LOS ANGELES – August 2025 – Nonprofit humanitarian organization CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) is thrilled to announce a $2.3 million grant from the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy for a wildfire prevention and preparedness program. The two-year project will focus on creating safer and more fire-resilient neighborhoods in the foothill communities of the San Gabriel and Antelope Valleys. 

CORE and program partner, Day One Pomona, will provide education through webinars and community meetings to build critical knowledge around wildfire preparedness. This statewide initiative will create what are called “Firewise Communities” by training local leaders as well as community members to lead wildfire mitigation efforts, which can include creating defensible space on properties or learning about home hardening efforts.   

This program’s community-driven approach avoids an ineffective one-size-fits-all solution that might work for some neighborhoods and not others. Instead, working with community members themselves to tailor the training agenda based on their unique needs, geography, and risk. 

“As we’ve seen in the devastating Eaton and Palisades Fires, communities are at extreme risk. Once-in-a-lifetime climate-fueled disasters have sadly become a reality for many. Through this generous grant, we can empower these communities to be better prepared by giving them the tools to increase safety and build resilience,” said Yosef Jalil, CORE’s California Area Director.