Eliot iconic tower (File Photo – Jennifer Hall Lee)
The College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation, in partnership with all major CFP Bowl games and education company School Specialty, has pledged $1.5 million to help restore Eliot Arts Magnet School in Altadena, following severe wildfire damage in January.
By News Desk
TOf the total commitment, the CFP Foundation is contributing at least $1.2 million, supported by every major CFP Bowl game—including the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, and Allstate Sugar Bowl. School Specialty, a long-standing partner in the CFP Foundation’s Extra Yard Makeover Project, will contribute an additional $300,000 to support the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD), which oversees Eliot Arts.
As restoration efforts begin, additional support will extend to McKinley Middle School, where Eliot Arts students are temporarily attending classes.
“We are grateful to have so many generous partners willing to come together to help our friends in Pasadena and at Eliot Arts Magnet School,” said Britton Banowsky, executive director of the CFP Foundation. “It’s a historic moment as all of the CFP Bowls are aligned to support this very important project.”
David Eads, CEO of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, echoed the sentiment, calling the effort a testament to “the power of teamwork and the meaningful impact we can make when united by a shared purpose.”
While the exterior of Eliot Arts Magnet School was spared, the interior suffered extensive damage. The new funding builds on previous efforts, including a 2023 refurbishment of the school’s historic library, made possible through collaboration among the CFP Foundation, Tournament of Roses, Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF), and School Specialty. In response to the fire, the PUSD board has passed a resolution to fully rebuild the school.
School Specialty CEO Ryan Bohr called the contribution a privilege, emphasizing support for a community moving forward “with strength, unity, and hope.”
To ensure long-term support, the CFP Foundation has also entered a three-year grant agreement with PEF to sustain recovery and development.
“Eliot Arts Magnet School has been an important Altadena landmark since its construction nearly a century ago,” added Patrick Conyers, executive director of PEF. “I am very grateful to the CFP Foundation and its partners for their extraordinary commitment to supporting Eliot Arts Magnet, the Pasadena Unified School District, and our wider community in this time of need.”
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