The California Community Foundation was recently honored with the Community Impact Award from the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC) alongside nearly 20 community partners supporting rebuilding efforts following the January wildfires. 

Flanked on stage by the diverse group of organizations driving wildfire recovery forward, CCF President and CEO Miguel A. Santana stepped to the podium and accepted the award on their behalf.  

“Our collective work is helping communities heal and restoring hope as we strive to not only rebuild, but rebuild better,” said Santana after thanking the thousands of Angelinos who mobilized to support each other after the wildfires “We are committed to being with survivors until every single person who decides to go back home can.” 

Santana also acknowledged the generosity of the 48,000 individual donors who donated to CCF’s Wildfire Recovery Fund, raising over $100 million to date.  

“From the very beginning, our commitment was to support a community-led effort. We ended up giving out $30 million in 30 days,” Santana said to a round of applause. 

The community impact award was part of the LABC’s 55th Architectural Awards, which honored organizations that are uniting Angelenos around wildfire recovery and rebuilding and celebrating innovative designs. 

In his remarks, Santana said CCF is working to identify financial solutions to make it easier for survivors to access capital to rebuild. He also described how innovations in modular housing are allowing fire survivors to get back on their properties faster in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades.  

He highlighted how a public showcase of modular and prefabricated housing designs in Altadena is providing a glimpse of what’s possible for survivors who seek to return to their properties more quickly and affordably than traditional rebuilds. CCF offered financial support to the organizations involved in the showcase. 

The showcase is open through the weekend of Dec. 6 at 2231 Lincoln Ave. in Altadena. The public is welcome to visit Wednesday through Friday (12–6), Saturday (10–5), or Sunday (12–5) to explore innovative prefab homes supporting wildfire recovery and affordable housing. 

Santana detailed some of the persistent challenges faced by survivors, including insurance complications and dwindling resources, underscoring the need for sustained community advocacy. CCF has a deep understanding of these issues because of the surveys of fire survivors conducted by the Department of Angels throughout the year. CCF co-founded the Department of Angels earlier this year with Snap Inc. CEO Evan Spiegel to ensure that survivor voices remain central in long-term recovery, he said.  

“The point of the Department of Angels is to center survivors along every stage of this process, and we do so by supporting grassroots activation, information sharing so the rest of us could support them in whatever way we can,” Santana said. “One way we can support them is by being their advocate dealing with environmental issues, insurance issues and the rebuilding process itself.” 

The LABC awards jury recognized that the greatest local architecture and planning challenge is recovering from the Eaton and Palisades fires, event organizers said. The jury made an unprecedented decision to recognize 19 local organizations with the Community Impact Award. These grassroots groups and charitable organizations are taking the lead in helping rebuild communities, lives, homes, schools, and businesses devastated by the January fires, according to the LABC. 

Also honored with the Community Impact Award were Altadena Rising, Altagether, Clergy Community Coalition, Community Women Vital Voices, Department of Angels, Eaton Fire Collaborative Leadership Council, Eaton Fire Residents United, Eaton Fire Survivors Network, Los Angeles Unified School District, Legacy Land Project, Pacific Palisades Community Council, Palisades Recovery Coalition, Project Passion, PostFire, Resilient Palisades, Steadfast LA, Team Palisades and UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate. 

The award was also accepted by L.A. County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger, whose district includes Altadena and L.A. City Councilmember Traci Park, who represents the Pacific Palisades. 

 “Today’s recognition underscores the strength and resilience of communities that refuse to be defined by disaster,” Barger said. “These organizations stepped up to support Altadena when it mattered most, helping individuals and families rebuild their lives with dignity and hope. I am proud to stand alongside them as we continue driving a recovery worthy of the residents we serve.” 

– Ben Poston