After the wildfires that devastated Los Angeles a few months ago, Democrats and celebrities held a benefit concert called FireAid to raise money for the victims.
Multiple celebrities, including Samuel L. Jackson, stated that the money would go directly to wildfire victims.
They raised a lot of money — over $100 million! That could have helped tons of people who lost their homes due to the fire.
And yet, victims say they haven’t received a dime.
Take a look at this:
Celebrity after celebrity during the FIREAID benefit concert said that the money donated would go directly to the victims of the fires.
FIREAID afterwards released a statement saying that the plan was never to give the money directly to victims of the fires.
Somebody needs to… pic.twitter.com/QmSwhCGRQR
— MAZE (@mazemoore) July 26, 2025
This is absolutely horrible.
President Trump responded on Truth Social, calling FireAid a “total disaster”:
Newsom was rage-posting on the daily, but now he’s gone crickets since his actions regarding the FireAid scandal broke. pic.twitter.com/Ild18xffZm
— Carson Krow (@carsonkrow) July 27, 2025
So, where did all the money actually go?
Well, as it turns out, rather than just giving the money to the victims, the millions of dollars were distributed to non-profit organizations.
And, many of those had nothing to do with fire recovery.
Several million also went to the L.A. County government.
Jesse Waters dove deep and followed the money:
🚨 NEW: Remember that star-studded FIREAID CONCERT after the LA wildfires?
They raised $100 million… but VICTIMS say they haven’t seen A PENNY… it went to MUSICIANS and PODCASTERS instead?! pic.twitter.com/ugXtEQUewl
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) July 23, 2025
Fox News reported:
But last week, in a statement to the Fox affiliate in Los Angeles, the charity said, “FireAid does not have the capability to make direct payments to individuals and that was never the plan. We partnered directly with trusted local non-profits…to reach communities in need.”
Fox News contacted more than 70 of those non-profits. Some replied. Others declined. Some are well known like the Boys and Girls Club, YWCA and Meals on Wheels.
Others are more obscure or promised to help specific ethnic groups or artists.
One that promoted “self-determination in the Latino community” vowed to use their FireAid grant to create “a more humane and democratic society by responding to the needs and problems of disenfranchised people.”
Another claimed to use natural helpers or ‘promotores’ to “cultivate egalitarian relationships based on trust and respect.”
At least $6.5 million in donor money also went to the County of Los Angeles.
ADVERTISEMENTAll told, FireAid says it has granted $75 million so far to 188 non-profits. The remaining $25 million should go out in August and will focus on “long-term wildfire mitigation, environmental resilience, and sustainable rebuilding,” according to the group.
Independent journalist Sue Pasco also took matters into her own hands to find out where the money raised by FireAid actually went.
Pascoe concluded, “This FireAid money is not helping the people. It’s helping nonprofits, many of which have executives who are getting a six-figure salary.”
Here’s everything she found out, from Moneywise via Yahoo News:
As Pascoe reports, The Annenberg Foundation was tasked with managing the FireAid funds. Pascoe emailed the organization asking, “How much of the funds were spent specifically for the Palisades and which nonprofits in that community are receiving money?” But Pascoe didn’t get a reply, and no one answered when she called several of the company’s extensions.
Pascoe was finally able to connect with someone at The Annenberg Foundation and while she initially got the runaround, she was directed to Chris Wallace, the foundation’s chief communications officer.
However, when Pascoe spoke with Wallace, she was shocked to learn that the FireAid proceeds would not go to residents affected by the devastating fires. Instead, the money would be distributed to several nonprofits affiliated with the Annenberg Foundation.
Pascoe questioned Wallace further, enquiring why money had not been allocated for residents in apartments on rent control, or the nearly 700 people who lived in the mobile home parks. But she didn’t get a response.
As Pascoe reports, FireAid funds have reportedly been distributed to local organizations, including El Nido, Vision y Compromiso, Home Grown and LA’s Home for Native People. FireAid disbursed $50 million, its first set of grants, on February 18, according to KABC.
“The selected organizations have the infrastructure, experience, and relationships necessary to efficiently and equitably deliver assistance to fire-impacted individuals and have each received $100,000 or more,” FireAid shared with KABC.
But despite these reported distributions, many residents who lost their homes report that they’ve received nothing and are unable to find information on how to apply for assistance.
Li, who has over 138,000 followers on X, posted in May saying he’s “followed the money,” which apparently led to what he called “a shadowy nonprofit” called The Annenberg Foundation.
ADVERTISEMENTThe foundation is a Pennsylvania-based non-profit that has a rather small charitable footprint. According to Li, the foundation allocates just 33% of its annual expenses towards charity.
The rest reportedly goes to administrative costs, which includes executive pay. For example, Cynthia Kennard, executive director of The Annenberg Foundation, earns nearly seven figures per year in both salary and bonuses.
Here’s another video report that detailed the NGOs FireAid sent the money to:
This FIREAID scam is going to be a big problem for Gavin Newsom, especially since it's not the first one of these charity concerts they have put on.
The politicians, the presenters all claim that the money donated will go DIRECTLY to people who were victims of the fires. They… pic.twitter.com/6ityUWj6zs
— MAZE (@mazemoore) July 26, 2025
What a scam.
That just does to show you how much Democrats actually care about their own people.
I hope the people of California remember this during midterms.
Now, calls are growing for AG Pam Bondi to investigate FireAid.
President Trump himself said he’s asked Bondi to look into it:
“It was HORRIBLE”. @POTUS ordering @PamBondi look into #fireaid.
Where’s the money? @RealAmVoice pic.twitter.com/YSrwCtuevj
— Brian Glenn (@brianglenntv) July 25, 2025
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