Former Milwaukee Brewers star Ryan Braun has been evacuated from his home in California for most of the past six weeks due to the Los Angeles wildfires.
Braun, 41, spoke of his appreciation for firefighters as they continue to try to keep people and buildings safe.
“Firefighters and first responders are true heroes,” Braun told Pak Gazette Digital on Saturday.. “I don’t think we get a chance to thank them often enough. But those guys have risked their lives. They’ve worked day and night. I know several firefighters who literally didn’t sleep for 72 hours.
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Former Milwaukee Brewers player Ryan Braun greets fans during a ceremony announcing his retirement from baseball before a game against the New York Mets at American Family Field. (Benny Sieu/USA Today Sports)
“These guys are doing everything in their power to save as many people and structures as possible. Incredibly grateful for everything they have done for the community, and today is an opportunity to try to thank as many of them as possible. as possible.”
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Braun, along with World Series champion Mike Moustakas, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, Brewers star Christian Yelich and Brewers ownership Mike Attanasio, created California Strong to help to communities affected by the disaster.
California Strong is a YMCA program dedicated to providing support to all Californians after disasters.
Yelich spoke about the California community continuing to support each other in times of need.
“The community seems to step up whenever there are people in need. I remember the Woolsey Fire about seven years ago, which seems to have flown by, but it’s a long recovery process. You know, it’s not something that takes a day. , a week, even a year,” Yelich told Pak Gazette Digital.
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The Sunset Fire burns in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles on January 8, 2025. (Jill Connelly/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“It’s a multi-year process, and just to help people get back on their feet from the beginning, I hope I can stay with them throughout the process and get back on track when necessary.”
Moustakas talked about how California Strong originated from Braun, Yelich, Goff and Attanasio simply communicating with each other during difficult times.
“It started with us checking on each other and then it quickly morphed into trying to use our platforms to help those in need. And that’s one of the best things we were able to do in baseball was use the platform in a way.” forever,” Moustakas told Pak Gazette Digital.
“We were very fortunate to have this YMCA partner with us, and it just took off from there. And today we are here supporting a lot of families with a great community. We are very excited to help these people.”
Braun talked about how long and arduous the rebuilding process will be for people and how California Strong wants to help those people.
“We live in this community. We grew up in this community. We can relate to the people and what they’re going through and what they’re going through. Like Mike (Moustaktas), I have three young children, so I always see them in situations. through the lens of other parents. It’s difficult. It’s a long and daunting process for many people to think about where to start rebuilding their lives. And for us, the goal of California Strong was to support people after natural disasters and. tragedies,” he said Brown.
“That’s what we’ve tried to do for the last seven years. That’s what today is about. And the goal is to be able to support people both in the short term, like immediately today and then long term as they go through what that ends”. “It is being a very long and challenging process to rebuild their lives.”
California Strong is working with Proactive Sports to help Californians get back on their feet.
Residential areas burned as wildfires continue to rage, reaching their fifth day and leaving extensive damage in residential areas of Los Angeles on January 12, 2025. (Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“Proactive Sports has partnered with California Strong since the beginning,” Proactive Sports owner Emily Capretta told Pak Gazette Digital. “We hosted an event for those affected by the Woolsey Fire and the Borderline shooting, unfortunately, that we experienced in our community in 2018.
“And we mobilized a group of really smart, strong women to do a community thanksgiving, and that started the beginning of California Strong,
“At this particular event, the night that those who were being displaced and losing their homes, I texted that original group of women telling them they wanted to do this again with me. And then I also texted to Ryan Braun, and I told him: ‘It’s time to Mobilize. We need to be the first point of action for those affected.’
