¡Qué noche tan especial! The star-studded FireAid benefit concert brought together música’s biggest names for an unforgettable evening of hope and healing for our beloved Los Angeles community affected by the devastating wildfires.
A Night of Unity and Resilience
The energy was electric as two iconic venues, the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome, hosted this histórico event that raised an incredible $125 million for wildfire relief. Billy Crystal set the tone perfectly, wearing the same clothes he escaped in from the Palisades fire, mixing humor with heart as he shared his own story of loss. “These are the clothes I fled in,” he quipped, looking like “somebody who robbed a 7-11.” But amigos, the night was just beginning.
Musical Magic Across Generations
The musical performances were pure fuego! Lady Gaga brought the house down with a surprise new song written specially for the occasion with her fiancé. Billie Eilish joined forces with Green Day for an unforgettable rendition of “Last Night on Earth,” while Dr. Dre had everyone moving to “California Love.” Stevie Nicks delivered a touching “Landslide” dedicated to the brave firefighters who saved her casa in the Palisades, proving that even in our darkest moments, música can light the way.
Community Spirit Shines Through
The corazón of Los Angeles beat strong as local heroes shared their stories throughout the night. From the Williams family of Altadena, who lost four homes but kept their spirit intact, to the emotional testimonies of first responders, each story reminded us of our community’s incredible resilience. Earth, Wind & Fire brought healing vibes with “September,” while No Doubt reminded everyone why they’re SoCal’s favorite hijos with electrifying performances of their classics.
A Legacy of Love and Support
As the night wrapped up near 1 AM, the impact was clear – this wasn’t just a concert, it was a testament to L.A.‘s unbreakable spirit. With U2’s million-dollar donation setting the tone early on, and the Ballmer family matching all contributions, the event showcased how our comunidad comes together in times of crisis. From the incarcerated firefighters working the front lines to the countless volunteers, FireAid celebrated everyone who makes Los Angeles más que special.
The road to recovery will be long, mi gente, but if FireAid proved anything, it’s that when Los Angeles unites, there’s nothing we can’t overcome. As Lady Gaga’s special one-night-only song reminded us, healing comes with time, and together, we’ll rebuild stronger than ever.
DONATE TODAY
Double Your Impact! Stream FireAid on VOD and Steve and Connie Ballmer will match every donation dollar for dollar.
Donate directly to FireAid today to help us start rebuilding our community. Direct donations will be distributed under the advisement of the Annenberg Foundation and will be distributed for short-term relief efforts and long-term initiatives to prevent future fire disasters throughout Southern California.
For donations more than $10,000, please contact us at donations@fireaidla.org.