The Walt Disney Company is donating $15 million for response and rebuilding efforts amid the ongoing Southern California fires.
“As this tragedy continues to unfold, The Walt Disney Company is committed to supporting our community and our employees as we all work together to recover and rebuild from this unbelievable devastation,” said CEO Bob Iger in a statement. “Walt Disney came to Los Angeles with little more than his limitless imagination, and it was here that he chose to make his home, pursue his dreams, and create extraordinary storytelling that means so much to so many people around the world. We are proud to provide assistance to this resilient and vibrant community in this moment of need.”
In the statement announcing the $15 million commitment, the Disney corporation also expressed gratitude to firefighters and first responders continuing to work amid the ongoing emergency, as well as the company’s own local reporters at KABC for their coverage.
“We will be supporting vital organizations offering essential services on the ground, including the American Red Cross, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, among others,” reads the release. “Additionally, we’ve been working around the clock to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our employees, many of whom have been impacted by these fires, and we intend to provide further resources to our Employee Relief Fund to help those facing hardship as a result of this crisis.”
Disney’s contribution to relief efforts is the latest in what is expected to be an ongoing series of donations from the entertainment industry to support those impacted by the fires. The Entertainment Industry Foundation announced Wednesday morning that the nonprofit activated a program to funnel public donations to frontline workers and displaced families and pets. The EIF last administered a fund for the 2023 Maui fires alongside Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson.
On Thursday, Jamie Lee Curtis shared on social media that she and her family had pledged $1 million to establish a fund to help those affected by the ongoing wildfires.
“I’m in communication with Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass and Senator Schiff as to where those funds need to be directed for the most impact,” she wrote on Instagram.
Over 20,000 acres have burned in the Pacific Palisades and Malibu since a fire started Tuesday morning. East of L.A., the Eaton Fire has burned through more than 13,000 acres. A third blaze, the Hurst Fire, has burned through more than 700 acres at top of the San Fernando Valley.
The ongoing wildfires have prompted the entertainment industry to cancel or reschedule various events in the Los Angeles area, including the red carpet premieres of “Unstoppable,” “The Last Showgirl,” “Better Man” and “Wolf Man.” The Critics Choice Awards, originally scheduled for Jan. 12, was postponed to Jan. 26, while the Oscar nominations announcement has been pushed back two days (to Jan. 19) to accommodate an extended voting window. Production has also been suspended on shows such as “Fallout,” “Abbott Elementary” and “Hacks.”
