PUSD Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco and Rep. Judy Chu with PUSD students (Photo – Colorado Boulevard)
In response to the devastating wildfires that swept through greater Los Angeles earlier this year, Google and YouTube have pledged $3 million in funding to support local students, teachers, and schools impacted by the crisis. The announcement, made on Wednesday, April 23, aims to ensure the continuity of education and provide critical resources for those displaced by the fires.
By News Desk
During a press event hosted by the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) at Pasadena High School, Google and YouTube unveiled their commitment to a series of recovery initiatives. The funding will assist schools and districts affected by the January wildfires, which led to widespread school closures, displacements, and the loss of digital learning resources.
A major initiative includes a donation to the Greater Los Angeles Education Foundation (GLAEF), which will distribute over 3,000 Chromebooks to students in need. This effort is designed to address the digital divide and ensure that students can continue their education remotely, even if they are no longer attending school in person.
Additionally, a back-to-school matching campaign in collaboration with DonorsChoose.org will launch this fall. This campaign aims to provide teachers in wildfire-affected areas with essential supplies and resources to rebuild their classrooms and help students return to learning.
This $3 million contribution is part of a larger $15 million commitment from Google, YouTube, and Google.org, the company’s philanthropic arm. The funds will support various relief organizations assisting the broader Los Angeles community during the recovery process.
School officials and local leaders pose for a photo with participating PUSD students (Photo – Google)
The announcement was made in the presence of several key figures, including U.S. Representative Judy Chu (CA-28), officials from the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD), such as PUSD Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Banco and PUSD Board President Jennifer Hall Lee. All emphasized the pivotal role of education in rebuilding communities. “This generous contribution from Google and YouTube will be instrumental in rebuilding our classrooms and empowering the next generation of innovators,” Representative Chu said. “While it’s a long road to rebuild, it’s heartening to see such ongoing support from so many for Altadena, Pasadena, and the greater Los Angeles community during this challenging time.”
By working closely with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and other government partners, as well as with organizations like PEF and the Los Angeles Unified School District Education Foundation, LACOE and GLAEF have helped facilitate the distribution of critical educational technology to accelerate recovery across impacted districts.
The event also featured a hands-on coding workshop, where Google representatives introduced students to foundational computer science skills and demonstrated FireSat, an AI-powered satellite system developed by Google. Launched in March, FireSat provides real-time data to help authorities detect and respond to wildfires with unprecedented speed, potentially preventing future disasters from escalating.
Group photo (Courtesy of Google)
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