations including seniors and people with disabilities who may confront issues accessing aid, healthcare and stable housing will get a boost with grants to: Disability Community Resource Center, Jewish Family Services of Los Angeles, Malibu Senior Center, Pasadena Senior Center and Special Needs Network Inc.
Click here to see the full list.
Organizers says the first phase of funds will be distributed by the end of February. The second phase will focus on sustaining long-term recovery, remediation and rebuilding, as well as addressing environmental issues. Fundraising for the fund is still open.
January’s two shows at L.A.’s Intuit Dome and Kia Forum were seen by more than 50 million viewers across 28 streaming platforms, who tuned in to performances by more than 30 artists including Green Day with Billie Eilish, Jelly Roll, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Stevie Wonder, Lil Baby, Tate McRae, Sting, Alanis Morissette, Anderson .Paak with Dr. Dre and Sheila E, Dawes, John Mayer, a Nirvana reunion, Joni Mitchell, a reunited No Doubt, P!nk and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, among many others.
The streaming partners of FireAid, the mega-concert that has so far raised more than $100 million for LA wildfire victims, have extended on-demand access to the Jan. 30 concert for a year, with donations made during the streams matched dollar for dollar. Those streaming partners include Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, iHeart, KTLA+, Max, Netflix, Paramount+, Peacock/NBCNewsNow, SiriusXM, TikTok, Veeps and YouTube.
Fans of Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Green Day or any of the dozens of other acts that performed at the five-hour-long concert can also still donate to wildfire relief through FireAidLA.org. Billionaire ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and his wife Connie extended their commitment to match every streaming donation, thereby doubling the fundraising effort.
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The concert, which featured performances from 30 artists at two Los Angeles venues, the Intuit Dome and the Kia Forum, attracted 50 million viewers across 28 streaming platforms on Jan. 30. Organizers of the event said proceeds raised by the shows will go to support the L.A. region’s immediate needs and long-term recovery from a series of wind-whipped wildfires that killed 29 people and destroyed more than 16,000 homes and other structures.
FireAid’s grants advisory committee, led by the Annenberg Foundation and other experienced regional philanthropic individuals, is charged with distributing the aid, and they expect the first phase of grants to be awarded by mid-February, according to a press release.
“The committee has been listening daily to affected communities, assessing local resource gaps to ensure aid reaches those most in need, and researching the handling of other fire disasters, such as those in Maui and Northern California,” according to the statement.
FireAid was organized by Shelli and Irving Azoff and the Azoff family, Live Nation, and the Los Angeles Clippers, with Joel Gallen of Tenth Planet serving as executive producer and Rick Krim as talent producer.
Billie Joe Armstrong can’t say enough good things about that other Billie. Following Sunday night’s 2025 Grammy Awards, the Green Day frontman told Billboard that he was still buzzing about sharing the stage with Billie Eilish at last weekend’s all-star FireAid benefit concert. “The fact that we got to play together… she’s just, she’s a […]
With a lineup of 27 legendary acts across two venues to raise money for wildfire victims and rebuilding efforts, Thursday night’s FireAid benefit concert was poised to be an epic night. But what transpired at the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, turned out to be even more historic than anyone could have […]
Ahead of the monumental FireAid benefit concert on Thursday night (Jan. 30) across two venues – the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome – more than $60 million had already been raised from sponsorships and ticket sales. And just as the evening kicked off – with the Forum lineup starting promptly at 7 p.m. – another […]
As the final artist to take the stage at Thursday night’s (Jan. 30) FireAid benefit concert, Lady Gaga left her mark by debuting a brand-new song written with her fiancé, Michael Polansky, for the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires. “Me and my friend Michael — my fiancé, my love — we wrote this song […]
Freshly back onstage after postponing three dates for what he termed a “temporary throat infection” via an Instagram post, Sting sounded in full voice during his three-song set at the FireAid benefit concert on Thursday night (Jan. 30).
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Playing in his stripped-down Sting 3.0 trio formation with drummer Chris Maas and guitarist Dominic Miller, Sting — like many of the 27 artists on the bill — chose songs specifically designed to resonate with victims of the horrific fires that spread through Los Angeles County throughout January, destroying more than 22,000 homes.
