Jared Goff and Mike Attanasio. Courtesy photo.
VENTURA COUNTY — California Strong, a nonprofit organization created by California professional athletes to provide immediate financial support to victims after disasters, distributed its second round of funding to over 60 families who were impacted by the Woolsey Fire. More than $250,000 was distributed May 10 in Westlake Village at the Yarrow Family YMCA.
Passing out funds to recipients were two of California Strong founders, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff and Mike Attanasio of the Milwaukee Brewers ownership group.
“There are so many members of the community who are still immensely affected by the fires,” says Goff. “California Strong is dedicated to helping with their critical financial needs so they can begin to rebuild their lives.”
An initial round of $1 million in California Strong funding was distributed on February 8 in Los Angeles to victims of the Woolsey Fire and Borderline shooting and on February 28 in Northern California to those affected by the Camp Fire. California Strong’s original financial assistance application deadline was January 25. Based on the high volume of applications received after the deadline, it was clear that there were many more families who needed help financially including rental assistance.
California Strong went to community foundations to raise additional funds. Grant money came from the Ventura County Community Foundation and the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. Once the funds were secured, all open and vetted applications were able to be fully funded.
Selected Camp Fire applicants will receive grant money later this month.
“Fire victims whose homes have been lost or damaged often have to continue paying their monthly mortgage and homeowner fees while living in rental property. These costs can be overwhelming among other things,” says Attanasio. “The distributions will hopefully relieve some of that burden.”
California Strong: California Strong founders include Milwaukee Brewers members and California natives Christian Yelich, Ryan Braun and Mike Moustakas, Mike Attanasio of the Milwaukee Brewers ownership group and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff. They joined forces with the Southeast Ventura County YMCA to create California Strong after the Borderline shooting and California fires in November 2018. The organization is committed to providing immediate financial support to victims whenever a disaster strikes anywhere in the state. For more information about California Strong or to donate, visit www.californiastrong.org or call Southeast Ventura County YMCA, 805-497-3081.
Ventura County Community Foundation: The Ventura County Community Foundation is a charitable foundation committed to promoting and enabling philanthropy, and building long term capital to benefit Ventura County. Its four primary roles are to be a careful steward of the funds entrusted to its care, a long term partner dedicated to donor intent, and effective grant maker focusing on the needs of nonprofits and of the community, and a community leader and convener, focusing on the common good. https://vccf.org/
United Way Greater Los Angeles: United Way of Greater Los Angeles is a nonprofit organization fighting to end poverty by preparing students for high school graduation, college, and the workforce, housing our homeless neighbors, and guiding hard-working families towards economic mobility. United Way identifies the root causes of poverty and works strategically to solve them by building alliances across all sectors, funding targeted programs and advocating for change. For more information, visit www.UnitedWayLA.org and www.EveryoneInLA.org