The couple, who live in Pacific Palisades, thanked first responders and expressed sorrow to neighbors and residents who lost everything.
Actors Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, are paying it forward to aid relief efforts following the devastating Los Angeles County wildfires by donating $1 million.
In a joint
statement via Instagram on Feb. 21, the couple announced their pledge to five organizations in an effort to help those in need along with first responders.
The recipients are the Motion Picture and Television Fund, the Los Angeles Fire Foundation, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Disaster Relief Fund, the American Red Cross and MusiCares.
“Like so many of us, we see the loss and devastation wrought by the Altadena and Palisades fires. The challenges to the future of these communities is immense,”
read the post.
The couple’s Pacific Palisades home narrowly escaped the flames after the fire
ignited on Jan. 7, killing 12 people and destroying or damaging nearly 8,000 structures.
“We are so very grateful for the first responders and firefighters, from all over, who fought with all they had in order to save homes and people,” they added.
“Now we must all move forward to what is next for our city, communities, and neighbors. We are donating $1 million between the following organizations to help support those in need and those who aided.”
Hanks and Wilson join other celebrities who
offered a helping hand, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Beyoncé, and Paris Hilton.
Curtis and her family, who also reside in Pacific Palisades, made a $1 million
pledge in January to support “our great city and state and the great people who live there.”
Meanwhile, a star-studded lineup
joined forces on Jan. 30 for the FireAid benefit
concert, which brought together music and solidarity to help restore devastated communities.
More than 30 artists performed, including Billie Eilish, Dave Matthews and John Mayer, Jelly Roll, Green Day, Lady Gaga, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Gwen Stefani, at two Inglewood venues and raised more than $100 million.
According
to FireAid, half of the proceeds will be distributed through an initial set of grants, after partnering with over 100 organizations to support the burn areas.
“Most of the grants are concentrated on families, students, children and foster youth, who lost homes, schools and other safe havens,” wrote the nonprofit on its website.
“In addition, many are focused on frontline workers and firefighters, who jeopardized their own safety for our protection; small business owners and displaced workers, who lost sources of employment; senior citizens and disabled adults, whose obstacles have multiplied; and artists and musicians, using their talents to raise funds while facing innumerable hardships themselves.”
