When wildfires swept through Altadena, Pasadena, the Palisades and Malibu, nearly 13,000 households lost their homes. The devastation was rapid, and we at CCF knew we needed to respond swiftly, and people throughout Los Angeles, the nation and even other countries stepped up immediately.
In the toughest times, Angelenos stood together. The past year reminded us what it truly means to be Angelenos. When the wildfires swept through Altadena, Pasadena, the Palisades and Malibu, nearly 13,000 households lost their homes. Yet, amid devastation, something extraordinary happened – people came together.
Miguel A. Santana reflected on the deeper meaning of the “Rising Together” float for Latino families in Pasadena and Altadena for whom the Rose Parade holds special significance. “This float is about community—people who didn’t know each other before, now crying, remembering, healing together,” he said. “It’s a space to grieve, to build, and to show the world our strength.” The article also highlighted survivor Ruben Rodriguez, who lost his home of over 30 years in the fires and called his selection to ride on the float “a great blessing.”
Good Day LA took viewers inside the float barn for a closer look at “Rising Together,” with Artistic Entertainment Services president Stefan Pollack walking through the float’s intricate symbolism, from the floral waves representing Palisades and Malibu communities, to California poppies, butterflies, acorns, and 31 sunflowers honoring those who perished. “It does take a community,” Pollack said. “The theme of the parade is magic in teamwork—this is teamwork, bringing back these communities to the vibrant communities that they were.”
A behind-the-scenes look at CCF’s “Rising Together” Rose Parade float featured perspectives from CCF Board Chair David Newman and Chief of Policy and Programs Cielo Castro, who emphasized that the float was designed as a reminder that recovery is far from over. “We didn’t want people to forget that a year later people are still suffering,” Castro said, noting that rebuilding entire communities can take a decade or more, which is why long-term philanthropic commitment remains critical.
Images of Angelenos supporting those taken in federal immigration raids will be projected onto Hall of Records building during NYELA.
A Los Angeles Times photo essay capturing the volunteer spirit behind the Rose Parade featured the “Rising Together” float, co-sponsored by California Community Foundation, as volunteers—including wildfire survivors who lost their homes—worked side by side to bring the float to life ahead of January 1.
A KTLA 5 segment on “Rising Together” interviewed CCF President and CEO Miguel Santana, Tournament of Roses President Mark Leavens, and Eaton Fire survivors Jacque Robinson-Baisley and Gina Clayton-Johnson. Robinson-Baisley looked ahead with cautious optimism: “I’m grateful and I’m looking forward to having those few moments of joy, because this has been a less joyous year.” Clayton-Johnson spoke to the float’s deeper meaning: “What is the strongest and most important thing in those moments is community. I get to ride on it with other fire survivors who have been my community and the reason why I’m able to get up every morning.”
KTLA 5 brought cameras inside the float barn for a morning news segment on “Rising Together,” giving Southern California TV audiences an up-close look at the float taking shape ahead of January 1. Palisades Fire survivor Myra Burg, who lost her Malibu home, captured the emotional weight of the moment: “There are days I wake up and I need to do a mental pull-up from the depression. We still have to keep moving forward.”
As the year draws to a close, we begin with gratitude—for you and for the extraordinary compassion our community has shown in the face of profound loss. Earlier this week, as we prepared for the beloved Southern California tradition of the Rose Parade®—a celebration watched worldwide just before the one-year anniversary of the devastating fires—we had the privilege of gathering with wildfire survivors from Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades and Pasadena to unveil Rising Together, a float created in their honor. (No wildfire funds were used to pay for the float).
A Rose Parade® float will honor the resilience, courage and unity of wildfire survivors
California Community Foundation and the Black Freedom Fund co-sponsored the “Rising Together” float in the 137th Rose Parade, dedicated to the 31 victims of the Eaton and Palisades fires and the tens of thousands of survivors still rebuilding their lives. Miguel A. Santana joined fire survivors at the float barn in Pasadena, reflecting on the power of community healing: “We acknowledge this horrible thing happened, and people are still suffering, but we can offer this as a way of healing together.”