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Orange County Businesses Mobilize Relief Efforts for Wildfire Victims

Over the past two weeks, Orange County businesses and organizations have stepped up in big ways to support first responders and evacuees impacted by the devastating Los Angeles area fires, which have destroyed more than 12,300 homes and buildings.

Numerous local hotels have provided discounted room rates for displaced homeowners. Apparel firms have organized clothing drives. More than 170 independent OC restaurants raised over $200,000 for a wildfire relief fund while Newport Beach-based Chipotle Mexican Grill is giving away $1 million in free food.

Banc of California, meanwhile, committed $1 million to a recovery fund dedicated to disaster relief and rebuilding efforts. The bank will also match donations from its team members as well as accept donations from the public.

For many, providing support was an easy choice.

“It’s our obligation to give back to those we sell to,” Charles Antis, chief executive and founder of Antis Roofing & Waterproofing, told the Business Journal.

Antis, along with Wahoo’s Fish Taco co-founder Wing Lam, delivered 1,000 meals to an emergency shelter located at Pasadena Civic Auditorium for displaced residents on Jan. 12.
Yesterday, they delivered an additional 2,000 meals to command centers and front lines of the Pacific Palisades, where more than 23,000 acres have burned.

Around 20 chefs, including Lam and Brea-based chef Robert Duvall, prepared meals to deliver via the American Red Cross.

Antis and Lam have partnered before on delivering free meals through Lam’s organization California Love Drop, originally created during the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver food to healthcare workers.

Being official partners of the Red Cross made it easier to navigate the red tape and mobilize getting meals to people in just two days, Lam told the Business Journal.

“I don’t think anybody realizes that anybody who wants to help can’t get in because all the facilities and convention centers are barricaded in because you have a lot of looters,” Lam said. “So, despite good intentions, a lot of good people get turned away.”

Lam said they have committed to delivering about 10,000 total meals over six weeks. In addition to food, they secured beverages from Gatorade and Monster Beverage Corp.

One of the most requested items by first responders were iced drinks, according to Lam.
“We made sure we had coolers with ice for all the drinks we sent so they’ll be refreshing for them,” Lam said.

Local Restaurants Raise $200K

More than 170 OC restaurants, and a handful from LA, raised over $200,000 last Tuesday. Restaurants donated 20% of sales that day to Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

Participating restaurants included Zov’s, Bosscat Kitchen & Libations, Bistango and Benny & Mary’s.

Aliso Viejo-based Italian restaurant Trattoria Trullo, which serves fresh pasta inspired by recipes found in the southern Italian region of Puglia, spearheaded the initiative.

“At the very core of our industry is hospitality,” General Manager Jill Cook told the Business Journal. “The nature of what that is makes us some of the first people to want to act because there’s that element of humanity in our careers as it is.”

Cook reached out first to well-known restaurant publicist Niyaz Pirani of Knife & Spork Public Relations and Darkroom in Costa Mesa. From there, things quickly snowballed with dozens of restaurants agreeing to the Jan. 14 fundraiser. Cook told the Business Journal she was in “utter disbelief how far this has gone” in such a short amount of time and especially given the headwinds facing restaurants amid high labor and commodity costs.

It is “probably the hardest time there’s ever been to own a restaurant,” she said.

For a list of more restaurants that participated in the fundraiser, see “Local Restaurants raise $200K with Wildlife Relief Fundraiser.”

Apparel Companies Collect Essentials for Wildfire Victims

Apparel companies in Orange County have stepped up to provide basic necessities, such as gently used clothing, shoes and hygiene products, to evacuees, many of whom raced out of their homes with only the clothes on their backs.

San Clemente-based knitting manufacturer FutureStitch has donated 6,000 pairs of socks to Baby2Baby, which has distributed three million emergency supplies to children and families who lost everything in the LA fires.

5.11 Tactical on Jan. 15 facilitated a large-scale essential item donation drop-off at the Rose Bowl. Collected donations went toward the LA Wildfire Command Camp for the LA Fire Department battling the Eaton and Palisades fires.

The Costa Mesa-based retailer makes a wide selection of tactical apparel and uniforms for firefighters and emergency medical services personnel.

“At 5.11, we are proud to stand with our frontline heroes and remain committed to supporting recovery efforts in the wake of this natural disaster,” co-founder and Executive Chairman Francisco Morales told the Business Journal.

