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Malaysian Reserve
11-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Jewish Free Loan Association Offers Interest-Free Loans to Wildfire Survivors with support from a grant from the California Community Foundation
With support from a grant from the California Community Foundation's Wildfire Recovery Fund, JFLA has stepped up in a major way LOS ANGELES, July 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On a stunning Malibu cliff overlooking the vast Pacific, artist Myra Burg had lovingly filled her home and work studio with gorgeous paintings, ceramic sculptures and the heartbeat of her life's work: hundreds of cones of fiber and other supplies to create cylindrical tapestries of iridescent hues and varied textures. And then it was gone. All of it. Burg's home was destroyed in the Jan. 7 wildfires that swept through Malibu and Pacific Palisades, along with Altadena and Pasadena. In a flash, she lost her home and priceless personal treasures, like her father's tallis, a Jewish prayer shawl, that was to be handed down to her brother. She lost her business – her airy studio with a stunning bathroom, finished art pieces and $250,000 in supplies and equipment – none of which was insured, as her home had been. But Burg is moving forward with plans for recovery, thanks in part to the Jewish Free Loan Association, a nonprofit that offers interest-free and fee-free loans to help people with urgent financial needs. The Malibu artist received a $50,000 small business loan, which has helped her begin to replenish her supplies and start work again in a temporary studio space her brother created for her in his home. 'This loan completely saved me,' Burg said. 'It put me back in business.' With support from a grant from the California Community Foundation's Wildfire Recovery Fund, JFLA has stepped up in a major way to provide financial assistance to wildfire survivors. The association offers no-cost loans in keeping with biblical mandates not to charge interest and extends the services to people of all backgrounds who live in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. First established in 1904, the association's initial loans helped people buy sewing machines and produce pushcarts. Over the years, loans have gone to help people resettle after World War II, rebuild after the Watts Riots, begin new lives after fleeing the Iranian Revolution and the fall of the former Soviet Union. They've supported those needing help with payments for medical, dental and mental health bills, student loans, housing, car repairs, pet care, adoptions, funerals. All told, JFLA has about 3,000 loans currently issued totaling $21.5 million. The maximum for personal loans is $15,000; for small businesses, $50,000. Educational loans are capped at $10,000, but are renewable annually for full-time students. Two guarantors are generally required who legally agree to repay the loan if necessary but the default rate is less than 1%. 'We are really the perfect antidote to help people get through what I like to call the speed bumps on the road of life,' said Rachel Grose, JFLA executive director. But the January wildfires created an epic crisis. When Grose saw video footage of flames consuming homes, destroying neighborhoods and leaving thousands of people in need, she knew she had to act – quickly. 'I just knew in my gut that this was going to be a disaster of a proportion we hadn't seen,' she said. 'I knew there would be a need for loans. I wanted to put money in people's hands quickly.' She reached out to her largest donors and within hours had 'very large commitments' from several of them. Within a month, she had raised nearly $2 million – including $150,000 from the California Community Foundation. But there was another pressing issue. In order to give fire survivors quick help, Grose said she asked the board president and executive committee to suspend the requirement for two guarantors. They agreed. 'I said, 'It's a moment and we need to rise to the moment,'' Grose said. 'This was a risk for us but we're not a bank. We're here to support people and help people and I wanted to get money into people's hands. And we did.' To date, the association has disbursed more than $1.9 million in 111 loans to individuals, families and small businesses who survived the wildfires that devastated parts of Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Pasadena. In a follow-up survey, nearly 97% of recipients said the loans helped them return to pre-wildfire levels of stability. But most said they are still recovering from a loss of income or jobs, housing challenges, mental health struggles. One family in Altadena, for instance, received a JFLA loan to rebuild their home of 20 years and repurchase everything lost – clothing, furniture, and other essentials while they lived in an apartment during the restoration process. Michael Marylander received a $25,000 JFLA small business loan after his massage studio went up in flames in Pacific Palisades – just a few days after opening. On Jan. 7, Marylander recalled, he saw fire in the nearby Santa Monica Mountains and dozens of fire trucks roaring through the neighborhood. He decided to close for the day, but said he never dreamed the flames would reach his business, The Massage Place, on Sunset Boulevard. When someone told him the next morning that the wildfire had gutted a supermarket across the street, he thought it was a joke. 