All twelve Los Angeles-based professional sports teams are joining forces to raise funds to support the victims and first responders in the wildfires that have devastated the region in the past week.
The Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, Rams, Chargers, Sparks, LAFC, Galaxy, Angel City FC, Dodgers, Anaheim Ducks, Kings, and Angels are pledging at least $8 million to donate to the cause. Additionally, sports apparel company Fanatics is donating $3 million worth of merchandise for victims who were displaced from their homes.
The recipients of this donation will be the Red Cross, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, World Central Kitchen, animal rescue shelters, and many others. Teams will also be hosting distribution centers for donated goods at Dodger Stadium, SoFi Stadium, and BMO Stadium this Friday for residents in impacted zip codes.
The fires in the region have burned nearly a combined 40,000 acres, with the most destructive ones occurring in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena area, which are still burning today and causing hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate. The fires so far have claimed 25 lives with the figures expected to rise.
The situation is still ongoing, as winds in the region are expected to pick up once again this week through Wednesday, with gusts expected to reach as high as 75 mph. Lakers coach JJ Redick’s rental house burned down in the Pacific Palisades. Former LAFC star Carlos Vela also lost his house.
As a result of the fires, the playoff game between NFL teams Rams and Minnesota Vikings has been moved to Arizona and is set to play Monday night. The Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers are set to resume home games later Monday evening after postponing games last week. Laker’s home game against the Spurs is set to be dedicated to first responders, and the team is also set to open a drive-thru donation center at UCLA from Tuesday to Sunday.