He also let his music do the talking and chose not to address the audience, unlike many of the other performers. Sting opened with The Police’s early hit, 1979’s “Message in a Bottle,” and sustained a long note toward the end, leaving no doubt that he was restored to full health. He then segued into “Driven to Tears,” from The Police’s 1980 album’s Zenyatta Mondatta. Though initially written about political issues, the song’s themes of loss fit in perfectly with the evening.
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Sting then traded his bass for a guitar for his closing song, a lovely rendition of “Fragile,” from his second solo album, 1987’s Nothing Like the Sun. Between his gorgeous, delicate playing and his emotional delivery, the song felt like a reminder of both our fragility and strength.
Sting was one of more than two dozen performers, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Nicks, Olivia Rodrigo, Rod Stewart, Lady Gaga, P!nk, Billie Eilish, John Mayer and No Doubt, who took over Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome and Kia Forum for the more than five-hour benefit, which is raising money for victims of the fires and for future fire prevention.
After joining Green Day for their FireAid-opening set at the Kia Forum earlier Thursday night (Jan. 30), Billie Eilish took the stage again at the neighboring Intuit Dome for the benefit concert, this time with her brother Finneas.
Introduced by Sting, who named himself a “devotee” of the singer’s “exquisite voice,” Eilish and Finneas encouraged fans to sit down if they were tired — which they immediately refused — before delivering a three-song set of stripped-back, acoustic tracks from Hit Me Hard and Soft, including “Wildflower,” “The Greatest” and “Birds of a Feather.”
“Birds of a Feather” reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is nominated for song of the year, record of the year and best pop solo performance at Sunday’s Grammy Awards.
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“L.A. is my favorite place in the world and my only home. My brother and I live here and grew up here. It’s my favorite place in the world, and it’s so devastating what’s going on,” Eilish told the crowd of her hometown. “To everyone who’s going through this, I love you and I got you. I will not forget about you and we will keep doing this for you.”
The duo’s fellow performers at Inglewood, California’s Intuit Dome included Earth, Wind & Fire, Gracie Abrams, Jelly Roll, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Sting and Tate McRae. Next door at the Kia Forum, the show kicked off with performances by Stevie Nicks, Anderson. Paak, Alanis Morissette, John Mayer, Dawes, Graham Nash, Green Day, John Fogerty, Joni Mitchell, No Doubt, P!nk, Stephen Stills and The Black Crowes, as well as a surprise reunion of the living members of Nirvana with a revolving door of female vocalists.
Those wanting to donate to Los Angeles wildfire relief funds are encouraged to visit fireaidla.org. For every donation pledge made during the concert, Connie and Steve Ballmer — owner of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers and the Intuit Dome — will match it.
Red Hot Chili Peppers were the last to take the stage at the Kia Forum at the FireAid benefit show for Los Angeles wildfire relief on Thursday night (Jan. 30), and the L.A. natives made sure to end the show on a high note.
Introduced by Stevie Nicks, RHCP fittingly opened their hit-filled set with 2006’s “Dani California,” before delving into another Golden State-themed track, 1999’s “Californication,” complete with a bass line from a near-naked Flea.
The Chili Peppers wrapped their four-song set with 1992’s “Under the Bridge” as well as a more recent song, 2022’s “Black Summer” off 12th studio album Unlimited Love. “Black Summer” marked the band’s 14th No. 1 track on Billboard‘s Alternative Airplay chart. They’ve since notched a 15th chart-topper with “Tippa My Tongue.”
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The rest of the Kia Forum performers included Nicks, Anderson. Paak, Alanis Morissette, Dave Matthews and John Mayer, Dawes, Graham Nash, Green Day (with an Eilish duet), John Fogerty, Joni Mitchell, No Doubt, P!nk, Stephen Stills and The Black Crowes. Just across the street at the Intuit Dome, the FireAid show featured performances by Billie Eilish, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gracie Abrams, Jelly Roll, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Sting and Tate McRae.
Those wanting to donate to Los Angeles wildfire relief funds are encouraged to visit fireaidla.org. For every donation pledge made during the concert, Connie and Steve Ballmer — owner of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers and the Intuit Dome — will match it.
In 2014, when Nirvana was being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, surviving members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear reunited onstage to perform a raucous selection of the culture-shifting grunge band’s beloved songs. With Kurt Cobain gone, lead vocals fell to an assortment of guest singers – St. Vincent, Joan […]