CONTACT
Christopher Gil
Director of Strategic Communications and Influence
(415) 287-3197, cgil@liifund.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LIIF Awarded LA RISE Funding from Ballmer Group and FireAid for L.A. County Child Care Wildfire Disaster Relief
Funding will provide grants to licensed Los Angeles County child care providers impacted by January 2025 wildfires
SAN FRANCISCO (Aug. 8, 2025) — The Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) has announced philanthropic support from the Ballmer Group and FireAid for LA Rise (Recovery and Investment in Service of ECE), the organization’s wildfire disaster-relief program. This funding supplements initial LA RISE seed funding from the Heising-Simons Foundation and the California Community Foundation. LA RISE was designed and implemented by LIIF to support the early care and education (ECE) sector impacted by January’s catastrophic wildfires. The need for grants remains high: There were an estimated 1,842 child care spaces lost in the Eaton Fire and 510 spaces lost in the Palisades Fire. Even today yet another wildfire, the Canyon Fire, is threatening the region.
The Ballmer Group, through the LA Partnership for Early Childhood Investment, has awarded LIIF funding earmarked to support Altadena and Pasadena area ECE programs impacted by the Eaton Fire. With this investment, LIIF will provide recoverable grants to eight child care programs serving approximately 350 children combined, helping them reopen or sustain operations during this year’s summer months. In collaboration with the Ballmer Group, this “Summer of Joy” funding will focus on sites ready to welcome families back, bringing child care and a renewed sense of optimism to affected communities.
Additionally, LIIF received an award from FireAid under their Phase 2 Grants for Wildfire Recovery program. This effort raised over $100 million via a benefit concert. LIIF’s grant will support approximately five child care providers affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires. The grants will be used to rebuild and restore vital child care infrastructure in these communities, ensuring families have access to safe, stable care. Notably, a community-centered approach to recovery and resilience is being employed, with providers driving how funds will be spent to better their facility.
“As the leading national community development financial institution (CDFI) investing in the child care sector and deeply committed to Los Angeles, LIIF recognized the urgent need to swiftly address the need for grants for these providers, who are the backbone of any region’s economy,” said Angie Garling, Senior Vice President, National ECE at LIIF. “Our CDFI, which has a strong footprint in California, truly appreciates the support of the Ballmer Group and FireAid, both mission-aligned partners generously funding this critical relief effort for these women-owned small businesses.”
To best support the sector, expenditures range from remediation, construction and cleaning; fire mitigation, such as fire suppression systems; green-building upgrades; building permits and fees; program materials; furniture, fixtures and equipment; children’s outdoor environment; rent or mortgage payments; insurance deductibles; trauma-informed care/mental health resources; or funding to bridge insurance, FEMA or other disaster payments.
Three recent LA RISE grants demonstrate the initiative’s ability to quickly support providers and restore essential child care capacity to Los Angeles County:
- Ms. Beasley’s Family Childcare, Altadena
Funding use: Secure new rental housing, plus materials for a family child care home.
For 26 years, Marisa Beasley’s family child care program supported young children and working parents. The wildfire brought the total loss of her rented home, child care space and all program materials, while also displacing Marisa and her daughter. With approved funding, Marisa is working to secure safe housing and essential supplies, aiming to reopen her child care program and welcome families back as soon as possible. - Altadena Family Childcare/Clark Family Childcare, Altadena
Funding use: Toward a just-secured building.
Brianna Clark, a lifelong member of her community, ran her family child care program for six years, creating a safe and nurturing environment serving 12 children ages 0-5. When the wildfire destroyed her home and displaced her family, Brianna was forced to temporarily shut her doors. Determined to remain connected to the families she serves, Brianna has secured a new space to reopen her program while she rebuilds her home, with a long-term plan to return to her original property. - Palisades Jewish Early Childhood Center, Pacific Palisades
Funding use: Toward renovations previously charged on credit cards
The Palisades Jewish Early Childhood Center (PJEEC) was a vibrant hub for early learning, each day serving 120 children, ages 0-5, and reaching hundreds more through enrichment programs. When the wildfire destroyed the center, many families were displaced. In a remarkable recovery effort, PJEEC transformed an unused preschool into a new permanent location, providing stability for families as they plan to rebuild their original campus and continue expanding support for their community.
Licensed Los Angeles County child care providers directly impacted by the wildfires, or who serve families impacted and serve children ages 0-5, are invited to apply for a $50,000 recoverable grant. The first step is filling out LIIF’s LA RISE interest form.
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About the Low Income Investment Fund
Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) is a national community development financial institution (CDFI), headquartered in San Francisco with offices in New York City, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., that invests in communities of opportunity, equity and well-being. As a CDFI, LIIF supports projects that have high social value but lack access to traditional financial institutions. Since 1984, LIIF has deployed more than $3.8 billion to serve 2.6 million people in communities across the country from its five offices. An S&P-rated organization, LIIF funds healthy communities by providing innovative capital solutions.
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Our CDFI, which has a strong footprint in California, truly appreciates the support of the Ballmer Group and FireAid, both mission-aligned partners generously funding this critical relief effort for these women-owned small businesses.
LIIF Senior Vice President, National ECE Angie Garling