Wondering where the estimated $100 million+ went that was raised at that star-studded FireAid concert?
They announced that half was being deployed today for immediate relief through a $50 million first set of grants.
This initial phase of gifting prioritizes community-based organizations that are on the front lines of wildfire relief. The selected organizations have the infrastructure, experience, and relationships necessary to efficiently and equitably deliver assistance to fire-impacted individuals and have each received $100,000 or more. The need for immediate relief funding remains dire and these funds will serve to assist with that goal.
The full list of organizations can be found HERE.
Rebuilding efforts will be the focus for FireAid phase two grants, they said in a statement.
Grants have been allocated to support a myriad of fire affected individuals including displaced residents, workers, small business owners and first responders, with a focus on essential services, food assistance, childcare support, critical healthcare resources, housing support, rental relief, student assistance programs, and navigation services to ensure victims can access legal resources, government benefits and seamlessly work through challenging paperwork.
The first phase of funds will be fully distributed by the end of February.
Phase two funding will focus on additional relief needs including sustaining long-term recovery, remediation and rebuilding, and further address environmental issues. Survivors of prior megafires and experts with whom FireAid consulted emphasized how crucial it is to reserve funds for unanticipated needs raised by communities, and to be both responsive and flexible, in planning for all phases of recovery.
To begin to address that need, FireAid has also established a program for the issuance of smaller grants available to community-based organizations, ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. More details on how to apply can be found at FireAidLA.org.
