Proceeds will go to The San Diego Foundation’s After-the-Fires Fund 2007

Over $3 million has been committed to help Southern California recover from the fires

October 30, 2007
New York, NY

The San Diego Foundation/After-the-Fires Fund 2007 and Former President Bill Clinton announced today that President Clinton will host an event to raise money for those affected by the California wildfires. Over the past week, the After-the-Fires Fund 2007 has received commitments for more than $3 million. President Clinton said today that he will spearhead part of this fundraising effort with a reception to raise additional funding to rebuild the areas of Southern California that have been destroyed by the recent wildfires. The reception will take place at the home of Ron Burkle on November 3, 2007, in Los Angeles.

“The wildfires have been absolutely devastating. Thousands of homes have been destroyed, nearly 100 people have been injured, and the fires have burned an area twice the size of New York City. We must help the State of California recover from this destruction,” said President Clinton. “I’d like to thank my good friend Ron Burkle for graciously opening up his home to hold this fundraiser. I hope this event will generate much-needed money to aid in the recovery and rebuilding of Southern California.”

The After-the-Fires Fund 2007 will begin making grants later this week with its initial priorities focusing on supporting the fire rescue teams and replenishing their emergency preparedness capability.

“We anticipate that the relief efforts after these fires will extend for many months or even years as we help the fire-stricken communities recover and rebuild. We will be there throughout this period, just as we were in the years following the 2003 fires,” stated Bob Kelly, president and CEO of The San Diego Foundation. “We are grateful to President Clinton for giving this boost to the After-the-Fires Fund, which will touch many lives.”

Among the individuals, corporations and foundations that have committed funds to the After-the-Fires effort are the Alex Spanos Family, the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, The Home Depot Foundation, the National Football League Foundation, The Amgen Foundation, Washington Mutual, Inc., Cardinal Health Care Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, Bank of the West, the Lilly Foundation, Valley View Casino, Accredited Home Lenders, Moss Adams LLP, and the Cox Kids Foundation.

Further details about the reception with President Clinton will be released in the coming days.

For more information on ways to donate to the After-the-Fires Fund, please visit: www.sdfoundation.org or call (619) 235-2300.

About After-the-Fires Fund 2007

The After-the-Fires Fund: Respond, Recover, Rebuild is an initiative of The San Diego Regional Disaster Fund—a supporting organization of The San Diego Foundation—which was established to prepare for regional crises as well as to make grants to nonprofit organizations that provide relief to the San Diego region during and after a disaster. The San Diego Regional Disaster Fund does not grant directly to individuals or families, but to the nonprofit organizations that serve individuals and families.

About The San Diego Foundation

Founded in 1975, The San Diego Foundation is a broad-purpose community foundation helping individuals, families and organizations carry out their charitable plans, with the common goals of improving the quality of life in the greater San Diego region, now and for generations to come.