FireAid estimates over $100 million raised for LA after star-studded concert
FireAid is estimating a nine-digit fundraising effort resulting from last week's benefit concert.
In a Tuesday press release, event organizers said fundraising is still underway and the proceeds from the concert are expected to surpass $100 million for the "Los Angeles-region's immediate needs and long-term recovery from the recent wildfires."
The organizers said the estimated fundraising total "includes ticket sales for both venues, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and donations from the public."
According to the organizers, the event brought in over 50 million viewers on various streaming platforms.
The FireAid Grants Advisory Committee, an organization formed with regional "philanthropic leaders," will be working under the leadership of the Annenberg Foundation in order to identify the most effective use of the funds for both short-term relief efforts and long-term initiatives to prevent future fire disasters.
The event organizers said they expect the first phase of grants to be awarded by mid-February.
The release noted some of the private donations to the FireAid fundraiser came from high-profile names and groups such as the Azoff family, philanthropists Andrew Hauptman and Ellen Bronfman Hauptman, and the bands U2 and the Eagles.
The event's operating costs were offset by the hometown LA Clippers. Additionally, Clippers chairman Steve Ballmer and wife Connie Ballmer "matched every pledge made during the broadcast and VOD viewing of FireAid," according to event organizers.
Some of music's biggest stars united at the Jan. 30 event to support Southern California communities impacted by the wildfires in January.
The concert, a one-night-only event, was held at the Intuit Dome and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, with performances at each venue.
Billie Eilish, Gracie Abrams, Jelly Roll, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Tate McRae and Earth, Wind and Fire were among the stars who performed at Intuit Dome.
Taking the stage at Kia Forum were Alanis Morissette, Anderson .Paak, John Mayer, Dawes, Graham Nash, Green Day, John Fogerty, Joni Mitchell, No Doubt, P!nk, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stephen Stills, Stevie Nicks and The Black Crowes.
In addition to the musical performances, first responders were honored, including a firefighter who fought the fires while his own home was burning.
Comedian Billy Crystal brought levity to the event, sharing jokes while wearing the same clothes he said he wore when he evacuated his own home, which was also destroyed in the fires.
The Los Angeles wildfires, which devastated the communities of the Pacific Palisades, Altadena and the Castaic Area, killed at least 29 people and destroyed thousands of structures.
No Doubt and Nirvana reunited at FireAid
The members of No Doubt -- Gwen Stefani, Tom Dumont, Tony Kanal and Adrian Young -- reunited at FireAid and sang some of their biggest hits, including "Just a Girl," "Spiderwebs" and "Don't Speak."
In a surprise moment, Nirvana members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear took to the stage with guests including St. Vincent, Kim Gordon, Joan Jett and Grohl's daughter Violet Grohl, the latter of whom performed the group's hit song "All Apologies."
Lady Gaga debuts 'hopeful' new song
Lady Gaga took to the stage with a song she and her fiance Michael Polansky wrote specifically for the FireAid benefit concert.
"When I was thinking about what to sing tonight, I thought I want to do something hopeful for you. And I was thinking about my songs and there wasn't anything that seemed quite right, so me and my friend Michael -- my fiance, my love -- we wrote this song for you. It's just for tonight, it's just for you," she said before performing. "I think we all need a lot of things right now, but I think something we may also need is time. Time is a healer."
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