It’s Bigger Than Us Fire Relief
Hope Amidst Devastation: IBTU Leads Relief Efforts for Los Angeles Wildfire Survivors
The Los Angeles fires in the Palisades and Altadena have left a path of destruction, with thousands of families losing their homes, businesses, and treasured memories. The Palisades Fire alone consumed 6,837 structures, while The Eaton Fire, which affected Altadena and Pasadena resulted in the loss of over 9,000 homes and buildings. Despite this devastation, the resilience of our city has been extraordinary.
A Mission Rooted in Action
It’s Bigger Than Us (IBTU) is a community-driven movement dedicated to closing gaps in access, resources, and opportunities so all communities can thrive. Over the past five years, we have mobilized people, partnerships, and solutions to create lasting change.
How IBTU Got Involved in Fire Relief
Tyrone called me early in the morning to share that he wanted to help with the fires and that he had spoken with Jordan, the owner of Perfect Hydration. They were ready to act immediately, distributing water and essential resources from Baby2Baby to first responders and displaced families. What started as a single act of generosity quickly grew into a movement—an Instagram video posted by Tyrone sparked widespread support, uniting thousands of people to make a tangible impact.
The outpouring of support for It’s Bigger Than Us kept growing and growing, with people from Los Angeles, across the country, and even abroad coming together to share resources, donate goods, volunteer and distribute aid to those affected by the fires.
As IBTU expanded its operations to meet unprecedented needs, it transitioned from an emergency relief effort to a fully operational disaster hub. This expansion led to the creation of IBTU Relief, a dedicated initiative focused on rapid response, recovery, and long-term resilience for disaster-impacted communities.
IBTU Relief Highlights & News
What We’ve Accomplished Together:
5,000+ Families Supported = Providing direct aid, reousrces, and essential supplies to those in need.
3,500+ Volunteers Deployed – Mobilizing communities to drive meaningful change, with volunteers working tirelessly across various projects.
15,000 Meals Distributed To First Responders – IBTU has partnered with incredible companies—including Eataly, Wolfgang Puck, World Central Kitchen, Layla Bagels, Houston Brothers at Level 8, and Fresh Brothers—to distribute 15,000 meals to first responders and families.
Expanding Logistics & Distribution – With a surge of donations, we secured a larger storage facility to efficiently manage and distribute aid across affected areas.
Building Strategic Partnerships – Collaborations with brands like Lululemon, Pacsun, Erewhon, L’Occitane, Sol de Janeiro, Supreme, and World Central Kitchen have strengthened our ability to provide essential resources to those in crisis.
Jennifer Hudson Show Feature – Our relief efforts were highlighted on The Jennifer Hudson Show, bringing awareness to the ongoing recovery needs of our community.
Los Angeles Fire Department & Mayor’s Office Partnership – IBTU collaborated with the LAFD and the Mayor’s Office as a designated drop-off location for donations during the first two weeks of fire relief.
Support for Families in Crisis – IBTU partnered with Marriott Hotels to support displaced families by providing essential resources, financial aid, and warm meals.
Gamma Grammy Party – Gamma hosted their Grammy party at Living Room and teamed up with IBTU for charity, with a star-studded guest list.
Lululemon Glow Up Studio – Lululemon launched Glow Up Studio in New York (Feb 26–Mar 9), with all proceeds benefiting It’s Bigger Than Us. Learn more
Corporate Volunteer Groups – IBTU has welcomed corporate volunteer groups, including teams from Hertz, Nike, and Fox, to help organize our expanded storage facility.
Event Activations – In partnership with Sola Foundation, IBTU hosted an impactful event with 2,500 families in attendance.
Fundraisers – Numerous companies and individuals are organizing fundraising events. Highlights include Songs from California, a showcase of Austin’s top artists performing songs about the beloved Golden State, with auction items from brands like Flamingo Estate and Made In. All proceeds benefit IBTU.
A Day of Recovery: The Start of IBTU Activations
It’s Bigger Than Us partnered with the Sola Foundation and One Church to host A Day of Recovery at The Bee Hive, supporting 2,500 individuals and families impacted by the LA fires. Families had access to housing and financial aid from organizations like the Red Cross and Fema, healthcare services, personal care items, and clothing. We also had a furniture giveaway, groceries, diapers, etc. Our IBTU pop-up boutique provided personal care items, clothing and shoes. The kids enjoyed toy giveaways, arts and crafts, carnival games, sports with HoopBus, bounce houses and a petting zoo. Food trucks from World Central Kitchen kept everyone well-fed.
This event marked the beginning of many activations as we continue to provide support, resources, and community-driven solutions.
The Road Ahead: Phases of Recovery
PHASE 1: RELIEF – Immediate crisis response, mobilizing volunteers, and distributing essential resources to stabilize impacted families.
PHASE 2: REBUILD – Connecting survivors to education, employment, legal aid, and long-term support services to help them regain stability.
PHASE 3: RENEW – Sustained recovery through housing support, economic empowerment, mental health services, and policy advocacy.
How You Can Help
The road to recovery is long, and we need your support to continue our efforts. Here’s how you can make a difference:
Donate – Every dollar goes directly to providing relief, housing, and essential resources to those in need.
Volunteer – Whether sorting donations, distributing supplies, or offering professional services, your time makes an impact.
Spread Awareness – Share our mission on social media and help us reach more people who can contribute.
We believe in the power of unity and compassion. Together, we can turn tragedy into transformation. Thank you to everyone who has stood with us—we couldn’t do it without you. Together, we are rebuilding Los Angeles!
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