English

Tzu Chi USA Gathers Support for LA Wildfire Survivors in Southern California

Interfaith community leaders and representatives join hands at Tzu Chi USA’s San Gabriel Valley Service Center to aid wildfire survivors.

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Los Angeles County, CA, January 11, 2025 – Tzu Chi USA held an interfaith prayer service at Tzu Chi USA’s San Gabriel Valley Service Center in response to the destructive wildfires that ignited in Southern California on January 7, 2025. Led by Tzu Chi USA CEO Debra Boudreaux, Los Angeles Buddhist Union president Ven. Bhante Chao Chu, and Rev. Jan Chase, Pastor of Unity Church Pomona, the prayer was held jointly with representatives of the Los Angeles County government, representatives from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, and key leaders from various overseas Chinese communities. Those gathered prayed for the swift containment of the Los Angeles County wildfires, and called upon all sectors to unite in supporting affected families during this critical time.

Since January 7, 2025, powerful Santa Ana winds have fueled the Eaton Fire and threatened the San Gabriel Valley, forcing so many to evacuate, including a large number of Asian-American area residents. Tzu Chi USA and its San Gabriel Valley Service Center responded immediately, establishing a care center on January 8 to provide shelter, meals, and essential supplies to those affected.

Tzu Chi volunteers have been visiting shelters that house evacuated residents daily, while delivering water and meals to families who live near the affected areas experiencing power outages. In addition, responding to requests from the Los Angeles County government, local police and fire departments, and the American Red Cross, which manages the shelters, Tzu Chi has also donated substantial quantities of eco-blankets, N95 masks, and protective eyewear for use in shelters and by first responders.

“We are deeply grateful to have Southern California’s interfaith leaders and representatives from various organizations gather today to offer sincere prayers of love, and hope that this collective energy will transform the situation,” said Debra Boudreaux, CEO of Tzu Chi USA. “In addition to the power of prayer, we need the collective strength of compassion. Tzu Chi USA has established a wildfire relief webpage and is utilizing social media platforms to inform the public about how their contributions will be used to support efforts to protect the affected homes.”

Los Angeles Buddhist Union founder and president, the Venerable Bhante Chao Chu, stated, “Currently, government agencies and first responders are fully engaged in firefighting efforts, but we must also all understand that the post-fire rebuilding effort will not only take a few weeks or months, but will rather be a process that will likely take several years. Everyone can support organizations like Tzu Chi in providing affected communities with supplies, financial assistance, emotional support, and spiritual care.”

“I’d like to thank Tzu Chi for holding this touching event, bringing interfaith representatives together to pray for those affected by the fires,” stated Rev. Jan Chase, Pastor of Unity Church Pomona. “I’ll be supporting Tzu Chi USA’s work in the fire zones along with my friends in the faith community.”

Deputy Director-General Ling-Hsin (Sara) Chen, Director Amy Wang, and Deputy Director Catherine Yueh-Hsiu Chiang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles (TECO-LA) attended the prayer service representing TECO-LA. To assist Los Angeles firefighters and affected residents in coping with the air pollution caused by the wildfires, Deputy Director-General Chen, on behalf of TECO-LA, donated 10,000 N95 masks and three boxes of protective goggles to Tzu Chi USA. These masks were donated by a generous Taiwanese expatriate through China Airlines’ Americas Regional Office with the coordination of TECO-LA, hoping to provide practical health protection for rescue personnel and affected residents, mitigating the impact of the disaster. “We will continue to cooperate with overseas Chinese community organizations to support relevant disaster relief and reconstruction efforts,” Deputy Director-General Chen emphasized.

Reggie Shum, former president of the Los Angeles Panyu Association, made a donation at the event, urging the community to get involved. “Tzu Chi is already helping out,” Shum expressed, “and I hope to get more people on board to give what they can, whether it’s money or time, to support the families affected by the fires.”

Representing the office of the Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, community outreach deputy Jimmy Wu said, “We thank Tzu Chi USA for their prompt delivery of supplies to the Pomona shelter on January 8, in response to the request of County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. The county government is fully devoted to these disaster relief efforts, and needs the help of community organizations like Tzu Chi in bringing together help for those affected.” Wu also personally donated to Tzu Chi USA after the event. 

“I thank Tzu Chi for the invitation to the prayer service following this large-scale disaster, and call for unity and support from the Chinese community for survivors of the wildfires. We’ll work together!” said Norman Nie, Chairman of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA), Los Angeles. “The CCBA will host a fundraising gala tomorrow evening to extend our full help, and I hope everyone will support us.” 

“It is heartbreaking to see entire communities reduced to ashes by the wildfires,” said Jason Su, Honor President of the Hainan Association of Southern California. “All community organizations should unite their efforts, and our association will fully encourage our members to participate in relief efforts.” Mr. Su and the association’s president, Sean Hang, also represented the association in making a donation to Tzu Chi USA at the prayer service.

Jacquelyn Tseng, Joint Chinese University Alumni Association of Southern California, stated, “It is deeply distressing to see the severity of the wildfires, which is why I am here at Tzu Chi’s prayer service hoping to do my part. We will call upon all alum associations in Southern California to contribute their efforts. In addition to donations of money and supplies, people can also volunteer their time. Furthermore, and more importantly, everyone should have fire prevention awareness and take proper fire safety measures.” 

At the prayer service, Tzu Chi USA also highlighted shelter relief supplies, including food, warm clothing, hygiene products, and Jing Si eco-friendly furniture, which are ideal for use in shelters. 

That same afternoon, Tzu Chi USA established the “Los Angeles Wildfire Disaster Relief Coordination Center” at its San Dimas headquarters, connecting all its chapters across the United States. Volunteers from Tzu Chi’s Northern California Chapter, Seattle Branch, San Francisco Branch, Portland Service Center, and Sacramento Service Center also launched fundraising and awareness campaigns during the weekend of January 11 and 12. 

Tzu Chi USA is actively preparing for immediate disaster relief efforts and long-term recovery projects. Learn more about Tzu Chi USA’s wildfire relief efforts on the “Help Los Angeles Heal” mission webpage. Thanks to a generous sponsor, all donations made to Tzu Chi USA’s Los Angeles wildfire relief will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to an incredible $1 million. Donate today: https://donate.tzuchi.us/cause/lawfire/ 

Media Contact:

Jennifer Chien
[email protected]

ABOUT US

The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is a global non-profit humanitarian organization founded in 1966 by a Buddhist nun named Dharma Master Cheng Yen in Taiwan. Its missions of medicine, charity, education, and humanistic culture have brought relief to 136 countries and counting. In 1989, Tzu Chi USA was established and now has 62 offices across the US. The heart of Tzu Chi is embedded in its name: in Chinese, “tzu” means compassion, and “chi,” relief.

More News Stories

X
微信裡點"發現"
掃QRCode便可分享此頁
複製網址
前往微信
按"複製網址"後複製連結後,再按"前往微信"即可前往微信App分享此頁