'And then we realized it was all gone. The neighborhood is gone. Probably 99% of our customers don't live in Palisades anymore,' he said, as he sat near the site of his destroyed business, which has been cleared of debris with only concrete steps remaining. More bad news hit when he learned that his insurance did not cover wildfires. A loan application to the U.S. Small Business Administration got mired in red tape and was initially denied. But his mother heard about the JFLA and Marylander was able to receive a loan after about a month. He is using the funds to support another newly opened Massage Place site and is uncertain how quickly Pacific Palisades will recover and whether he will reopen in the neighborhood. 'It's been a nightmare, but I'm grateful for the loan,' he said. 'It was the first financial aid I got.' Burg, too, appreciates the JFLA loan and other help she's received as she makes plans for a new home and studio with optimism and perspective. Yes, it pains her to lose so many precious possessions but it's just 'stuff.' Yes, the loss is huge but so is the opportunity to build back better – this time with a robust fire suppression system she hopes will never be needed. And compared with her ancestors who fled the Nazis and saw their families murdered, she said, she has much to be grateful for. 'No, this was not devastating. This is an opportunity,' Burg said. 'As my father said, 'Nobody gets out of life unscathed. I get to rebuild.' Media Contact: Gilien Silsby, 213-500-8673 or gsisby@
Chicago Tribune
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers donate $1 million to aid families of immigrants affected by federal raids
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers have donated $1 million to assist families affected by two weeks of immigration raids in Southern California. The defending World Series champion Dodgers also said Friday that they intend to form partnerships with the California Community Foundation, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and other organization to continue providing aid to immigrant families. 'What's happening in Los Angeles has reverberated among thousands upon thousands of people, and we have heard the calls for us to take a leading role on behalf of those affected,' Dodgers President Stan Kasten said. 'We believe that by committing resources and taking action, we will continue to support and uplift the communities of Greater Los Angeles.' The Dodgers announced the steps in a five-paragraph news release that was delicately worded to avoid potentially inflammatory political terms, and which stopped short of an explicit condemnation of the federal policy. The team said only that the financial aid would be provided 'for families of immigrants impacted by recent events in the region.' 'I think it's great,' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before his team faced the Washington Nationals. 'I'm sure the money is going to be allocated in the right way. I'm happy to hear that the Dodgers have done that, and it's certainly the right thing to do.' The Dodgers were briefly at the center of Southern California's opposition to federal immigration policy when the team asked federal agents to leave the stadium grounds Thursday after they amassed at a parking lot near one of the gates. Dozens of federal agents with their faces covered arrived at a lot near the stadium's Gate E entrance in SUVs and cargo vans. A group of protesters carrying signs against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrived shortly afterward, and the agents eventually left. Roberts claimed his players haven't extensively discussed the situation in the clubhouse, but some Dodgers have been paying attention. Kiké Hernández, a Puerto Rico native, sharply criticized the raids on social media last weekend. Baseball Hall of Famer Jaime Jarrín, the Dodgers' lead Spanish-language broadcaster from 1959 until his retirement in 2022, also spoke up against the federal actions. Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass praised the Dodgers in the team's news release. 'I want to thank the Dodgers for leading with this action to support the immigrant community of Los Angeles,' Bass said. 'These last weeks have sent shockwaves of fear rippling through every neighborhood and have had a direct impact on our economy. My message to all Angelenos is clear: We will stick together during this time and we will not turn our backs on one another — that's what makes this the greatest city in the world.' Fans and lawmakers have called upon the Dodgers for several days to make an unequivocal statement of opposition to the raids, given their vast Latino fan base and heavy influence in the region. Other teams in the region have expressed their solidarity with the immigrant community, including Los Angeles FC and Angel City FC. U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who represents the Los Angeles area, went on social media earlier Friday to ask the Dodgers to speak up. 'In a city where 36% of the residents are immigrants and nearly 40% of the team's fan base is Latino, saying nothing is not just disappointing — it's a betrayal and an insult,' Gomez wrote. 'Silence is not an option. It's a choice.'
