Pasadena City College receives $1 million from Ballmer Group to support wildfire community relief efforts

Pasadena City College has received a $1 million grant from Ballmer Group to support critical relief for students, faculty, staff, and community members recovering from the devastation of the recent wildfires.

“The PCC community is extremely grateful to Steve and Connie Ballmer and the entire team at Ballmer Group,” said José A. Gómez, superintendent/president of Pasadena City College. “With this gift we will  continue to support those whose lives have been upended by this disaster.”

Hundreds of PCC students and employees resided in burn areas, which were hardest hit by the wildfires. Many lost homes, apartments, cars — all of their possessions. Recovery will require time and commitment, Gómez said. 

“This gift from Ballmer Group embodies the compassion, kindness, and generosity that our community needs as it begins the long road to recovery,” Gómez said. 

The grant from Ballmer Group is the largest single gift to the PCC Community Relief Fund, said Frank Cardenas, executive director of the Pasadena City College Foundation. Through the fund, other campus resources, and partnerships, PCC provides a range of support for those facing the greatest need, including monetary assistance.

“The PCC Foundation stands with everyone at Pasadena City College as we rise in service to the community that sustains us,” said Hoyt Hilsman, president of the PCC Foundation Board of Directors. “On behalf of the leadership of the PCC Foundation, I thank Ballmer Group for their incredible partnership and support.”

Ballmer Group moved swiftly to begin providing assistance to organizations helping victims of the wildfires. On January 15, the group announced it had dedicated $15 million to address “immediate food and shelter needs in the community and supporting first responders.”

“We understand that there will be a long road to recovery for the L.A. region and remain committed to supporting the community,” Ballmer Group said in a press release.  The organization is headed by Steve and Connie Ballmer. Steve Ballmer is the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers and the former CEO of Microsoft.

The wildfires that struck earlier this month were among the worst in the history of Los Angeles County. The deadly Eaton Fire raged through parts of Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre. The fire burned more than 14,000 acres, destroyed more than 9,400 structures, and killed 17 people.

“The support from our community has been a bright spot in a very difficult time,” said Alton Wang, president of the PCC Board of Trustees. “We are grateful to Ballmer Group for standing with our community as it begins the healing process.”

Throughout the wildfire disaster, PCC has also served as a community-wide resource for victims of the wildfires. The college has served free meals to school children and their families, transformed a parking lot into a donation distribution center providing essential supplies, and served as a gathering space for displaced teachers. PCC’s Foothill campus housed a Disaster Recovery Center where community members met with Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives and other federal, state, and local agencies. The campus also hosted the Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Outreach Center.

“Our community needs us now more than ever. We are a part of the community and we are part of the solution,” Gómez said. “This support from Ballmer Group will help sustain our students, faculty, and staff and the spirit of this place that we all love.”

About Ballmer Group
Ballmer Group is committed to improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States, funding leaders and organizations that have demonstrated the ability to reshape opportunity and reduce systemic inequities. We focus on multiple impact areas and systems that can impact economic mobility — such as early learning, K-12 education, college and career pathways, housing, behavioral health, and criminal justice — and we support leaders and organizations that focus on undoing systemic racism and the barriers it has created. Ballmer Group is both a national and regional funder — with a presence and deeply investments in southeast Michigan, Washington state, and Los Angeles County. Ballmer Group was co-founded by philanthropist Connie Ballmer and her husband Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, founder of USAFacts, and chairman of the Los Angeles Clippers.