Twelve sports teams from Los Angeles and Anaheim announced Monday that they would contribute more than $8 million to support victims of the wildfires that have ravaged the area since last week.
The Anaheim Ducks, Angel City FC, LAFC, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Sparks made the joint announcement. statement.
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Water is dropped from a helicopter on the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (Ethan Swope/AP)
The money will go to support victims and those fighting the fires. American Red Cross, Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, California Firefighters Foundation, Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund, World Central Kitchen, California Community Foundation Wildlife Recovery Fund California, Team Rubicon and several other local animal rescue organizations were named as recipients of the donation.
Los Angeles residents who were forced to evacuate their homes due to the fires will also receive around $3 million in merchandise from Fanatics. The teams, in partnership with their own foundations, partnered with Fanatics and the Fanatics Foundation to provide the equipment. Evacuated victims can participate in distribution events on January 17 at Dodger Stadium, SoFi Stadium and BMO Stadium.
The forest fires have left dozens dead and thousands of structures burned. Several games have also been canceled or postponed due to the wildfires.
Palisades Fire near the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles on January 11, 2025. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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The Rams were scheduled to host the Minnesota Vikings in their playoff game on Monday night, but the matchup was moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The Lakers already had a game postponed last week due to the fires. The team said Monday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs will be dedicated to the Los Angeles community.
“We are committed as always to Los Angeles,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said in a press release. “We recognize that it’s not just our community that has been affected by this. We are committed to helping people as much as we can and we are going to do that.”
Authorities warned early Monday that the threat to the area is not over.
“We are not safe. I want to make sure of that. We are not safe yet and we must not let our guard down,” said Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick reacts during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. (Images by Kevin Jairaj-Imagn)
“As the wind surge approaches as we speak, the City of Los Angeles Fire Department has maximized our resource and response capabilities,” Crowley added. “All available LAFD resources are manned. I have strategically pre-positioned engine strike teams and task forces dedicated to rapid response to any new fires that break out in the city.”
