LOS ANGELES — The local sports community has reached out to help those impacted by the massive wildfires that have devastated parts of Los Angeles County for more than a week.
The area’s 12 major professional sports teams — Dodgers, Angels, Lakers, Clippers, Sparks, Rams, Chargers, Kings, Ducks, Galaxy, LAFC and Angel City FC — announced Monday a commitment of $8 million toward wildfire relief.
Those organizations also held three simultaneous events at Dodger Stadium, SoFi Stadium and BMO Stadium on Friday, at which current and former athletes were among those on hand to distribute supplies to those affected by the fires.
Many members of those teams also have been making individual efforts to support the fire victims and first responders, financially and otherwise. Here are some of those individual efforts in what is by no means an exhaustive list.
Dodgers
Two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani, who played six years with the Angels before signing with the Dodgers prior to the 2024 season, has pledged $500,000 to the relief efforts. In an Instagram post Thursday night, Ohtani wrote in Japanese that his donation is going toward helping firefighters, people who lost their homes and animals in need of assistance.
First baseman Freddie Freeman and his wife Chelsea have donated $300,000 to relief efforts, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, with $100,000 each going to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the Pasadena Fire Department and the Salvation Army.
Utility player Chris Taylor’s CT3 Foundation announced on Instagram it is matching donations up to $5,000 to help with fire relief efforts. “We love you LA, and we are praying for you,” the post read. Taylor joined teammates Blake Snell and Anthony Banda in helping out at Friday’s distribution event at Dodger Stadium.
The Justin Turner Foundation is matching donations to Dream Center LA’s fire relief fundraiser for up to $100,000. Turner played for the Dodgers from 2014-22 and was a key member of their 2020 World Series champion team.
Lakers
Coach JJ Redick and his family lost the house they were renting — as well as many possessions of high personal value — in the Palisades fire. During an emotional news conference with reporters last week, Redick said he and the team would take a leading role in the area’s recovery.
“We talked about it as a group before practice. It is our responsibility — everybody in this building — to lead on this and to help people,” Redick said. “You never know what that’s going to look like. … And I think between myself, (Rob Pelinka), I know the Buss family — Jeanie specifically — we’re prepared to do whatever it takes to help Los Angeles.”
Lakers videographer Rohan Ali set up a GoFundMe page to help his parents, who lost their Altadena home in the Eaton fire. Anthony Davis ($20,000) and Jarred Vanderbilt ($4,000) are among the Lakers players who donated to the fund. Joey Buss, brother of Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss, contributed $10,000 to the fund.
Vanessa Bryant, wife of late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, was on hand with the Mamba and Mambacita Foundation to help with supply distribution Friday at Dodger Stadium.
Clippers
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and his wife Connie announced Thursday their Ballmer Group has “dedicated an initial $15 million in emergency funding for the many people impacted by these fires, particularly in the historic, racially diverse community of Altadena.”
The FireAid benefit concert on Jan. 30 will be hosted at the Clippers’ home arena — Intuit Dome — and the Kia Forum, both of which are owned by the Ballmers.
“We understand there will be a long road to recovery for the L.A. region and remain committed to supporting the community,” the Ballmers wrote.
Clippers guard James Harden’s Impact 13 Foundation was one of several organizations that put on a supply drive Thursday in Houston to benefit the L.A. fire victims.
Rams
The Rams took out a full page ad in The Los Angeles Times’ Sunday sports section with a heartfelt message of support for everyone impacted by the fires and gratitude for those who are helping in a time of need.
“When something hurts one of us, it hurts all of us,” the ad read. “And we respond together. Showing our strength, tenacity, passion and generosity. Revealing a City of Angels.”
Receiver Cooper Kupp and his wife Anna have offered to match all proceeds raised by Dodo Coffee Co. for the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation through the sales of “L.A. on our Heart” T-shirts.
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A group of diehard fans of the Rams’ next playoff opponent has started a GoFundMe page that allows fellow Philadelphia Eagles supporters to donate toward L.A. fire relief. The effort has raised more than $30,000, while noting that “we’re still gonna kick the Rams’ butts.”
Chargers
Days after his team’s playoff loss to the Houston Texans, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh paid a visit to an LAFD base camp near the Palisades fire to provide moral support for the first responders who have battling the flames for more than a week.
The previous day, Harbaugh revealed he will undergo a cardiac ablation and hip replacement surgery sometime “soon” during the offseason. Harbaugh was treated for an irregular heartbeat in the team locker room during a game against the Broncos on Oct. 13 in Denver and was limping noticeably following last weekend’s loss to the Texans.