A club president in California shares the experience of serving a nearby community struck by a historic wildfire.
Editor’s note: In January 2025, the Eaton wildfire in Southern California, U.S., killed at least 19 people and destroyed over 9,000 buildings. It was the second most destructive wildfire in California’s history and the fifth deadliest.
By Alice Perez, president, Kiwanis Club of La Cañada
When the Eaton fire tore through the hills above Altadena, California, it left a trail of devastation — and a call to action. To this day, driving by the area affects all who pass, including members of the Kiwanis Club of La Cañada. In fact, many of our club’s members were forced to evacuate during the fire. But once they could meet again, their first thought was: How can we best help those hit the hardest?
Immediately, our club formed a Fire Relief Subcommittee with a heartfelt mission: to help the 27 teachers and staff members of La Cañada Unified School District 27 who had lost their homes.
That compassionate impulse quickly grew into something bigger — so we sought help from the Kiwanis California Nevada Hawaii District. The club submitted a proposal for a Kiwanis Cal-Nev-Ha (CNH) Children’s Fund Disaster Assistance Matching Grant.
Much to our members’ joy, it was approved. The CNH Children’s Fund Board voted to provide a matching grant from the Cal-Nev-Ha Children’s Fund Disaster Assistance Program to our club’s US$13,500 proposal. The combined contributions, totaling $27,000, made it possible to provide $1,000 directly to each of the 27 displaced school teachers and staff.
“When our teachers hurt, our children feel it too,” says Bob Larsen, president of the CNH Children’s Fund. “By helping these educators and school staff recover, we’re investing in the future of our children.”
Restoring dignity and comfort
The recipients’ responses were deeply moving. “Yesterday, I received the $1,000 disaster relief check from Kiwanis and it brought me to tears,” one teacher wrote. “Support like this reminds me that even in the midst of such loss, we are not alone.”
Another instructor wrote: “I have always felt the support of Kiwanis and all that they do to honor our Terrific Kids. You are a special organization that truly lives up to its mission to improve the world one child and one community at a time. As time passes, it is nice to know that we haven’t been forgotten.”
The La Cañada club didn’t stop there. We assembled Welcome Home Kits to benefit Union Station Homeless Services, located near the Eaton Fire burn zone. That project was inspired by a fire relief initiative led by California-Nevada-Hawaii Division 03 Lieutenant Governor Trish McRae.
“Recovery is not only about rebuilding homes,” McRae says. “It’s about restoring dignity and comfort. These Welcome Home Kits are small gifts with a big message: You are seen. You are supported. And you are not alone.”
Our club also is directing a portion of the proceeds from our second annual Golf Ball Drop fundraiser to assist the 250 La Cañada Unified School District students impacted by the disaster — demonstrating that the Kiwanis commitment to service reaches far beyond a single event or donation.