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WILDFIRE RECOVERY INFO

Mountain View News Saturday, October 4, 2025

SGV HABITAT RAISES OVER $400,000 WITH GALA TO 
SUPPORT REBUILDING AND RECOVERY EFFORTS IN 
ALTADENA

Nearly 265 Guests Gathered to Raise the Roof for SGV Habitat’s Rebuilding 
Efforts in Altadena

Actor and Musician John Stamos entertained guests as Master of Ceremonies for the September 27 Gala raising funds 
to help homeowners return home to Altadena. 

This past Saturday San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity (SGV Habitat) hosted their Raise the Roof Gala at 
the Le Meridien in Arcadia, CA. The Gala was a success raising over $400,000 which will be used to help SGV 
Habitat rebuild homes for underinsured families affected by the Eaton Fire. Around 265 guests were in attendance 
including: John and Caitlin Stamos, Senator Susan Rubio, Monrovia Mayor Becky Shevlin, Altadena Town Council 
Chair Victoria Knapp, Altadena Sheriff Captain Ethan Marquez, the SGV Habitat Board of Directors, Eaton Fire 
Survivors, and the evenings honorees: Loryn Dunn Arkow from Hogan Lovells LLP; the Altadena Builds Back 
Foundation and Totten Tubes. 

That night, people from across the community of Los Angeles were able to gather to raise funds and awareness of 
Altadena families who are underinsured and worried about how they will find the resources to rebuild their homes. 
Those in attendance were able to hear from Bryan Wong, CEO of SGV Habitat, Senator Susan Rubio, SGV Habitat 
Board Chair Debbie Slavin, sponsors and others.

"As an Altadena resident this event holds a special meaning for me tonight," said Debbie Slavin, Chair of the SGV 
Habitat Board of Directors. "While my home was left standing after the fires in January – so many of my neighbors; 
were not and I am eager to see them get to return home.” 

Since January SGV Habitat has been working on a plan that would offer assistance to underinsured and un-insured 
homeowners who were affected by the Eaton Fire - this plan includes rebuilding primary residences, adding ADUs 
for multi-generational families and neighbors and offering remediation and repairs for homes left with fire damage. 
To date over 800 residents have requested some form of assistance from the nonprofit that is raising funds to 
offer hope to the hundreds of families who are looking to return home to Altadena.

As the guests gathered inside for dinner Michael Bridges, Senior Director of Development at SGV Habitat led the 
gathering in an invocation. “We gather tonight with gratitude—for the gift of community, for the generosity that 
has brought us together, and for the vision of a world where every family has a safe and decent place to call home,” 
said Bridges. 

This is the mission that propels SGV Habitat forward in an ambitious goal to serve hundreds of families affected 
by the Eaton Fire. SGV Habitat 
has already broken ground in 
Altadena on their first build, 
and the organization is looking 
to build at least 25 homes 
and 15 ADUs in the next 12 
months. 

The event represented an opportunity 
to bring people together 
for the goal of helping 
to rebuild Altadena. Master of 
Ceremonies John Stamos, actor 
and artist, started off with 
a bit of humor while sharing 
the importance of home to all 
of us and some insight into his 
experience volunteering with 
SGV Habitat.

Stamos, whose wife grew up in 
Altadena and is deeply tied to 
the recovery efforts, grabbed 
some gloves, a hammer, and a 
hard hat and got to work during 
a build event at the Rose 
Bowl in June. “When you’re 
in it — you feel something, 
you can’t fake,” Stamos said. 
“You feel connection. You feel 
purpose.” 

That message carried throughout 
the evening as guests heard 
more about SGV Habitat’s 35-
year history, bid on auction 
items and celebrated partnerships. 
The effects of the Eaton 
Fire have been felt beyond the 
burn area - as most people in 
the area know someone who 
has been impacted. 

The evenings sponsors included: Edison International, Grifols, East West Bank, Spectrum, US Bank, South Coast 
AQMD, MMA Architecture, Bluebeam, KPMG, City of Hope, Foothill Transit, Los Angeles Federal Credit Union, 
JamesHardie, Positive Investment Inc, RNDC, C.W. Driver Companies, JM Events Co, Nickelodeon and Golden 
Management. 

About San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, a small group of committed volunteers founded 
San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity in 1990. Fueled by the generosity of volunteers and donors, we’ve served 
over 400 families in our local community and abroad. Families and individuals partner with Habitat to build or 
improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable 
housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability, and self-reliance they need to build better 
lives for themselves.

Habitat for Humanity has a strong reputation and a long history of helping communities recover from disasters, 
including hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. Habitat is committed to the long-term rebuilding and will work to 
ensure families, particularly those most vulnerable, impacted by the Eaton Fire have a safe and affordable place to 
call home.

To learn more, visit sgvHabitat.org.


Ursula Hyman leads the Fire Recovery Programs at Assistance 
League of Pasadena, where she created the Navigator Program to 
walk alongside seniors as they rebuild, helping with clothing, taking 
inventories, and setting up new homes. Partnering with the Pasadena 
Senior Center, she organizes seminars on saving costs, stretching insurance, 
and navigating tough decisions.

She also serves as Director of the Altadena Recovery and Rebuild 
Corporation, a nonprofit established by Supervisor Kathryn Barger, 
finding creative funding for nonprofits, community spaces, and 
housing.

As Treasurer of the Eaton Fire Collaborative, Ursula helps unite 155 
groups in recovery efforts. A co-founder of the Altadena Land Initiatives, 
she’s pioneering equity-sharing to close rebuilding gaps.

Date: Monday, October 6, 2025

Time: 6PM

Place: Pasadena Chamber of Commerce

 842 E. Villa Street, Pasadena, CA 91101 

 NOTE: Street parking or in spaces in driveway.


Three generations of the Wood family - all affected by the Eaton Fire through the loss 
of their homes. They stand here on their cleared lot where SGV Habitat is helping them 
rebuild.

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com