5.11 has also partnered with the Ben Carlson Foundation to support Newport Beach firefighters serving on the front lines, providing gear to them upon request.

Last week, Pacsun partnered with It’s Bigger Than Us and Spread the Love Foundation to host clothing drives for wildfire victims.

Pacsun also held a donation drive for other essential items, including denim and basics, at its Anaheim headquarters.

“We are supporting local drives to ensure children and families have access to the clothing they need,” CEO Brieane Olson told the Business Journal. “These contributions reflect our ongoing commitment to being there for our communities in times of crisis. Together, we hope to ease some of the burden and make a meaningful difference.”

Olson said that Pacsun will be matching 100% of contributions made by its associates to organizations aiding in relief efforts on GoFundMe.

Goodwill of Orange County noted that many donation centers across the country are overwhelmed with secondhand donations and is encouraging its team members and supporters to give in other useful ways, such as financially.

“These organizations do not have the infrastructure or resources to sort through any further donations, so while we have product available, we want to show up in ways that will be most helpful and impactful,” Director of Marketing & Communications Nicole Morrison told the Business Journal.

Goodwill has launched an emergency wildfire response fund, which has raised close to $6,000.

Hospitals Mobilize in the Middle of the Night

The fires have put a strain on the healthcare system, causing certain clinics in affected areas to shut down.

Some nurses have been working around the clock, according to City of Hope President Annette Walker.

“They are first responders too,” Walker told the Business Journal.

These healthcare workers continue to serve patients even amid having to evacuate or losing their homes.

City of Hope, which has a main campus in Duarte, had 320 employees in mandatory evacuation zones, with 70 in burn zones and 28 losing their homes at press time.
“I spent a lot of my life in LA county,” Walker said. “These are our neighbors. We’re going to do what we can.”

Walker said City of Hope “mobilized in the middle of the night” to transport any necessary patients from LA to OC.

City of Hope recently launched an emergency fund for physicians and staff affected by the fires.

The Lennar Foundation Cancer Center also held a drive on Jan. 18 in the parking lot to collect essential items for the community.

MemorialCare, which runs the eighth and ninth-largest hospitals in OC, was quick to respond with important resources.

A member of the Disaster Response Collaborative, MemorialCare assembled deployable gurneys and cots to evacuation centers and is providing bed capacity to assisting neighboring hospitals experiencing patients overflow.

MemorialCare additionally has donated $10,000 to Red Cross to support wildfire victims and fire personnel.

Local Restaurants Raise $200K with Wildfire Relief Fundraiser

Here are the restaurants who participated in the Jan. 14 fundraiser:

