The Intuit Dome, where one of the FireAid relief concerts took place on January 30th. Photo Credit: Haruhi8
FireAid has raised an estimated total of over $100 million for wildfire relief, and the aid is expected to begin rolling out via grants by mid-February.
FireAid organizers just recently disclosed that figure, and the Annenberg Foundation (which is leading the committee tasked with distributing the funds) elaborated on the fundraising haul in a release.
Technically, FireAid is still accepting donations, with Steve and Connie Ballmer continuing to match “every donation dollar for dollar until February 7th.” But about one week removed from the actual benefit performances (which are said to have attracted north of 50 million viewers), in excess of $100 million is already set to reach “those most in need.”
The sum reflects proceeds from overall ticket sales, sponsorships, merch, and donations. Among the latter are public contributions and “generous private gifts” from Irving Azoff, U2, the Eagles, and Andrew Hauptman as well as Ellen Bronfman Hauptman, per the Annenberg Foundation.
Returning to the all-important distribution side, the Annenberg Foundation-led FireAid Grants Advisory Committee, described as featuring “longtime LA-region philanthropic leaders with deep” NPO relationships, has been assessing the best way to award the capital. Leveraging that knowledge, the entity intends to kick off the “first phase of grants…by mid-February.”
Meanwhile, despite suffering a 9% viewership decline, the Grammys raised $24 million for wildfire relief, we previously reported.
This sum includes contributions from MusiCares’ annual tribute concert as well as Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy gala, with $9 million (including from multiple companies) having been secured during the telecast itself.
Of course, raising relief funds isn’t a competition. Notwithstanding the many high-net-worth figures in attendance at the Grammys, though, FireAid has emerged as the clear fundraising winner here.
With that said, other charitable initiatives have taken place or are forthcoming. Plus, members of the music community are still raising funds for different causes; Steven Tyler-founded Janie’s Fund moved forward with a Grammy viewing party, for instance.
On the wildfire-relief front, however, Jelly Roll (on top of playing FireAid) delivered a free Rose Bowl show for first responders, and the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) established a fund of its own, to name two of many examples.
Next, the Live Nation-produced G*ve a F*ck LA benefit concert will take place at the Hollywood Palladium tonight; a related “Give a Frock” memorabilia auction, consisting of items donated by Sabrina Carpenter and more, is scheduled to wrap on February 25th. And Bandcamp is preparing to donate 100% of its profits from this coming Friday, February 7th, to MusiCares.