Jamie Lee Curtis Donates $1 Million to Wildfire Relief Efforts After Emotional Late-Night Appearance
Jamie Lee Curtis is lending a huge helping hand to all those affected by the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires.
“My family is donating $1 million today to the relief efforts,” the actress, 66, shared in a Thursday, January 9, Instagram post. “We are in contact with Governor [Gavin] Newsom, Mayor [Karen] Bass, and Senator [Adam] Schiff and I will post often about where you can send needed resources to reputable agencies.”
Curtis shared a similar message in the post’s caption, writing: “My husband and I and our children have pledged $1 million from our Family Foundation to start a fund of support for our great city and state and the great people who live and love there.” (Curtis shares daughters Annie, 34, and Ruby, 25, with her husband, Christopher Guest.)
Curtis’ donation comes one day after she got emotional discussing the wildfires during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “I’m literally just about to cry,” she said at the beginning of her Wednesday, January 8, interview.
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“As you know, where I live is on fire right now. Literally, the entire city of the Pacific Palisades is burning,” she continued. “I flew here last night. I was on the plane, started getting texts and it’s f---ing gnarly, you guys. It’s just a catastrophe in Southern California. Obviously, there have been horrific fires in many places [but] this is literally where I live.”
Curtis noted that “everything” in her community has been destroyed, from the market where she shops to her kids’ schools to her friends’ homes. Having traveled to New York City for her Tonight Show appearance, Curtis revealed she would be traveling back to California the following day.
“If you know anybody on the West Coast or not — the American Red Cross, support them. They will come in and help people. Do anything you can, anything in your community to help people,” she told viewers on Wednesday. “Whether you need it or not now, you will need it. Give blood, donate, do whatever you can do, [help] animal shelters.”
As an ambassador for the American Red Cross, Curtis also encouraged people to have emergency kits prepared with items such as prescription medications and glasses, pet food, baby formula and more.
The wildfires began on Tuesday, January 7, and have spread rapidly across the L.A. area by Santa Ana wind gusts. Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate the region, with many losing their homes as a result of the fires, including celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal and Anna Faris.
Curtis informed fans that her own home was “possibly” on fire in a Wednesday Instagram post, but clarified that she and her family were safe. “It is a terrifying situation and I'm grateful to the firefighters and all of the good Samaritans who are helping people get out of the way of the blaze. Neighbors have taken care of neighbors,” she captioned a photo of a home engulfed in flames. “We ALL take everything for granted because we are all living our lives but when it hits your community, it's particularly shocking. Life on life's terms. If ever there was [a] need for the use of the phrase MY HAND IN YOURS, it is right now.”
Curtis has continued to share photos and videos of the wildfires’ devastating impact via social media, as well as well-wishes to people who have been impacted. “WE WILL HELP EACH OTHER!” she captioned a snap of flames erupting behind a Sunset Blvd. street sign on Thursday.
Check the LAFD website for local wildfire alerts and click here for resources on how to help those affected.