• Aliso Viejo: Chuponcito, Fennel Kitchen & Bar, Wahoo’s Fish Taco, Pampas Helados Argentinos, Stadium Brew Co., Trattoria Trullo
• Anaheim: Honey Pot Meadery, Lola’s by MFK, Story Bar + Kitchen, Sunbliss Café
• Brea: Blue Scoop Creamery, Cedar Creek Inn, Julep Cast Iron Kitchen + Drink, Mountain Mike’s Pizza, Toast Kitchen & Bar
• Corona del Mar: El Cholo, Gelato del Mar, Sunbliss Café, The Quiet Woman
• Costa Mesa: Coffee Dose, Crave Meal Prep, Deli Nerds, Greenleaf Kitchen & Cocktails at The OC Mix, il Girasole, Kitsch Bar, Micro Dose Drive-Thru, Milligram Coffee and Kitchen, Mixing Glass and Market, Neat Coffee, Newport Rib Co., Plums Cafe, Populaire Modern Bistro, Portola Coffee Roasters, Seabirds Kitchen, The Crack Shack, Wanderlust Creamery, three Wahoo’s locations and two Moulin locations
• Dana Point: aPizza Doho, Brio Tuscany Grill, Carlos Mexican Restaurant & Cantina, Casanova Ristorante, Coffee Importers, Craft House, Glasspar, Home Slice Pizza, Jack’s Restaurant/Bar, Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern, Jon’s Fish Market, Lantern’s Edge, Luciana’s Ristorante, Lupe’s Mexican Eatery, Luxe Restaurant & Martini Bar, Project Social, RJ’s Café, Shwack Beach Grill, Station Craft Brewery and Kitchen, Stillwater, The Point Restaurant, Young’s Beach Shack and Moulin
• Fountain Valley: Artisan Café, Cambalache Grill Argentine & Italian Cuisine, Philly’s Best
• Foothill Ranch: Wahoo’s
• Fullerton: Dolce Monachelli’s, Wahoo’s and Sweet Scoops Homemade Ice Cream
• Huntington Beach: George’s Mexican Food, HQ Gastropub, Lorea, Masala Waves, Primecut Taqueria, The Longboard, The Longboard Restaurant at Springdale and two Wahoo’s locations
• Irvine: Bosscat Kitchen & Libations, Angelina’s Pizzeria Napoletana, Coffee Dose, Freddy’s Deli, Il Fornaio, Philly’s Best, Sauced BBQ and Spirits, TEN Sushi + Cocktail Bar, Benny and Mary’s, Bistango, Wall Writers Coffee, Wanderlust Creamery, two Wahoo’s locations, Zov’s
• Ladera Ranch: Selma’s Chicago Pizzeria & Tap Room
• Laguna Beach: Alessa by Chef Pirozzi, Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar, Lumberyard Restaurant, Nick’s, Slice Pizza, South of Nick’s, Wahoo’s and Moulin
• Laguna Hills: Coffee Dose, Scratch Bakery Cafe, Villa Roma
• Laguna Niguel: Bottega Angelina and Rangeen Kitchen
• Lake Forest: Mountain Mike’s Pizza, Philly’s Best, Wahoo’s
• Mission Viejo: BallPark Pizza
• Newport Beach: Lido Bottle Works, Bayside Restaurant, Cappy’s Café, Champagnes Kitchen, Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens, Lighthouse Cafe, Moulin, Bouillon by Moulin, Newport Beach Tikis, Royal Hen, Wilma’s Patio, Zood, Zov’s, Wahoo’s
• Orange: Bosscat Kitchen, Butaton Ramen, Concepts by Violeta, Orange Hill Restaurants & Events, 1886 Brewing Co., Philly’s Best, Wahoo’s
• Placentia: Philly’s Best
• Rancho Santa Margarita: Selma’s Chicago Pizzeria, Philly’s Best
• San Clemente: Blaze Pizza, Chelas Mexican Kitchen, Gibroni’s Pizza, The Cellar Restaurant, Moulin, Wahoo’s, Philly’s Best
• San Juan Capistrano: Common Thread OC, Five Vines Wine Bar, Hidden House Coffee, Paddy’s Station, Selma’s Chicago Pizzeria, Trevor’s at the Tracks
• Santa Ana: Darkroom, Hidden House Coffee, and two Philly’s Best locations
• Stanton: Coffee Dose
• Tustin: Burns Road, Thai Chaiyo, Wahoo’s, Zov’s
• Yorba Linda: Blue Scoop Creamery, Primecut Taqueria

Other restaurants held separate fundraisers last week including Galpão Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse in Irvine and the Orange establishments operated by founder Wil Dee: Haven Craft Kitchen+Bar, Provisions and Chapman Crafted Beer brewery. On Jan. 20, Social Kitchen + Craft Bar in Costa Mesa is serving a free buffet dinner from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for anyone affected by the fires.

Newport Beach-based Chipotle Mexican Grill is donating $1 million in free food.
“We’ve already dropped off thousands of burritos at the three command posts in LA County and will be continuing those efforts along with additional relief locations,” the company told the Business Journal. “We are also providing numerous charitable organizations with cards for free meals.”

Local Hotels Offering Discounted Accommodations by City

OC Hotels have opened their doors to evacuees with no place to go. Here are just some of the hotels that we’ve heard from:

Anaheim:

“Visit Anaheim has collaborated with our hotel partners to provide a safe and comforting refuge for those impacted by these devastating wildfires,” Visit Anaheim CEO and President Mike Waterman told the Business Journal in an email. “Our community’s strength lies in its compassion and willingness to come together in times of need.”
Even Orange County’s largest hotel, Hilton Anaheim, was accepting affected guests the week after during its site-wide renovation.

