On Monday afternoon, Warner Bros. Discovery announced its pledge of $15 million to aid Los Angeles in its battle against the relentless wildfires currently tearing through the county, as well as in the rebuilding efforts that lie ahead. This generous contribution follows those from Sony, which donated $5 million, and Amazon, which pledged $10 million. Additionally, Eva Longoria has generously donated $1 million from the funds she received from the Jeff Bezos Courage and Civility Award in March.
In a heartfelt statement, a representative from the conglomerate expressed, "The ongoing devastation wrought by these infernos upon Southern California is nothing short of tragic. Warner Bros. Discovery stands firmly "Committed to swiftly delivering aid and catalyzing reconstruction efforts, we have generously pledged $15 million to these pressing endeavors, ensuring our support is both timely and impactful."
For the over a thousand WBD employees whose lives have been disrupted by the blazes, "we remain steadfast in our support, covering the costs of hotel stays, temporary accommodations, rental vehicles, meals, counseling services, and establishing an emergency relief hub at the scene," they continued. "Our studio, which has called Burbank its home for over a century, is laser-focused on the tasks necessary to empower those affected to bounce back from this catastrophe and rebuild their lives in the coming weeks, months, and years."
The donations announced today are desperately needed, as wildfires continue to rage uncontrollably in areas like Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles County, where containment is still at a mere 14% as of this writing. The neighborhood situated west of downtown Los Angeles bore the brunt of the flames on Tuesday, marking the Palisades Fire as the most destructive in the city's history.
The wildfires in Los Angeles have been fueled by arid conditions and fierce Santa Ana winds, which are anticipated to intensify once again this week. The second-largest blaze, the Eaton Fire in Altadena and Pasadena, is currently 33% contained.
Below is the full statement issued by the David Zaslav-led company:
"It is deeply saddening to witness the relentless devastation these fires continue to unleash upon Southern California. Warner Bros. Discovery is dedicated to contributing $15 million towards immediate relief and the reconstruction process.
For the over a thousand employees impacted by these fires, we are relentless in our efforts to provide assistance, covering expenses for hotel accommodations, temporary housing, rental cars, meals, counseling, and establishing an emergency relief center at our site.
Our studio, which has been rooted in Burbank for more than a hundred years, is fully concentrated on the actions required to empower those affected to recover from this disaster and rebuild their lives in the weeks, months, and years ahead."
