Altadena School Lost to Eaton Fire Holds Art Auction to Fund Rebuilding

A small Altadena private school that lost its campus in the Eaton Fire will hold an art auction next Friday at a Pasadena church, raising money to rebuild with the same tool that has defined its identity for more than four decades: art.

Fair Oaks School, which operated at 2704 N. Fair Oaks Avenue in Altadena for more than 45 years before the January 2025 fire destroyed its building, according to the school’s website, will host the fundraiser March 27 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Pasadena New Thought Center.

The school is currently operating from a temporary location in Pasadena while working toward rebuilding in Altadena.

The auction will feature original artwork including paintings, pottery, and objet d’art by local artists and students, according to promotional materials for the event. Live music and food will also be available. Organizers have described the event as free and kid-friendly, according to a social media post promoting the auction.

Fair Oaks School is a private pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade school that emphasizes individualized instruction and the arts. Students work at their own pace in mixed-age classrooms, and the school’s arts program includes music theory, instrumental performance, and dance, according to the school’s website. The school enrolled approximately 23 students with a 6:1 student-teacher ratio before the fire, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Fair Oaks School was among numerous educational institutions in the Altadena area whose buildings were damaged or destroyed.

The school stated on its website that its building had been “severely impacted” by the fire and established a GoFundMe campaign to support its rebuilding effort.

“The heart of Fair Oaks — our children, families, teachers, and values — remains strong and deeply connected,” the school stated. The school described itself as “thriving” at its temporary Pasadena campus.

The venue for the auction, the Pasadena New Thought Center, is a non-denominational spiritual center housed in a historic building on East Orange Grove Boulevard. The center, formerly known as the Church of the Truth, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024.

The art auction takes place Friday, March 27, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Pasadena New Thought Center, 690 East Orange Grove Boulevard. For more information, Fair Oaks School can be reached at 626-797-0758.