Pasadena Educational Foundation: Recovery Through Education

Wildfire relief

San Gabriel Valley

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

The Eaton Fire earlier this year forced 10,000 of the 14,000 PUSD students and their families to evacuate. More than 400 students, staff, and their families lost their homes and hundreds more are still displaced. Every resident of Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre has neighbors, friends, or family members who suffered profound loss in this disaster, and as a result the entire community has been traumatized. Beyond the widespread physical damage from the fire, the academic learning loss implications of this disaster are immense, both in the short and long term. Thousands of children have been affected, with many losing access to safe learning environments, educational resources, and the stability that schools provide. To address these immediate challenges, PEF is raising funds and working with partners to create a supportive environment where children feel safe and where trained staff can help them cope with stress and reduce the risk of lasting emotional difficulties from the fire.

PEF has been steadfast in supporting PUSD students, staff, and their families since the fire. We anticipate the recovery to take at least several years and PEF is prepared to assist the PUSD community anyway possible. Two of the most significant ways PEF plans to support areas of need are through providing, teacher/classroom grants, and enhancing our Summer Enrichment program.
PEF’s Summer Enrichment program is our marquee program, and it has been running every summer since 2003. The program provides K-12 students exceptional learning opportunities combined with summer fun with more than 70 unique classes on 5 campuses serving 1,000 students. This year, through other funding RTI (Response to Intervention) teachers will be members of our Summer Enrichment Program teaching staff, in partnership with PUSD’s Student Wellness department. These wellness teachers will be focusing on the social and emotional needs of students. Funding from this grant would be used to bring the RTI teachers to the 2026 Summer Enrichment program.
PEF’s teacher grants are another hallmark initiative that has been running for decades. Last fall we provided $223,000 directly to educators, which in turn benefited thousands of students. These grants, made in $1,000 per teacher, or up to $5,000 per principal allotments, fund innovative classroom or school-wide projects that the teachers and principals dream up. Grants for this fall will be in higher demand so additional funding would provide more grants.

If our work is successful, Los Angeles County will see a stronger, more resilient PUSD community. One where Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre students, families, and educators are empowered to thrive post-crisis. Families impacted by the Eaton Fire will receive deep, targeted support to rebuild their lives. Classrooms will be enriched through teacher grants that fund innovative, student-centered projects, while students will have expanded access to athletics and high-quality summer enrichment programs. PEF’s vision is a fully recovered and thriving district where every student has the opportunity to succeed. Long-term, we aim to scale our impact by increasing the reach of our summer programs and growing the number of teacher and principal grants, ensuring lasting educational equity and opportunity across the district.