Fox Sports
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox Sports
Dodgers Donate $1M to Aid Families of Immigrants Affected by Federal Raids
The Los Angeles Dodgers have donated $1 million to assist families impacted by two weeks of immigration raids in Southern California. The defending World Series champions also said Friday that they intend to form partnerships with the California Community Foundation, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and other organizations to continue providing aid to immigrant families. "What's happening in Los Angeles has reverberated among thousands upon thousands of people, and we have heard the calls for us to take a leading role on behalf of those affected," Dodgers president Stan Kasten said. "We believe that by committing resources and taking action, we will continue to support and uplift the communities of Greater Los Angeles." The Dodgers announced the steps in a five-paragraph news release that was delicately worded to avoid potentially inflammatory political terms, and which stopped short of an explicit condemnation of the federal policy. The team said only that the financial aid would be provided "for families of immigrants impacted by recent events in the region." "I think it's great," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before his team faced the Washington Nationals. "I'm sure the money is going to be allocated in the right way. I'm happy to hear that the Dodgers have done that, and it's certainly the right thing to do." The Dodgers were briefly at the center of Southern California's opposition to federal immigration policy when the team asked federal agents to leave the stadium grounds Thursday after they amassed at a parking lot near one of the gates. Dozens of federal agents with their faces covered arrived at a lot near the stadium's Gate E entrance in SUVs and cargo vans. A group of protesters carrying signs against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrived shortly afterward, and the agents eventually left. Roberts claimed his players haven't extensively discussed the situation in the clubhouse, but some Dodgers have been paying attention. Kike Hernandez, a Puerto Rico native, sharply criticized the raids on social media last weekend. Baseball Hall of Famer Jaime Jarrín, the Dodgers' lead Spanish-language broadcaster from 1959 until his retirement in 2022, also spoke up against the federal actions. Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass praised the Dodgers in the team's news release. "I want to thank the Dodgers for leading with this action to support the immigrant community of Los Angeles," she said. "These last weeks have sent shockwaves of fear rippling through every neighborhood and have had a direct impact on our economy. My message to all Angelenos is clear: We will stick together during this time, and we will not turn our backs on one another — that's what makes this the greatest city in the world." Fans and lawmakers have called upon the Dodgers for several days to make an unequivocal statement of opposition to the raids, given their vast Latino fan base and heavy influence in the region. Other teams in the region have expressed their solidarity with the immigrant community, including Los Angeles FC and Angel City FC. U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who represents the Los Angeles area, went on social media earlier Friday to ask the Dodgers to speak up. "In a city where 36% of the residents are immigrants and nearly 40% of the team's fan base is Latino, saying nothing is not just disappointing — it's a betrayal and an insult," Gomez wrote. "Silence is not an option. It's a choice." Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Major League Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers recommended Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Washington Post
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Dodgers announce $1 million donation to aid families of immigrants affected by federal raids
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers have donated $1 million to assist families impacted by two weeks of immigration raids in Southern California. The defending World Series champion Dodgers also said Friday that they intend to form partnerships with the California Community Foundation, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and other organization to continue providing aid to immigrant families.
