Rebuilding in Altadena (Photo – pasadenacf)
In a continued push to support recovery efforts following the devastating Eaton Fire, the Altadena Builds Back Foundation (ABBF) has announced a $500,000 grant to The Change Reaction. The funding will provide critical remediation and repair services to fire survivors, helping at least 20 displaced families safely return to their homes.
By News Desk
The grant was made possible through proceeds from A Concert for Altadena, a community event held on the one-year anniversary of the Eaton Fire. The concert brought together local residents, artists, and supporters to honor those affected while raising funds for housing recovery initiatives.
Remediation remains one of the most significant and costly barriers preventing residents from returning home. A January 2026 report from the Department of Angels found that roughly 20% of survivors with standing homes have yet to test their properties for contaminants. Among homes that have been tested, 70% were found to contain unsafe levels of contamination.
The partnership between ABBF and The Change Reaction is amplifying the impact of the grant. The nonprofit has secured a dollar-for-dollar funding match, doubling the total investment to $1 million. The combined funding is expected to ease financial burdens for families facing economic hardship and close critical gaps not covered by insurance.
“For many fire survivors whose homes are still standing, the hardest part isn’t rebuilding, it’s managing the remediation and repair costs that insurance hasn’t covered and often won’t,” said Wade Trimmer, President of The Change Reaction. He noted that the organization has already supported more than 1,500 households affected by the Eaton and Palisades Fires.
For survivors like Aaron, a teacher at John Muir High School in Pasadena, the support is life-changing. “The last year has been devastating, to say the least,” he said. “Finally being able to return to my home gives me such a sense of safety and relief.”
ABBF Executive Director Jennifer DeVoll expressed gratitude to the concert’s organizers, including musicians Taylor Goldsmith and Eric Krasno, for helping turn a community gathering into tangible recovery support.
“Altadena is our home,” said Goldsmith. “These fires hit us and our neighbors really hard, and we wanted to use music to bring the community together and remind ourselves how resilient we are.”
Krasno added that the event demonstrated the power of music to inspire collective action. “This concert brought together artists, fans, and neighbors for something bigger than all of us: recovery, hope, and rebuilding.”
Families receiving assistance were identified by The Change Reaction in collaboration with the Community Clergy Coalition, ensuring aid reaches those most in need.
Taylor Goldsmith and Dawes onstage at “A Concert for Altadena,” Jan. 7, 2026 (Photo – Nikki Phillips)
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