Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado Launches California Wildfire Disaster Relief Fund

Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado has launched a fundraising drive to provide urgent and emergent relief to communities in Southern California. Funds raised will be distributed through the Jewish Federations in San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles to provide both short-term and long-term assistance. The fundraising campaign is being done in conjunction with United Jewish Communities (UJC), the umbrella organization of the 155 Federations located across North America.

As of the writing of this release, the wind-fed wildfires in Southern California had destroyed approximately 460,000 acres of land (about 719 square miles, or nearly twice the area of Rocky Mountain National Park), including close to 1,500 homes. They have also precipitated the largest evacuation effort in California history, forcing more than a half-million people to flee the area. Included among those evacuees were residents of two Jewish retirement villages located in Rancho Bernardo and Encinitas, as well as two of the area’s 40 synagogues. Early estimates project that damage in the San Diego County area alone will amount to more than $1 billion.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the people in Southern California affected by this tragedy,” said Doug Seserman, Federation’s President and CEO. “In times of crisis—across the United States, in Israel, and around the world—our Jewish community has demonstrated both the desire and the ability to provide assistance whenever and wherever assistance is needed. This is one of those times.”

To donate to the California Wildfire Disaster Relief Fund through Federation, visit www.JewishColorado.org/wildfirefund or call 303.316-6433.

The mission of the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado is to build and sustain Jewish life across Colorado, in Israel, and around the world. Last year, the Federation raised a total of more than $14.4 million, which was distributed to dozens of charitable organizations to make a difference in the lives of millions of Jews, both locally and globally.