Los Angeles Times
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
7 newbie tips to the L.A. County Fair
I'm not much of a fair guy — I never win at carnival games, I get dizzy as a passenger in a car, and fair food is as overrated as In-N-Out. But last week, I attended the Los Angeles County Fair for the first time ever because why not? Besides, if Miguel Santana can be a Fairhead, so can I. He's one of the most influential people in Southern California: longtime confidante of the late Gloria Molina, former chief administrative officer for Los Angeles and current president of the California Community Foundation. But I think he had the most fun as head of the L.A. County Fair from 2017 to 2020, a stint immortalized by his appearance on the cover of the 2022 book '100 Years of the Los Angeles County Fair' riding a gondola lift alongside the book's author, legendary Inland Valley Daily Bulletin columnist David Allen. 'Who's there says a lot about us as Southern California,' Santana said of the L.A. County Fair's audience as I exited the 10 Freeway toward the Fairplex. 'It's a sense of Americana and proof we can be diverse and American at the same time.' I asked if this fair was as big as the Orange County Fair. He laughed the way all Angelenos do when presented with a comparison to Orange County. 'It's enormous. You're gonna get your 10,000 steps.' Behold, then, this newbie's L.A. County Fair tips: Fair parking is an ungodly $22.50, and don't you dare try to leave your jalopy at nearby Ganesha Park unless you want to spend a couple hundred dollars fishing it out of some random tow truck yard. My Pomona parking hookup was faithful reader Fernando Iniguez — gracias, Fern Iggy! I owe you a Jerez sweatshirt. $21.50 on the internet. At the gate? $32. Um, yeah. But one big complaint, Fair lords: It took me three attempts to buy my tickets online. Ever heard of Zelle? 'There's going to be so much music,' Santana told me, and he was right. Between live bands, Spotify playlists, DJs and radio stations, it was like walking through a wholesome Coachella. Bachata smoothly transitioned to Go Country went to KCRW became Taylor Swift switched over to a super-chirpy cover of the O'Jays' 'Love Train' at the Disco Chicken stand. And though Pharell Williams' 'Happy' played at least five times while I visited, the atmosphere was so cheerful that I didn't have to scream to drown out his ode to optimism. There's nothing like seeing suburbanites who probably think meat comes from Erewhon fairies stand with terror in their eyes as bleating sheep and goats swarm them asking for pellets. How much did fairgoers live in the moment? I saw next to no one use their smartphone other than for photos. And I also noticed a middle-age white guy in a MAGA cap standing a few feet away from a Muslim family with nary a negative look at each other. They were too busy staring ahead like the rest of us at an octet of magnificent Clydesdale horses ready to pull a Budweiser wagon. I loved all the vegetables and livestock at the Farm & Gardens, enjoyed the trippy art at the Flower & Garden Pavilion and appreciated the juxtaposition of a lowrider show next to the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum near the Millard Sheets Art Center. But the best part of the fair was the area labeled 'America's Great Outdoors' — and I say this as someone who thinks camping and hiking are for the (literal) birds! Volunteers sawed logs with kids, taught them how to pan for gold, showed off desert reptiles and even hosted an environmental magic show. Throw in a replica of a Tongva hut and a U.S. Forest Service fire lookout tower and the nearby sound of the RailGiants Train Museum, and this is what Knott's Berry Farm used to be before it became whatever the hell it is now. I had to rush back to Orange County for a columna the day I visited, so I only spent an hour and a half at the fair. I had to skip the tablescape competition, didn't go through the exhibit halls and was only able to eat at Hot Dog on a Stick because they make the best lemonade on Earth. But it was wonderful to leave the problems of the world mostly at bay for a few hours to enjoy the living, breathing Wikipedia that is a county fair at its finest — and the L.A. County Fair is definitely that. Huge Snorlax plush toy: Next year, you're mine. Alan says: 'Your Man by Josh Turner.'C Price says: 'The Circle Game by Joni Mitchell.' Email us at essentialcalifornia@ and your response might appear in the newsletter this week. Today's great photo is from Times photographer Robert Gauthier at Dodger Stadium where the 2-year-old son of Dodgers infielder Mookie Betts runs away with the ceremonial first pitch ball. Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editorAndrew Campa, Sunday writerKarim Doumar, head of newsletters How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
