Company pledges financial support for firefighters and police, and says it will also double employee donations
The Wonderful Company has announced it is committing US$10mn to fire relief efforts in the Los Angeles area.
In a statement, it said immediate donations will focus on providing real-time support to first responders – both firefighters and police – with donations expanding over time to broader relief efforts.
The company also announced it would double all LA fire-related donations made by its 10,000 global employees, either through the company’s employee-directed giving programme or personal donations.
“We are profoundly grateful to all of the frontline firefighters and police officers who are working around the clock to protect our communities, even as many of their own families evacuate and homes are threatened,” said Lynda and Stewart Resnick, the company’s owners.
“These heroes are putting themselves in harm’s way to protect all of us, and The Wonderful Company will have their back. Los Angeles is The Wonderful Company’s home, and it is our personal home, the place where we met, were married, raised our family, and built our business. The city and region mean everything to us. We will be here for our community and our employees through this crisis and well beyond as this great city rebuilds.”
The company’s commitments include US$1mn to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and US$500,000 to the Los Angeles Police Foundation. It said the remainder would be identified and disbursed as relief efforts in the city continue.
“On behalf of the Los Angeles Police Department, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to The Wonderful Company for their extraordinary generosity,” said Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell.
“This substantial contribution reflects their commitment to the safety and well-being of our community and is a morale boost for our officers who work tirelessly to protect the city we all love.”
Liz Lin, president of the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, commented: “Los Angeles firefighters are deeply touched by the outpouring of support from across the community, including now this generous gift from The Wonderful Company.”
She added: “These urgently needed resources will improve dispatch capabilities, purchase additional specialty firefighting equipment, enhance our rapid response vehicles, and help make sure all our firefighters have the equipment they need, from hydration packs and fire shelters to PPE. We are so grateful for this support when it is needed most.”
The Wonderful Company, known for its healthy consumer food brands, has also donated Wonderful Pistachios and Wonderful Halos mandarins to fire stations, police precincts, first responder staging areas, and air operations centres.
Like many businesses in the area, the devastation has hit home for the company, which said it was providing “extensive support” to dozens of its Los Angeles employees who have lost their homes or been displaced by mandatory evacuations.