• Anaheim Castle Inn & Suites
• Anaheim Eden Roc Inn & Suites
• Anaheim Hotel
• Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel
• Anaheim Marriott
• Anaheim Portofino Inn & Suites
• Candlewood Suites Anaheim – Resort Area
• Cambria Hotel & Suites Anaheim Resort
• Capri Suites Anaheim
• Clarion Hotel Anaheim Resort
• Clementine Hotel & Suites Anaheim
• Delta Hotels by Marriott Anaheim Garden Grove
• DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Anaheim Resort – Convention Center
• Embassy Suites Anaheim – Orange
• Hampton Inn & Suites Anaheim – Garden Grove
• Hilton Garden Inn Anaheim/Garden Grove
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Anaheim-Main Gate Area
• Hotel FERA Anaheim, a DoubleTree by Hilton
• Hotel Lulu Anaheim Resort
• Howard Johnson Inn Fullerton Hotel and Conference Center
• Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center
• JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort
• Sheraton Garden Grove – Anaheim South Hotel
• Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort
• Sonesta ES Suites Anaheim Resort Area
• Stanford Inn and Suites
• The Viv Hotel, Anaheim, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
• The Westin Anaheim Resort

Costa Mesa:

“I want everyone to feel welcome in Costa Mesa, especially in this heartbreaking disaster,” Paulette Lombardi-Fries, president of Travel Costa Mesa, told the Business Journal via email. “When our team heard that families were evacuating to Costa Mesa hotels last week, we knew there were immediate needs to be met and limited resources. It was important for us to be quick and to provide information and relief in the moment. As the wildfires continue to evolve and things change, we’ll offer any support that we can to give evacuees the best possible experience in Costa Mesa.”

• Avenue of the Arts, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel is offering the best available rate of $234 and allowing all dogs with no breed restrictions.
• Ayres Hotel Costa Mesa/Newport Beach is waiving all pet fees for evacuees and expanding the pets allowed to include cats and birds.
• Best Western Plus Newport Mesa Inn is offering the best available rate of $151.
• Costa Mesa Marriott is extending a 25% discount on all rooms.
• Crowne Plaza Costa Mesa Orange County is charging $109 plus tax with parking included.
“Several of our staff members donated personal items and gift cards, along with additional items collected by Travel Costa Mesa. These donated items were given directly to those in need,” Assistant General Manager Cyprian Doblon said.
• Hilton Orange County Costa Mesa is extending a 15% discount on all rooms.
• Ramada by Wyndham Costa Mesa/Newport Beach is offering the best available rate of $134 and is allowing dogs only.
• Residence Inn by Marriott is offering the best available rate of $180 and is allowing both cats and birds.
“The hotel is designed for extended stays, and each room has a fully equipped kitchen with pots, pans, and appliances. We also have a pool and fitness center. We hope that these amenities, like being able to cook for yourself, can help restore a sense of normalcy in such a difficult time,” General Manager Sue Cook said.
• The Westin South Coast Plaza is offering the best available rate of $224 and allowing two animals per room.

Laguna Beach:

“We are heartbroken to see the damage from the Los Angeles wildfires. Residents and visitors impacted directly by these fires are first and foremost in our hearts,” Visit Laguna Beach founding member Karyn Philippsen said in a statement. “We are also incredibly grateful for the ongoing efforts of the first responders working tirelessly to protect lives and property.”

• The Ranch at Laguna Beach offered a 50% discount and waived parking/resort fees for anyone with a driver’s license showing an address in an official Cal Fire evacuation zone between Jan. 8 to 15.
• Surf & Sand Resort Laguna Beach offered a special rate of $699, including waived resort and parking fees, for fire evacuees until Jan. 19.
• SCP Seven4One and Laguna Surf Lodge by SCP offered a 30% discount for fire evacuees until Jan. 15.
• Hotal Joaquin offered a preferred rate to inquiring fire evacuees and waived their 18+ and dog rules.
• Capri Laguna offered a 50% off rate to those affected by the fires.
• Casa Loma Beach Hotel offered a 30% discount with waived amenities and parking fees that was valid from Jan. 8 to 21.
• Pacific Edge Hotel offered 25% off available rates, waived resort fees and 50% off overnight valet for any guests who booked due to being evacuated until Jan. 10. They also waived pet fees for those who brought in dogs.

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Yuika Yoshida
Yuika Yoshida
Yuika Yoshida has been a reporter covering healthcare, innovation and education at the Orange County Business Journal since 2023. Previous bylines include JapanUp! Magazine and Stu News Laguna. She received her bachelor's degree in literary journalism from the University of California, Irvine. During her time at UC Irvine, she was the campus news editor for the official school paper and student writer for the Samueli School of Engineering. Outside of writing, she enjoys musical theater and finding new food spots within Orange County.
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