In the aftermath of the devastating Southern California wildfires, the Poly community sprang into action.
Poly students, parents, faculty and staff all joined forces to collect, organize and distribute donations, rallying support from families across the community as they move forward on the road to recovery. Central to the effort was the Community Drive, held over the weekend of January 11th and 12th, organized by the chairs of Poly’s Parent Organizations, Student Community Engagement Coordinator Renée Larios, Lower School Director Theresa Tran, Assistant Head of School, Enrollment and Strategic Initiatives Lisa Wu and Assistant Director of Extended and Summer Programs Kevin Austin.
This collaboration transformed the Wilson Ave. athletics ramp into a stream of donations, which volunteers, including more than 100 students and 200 parents, sorted essential items for distribution to families who lost or had been displaced from their homes.
The impact of the Eaton Fire in particular has been profound, with reports indicating that ten faculty and staff members lost their homes, eight experienced significant damage to their residences and more than fifty were evacuated. Many of these individuals are currently staying with friends or in local hotels as they await updates on their homes’ statuses.
Larios shared, “I saw so many people from all over. There’s so much love and so many relationships among Pasadena.”
In a message to Poly’s student community, Larios added, “We need to foster love and awareness to create a school that’s a safe place. Students are so kind. People want to help.”
In addition to the Community Drive, Poly’s Board of Trustees also organized a relief fund to assist students, faculty and staff with recovery costs. At the time of publishing, more than 730 people had contributed money to the Poly Relief Fund, totaling more than $1,148,944, to date. The Poly Relief Fund campaign is ongoing until June 30, 2025. Community members and supporters are encouraged to contribute and share the initiative within their networks to maximize its reach and impact. Donations are tax-deductable.
As well as the Poly Relief Fund and community drive, Poly’s Library Leadership Council is also hosting a book drive to collect book donations and distribute them to impacted Poly community members.
