Cancer Support Community Donates $100,000 To Pasadena Community Foundation’s Eaton Fire Relief And Recovery Fund

In a powerful gesture of unity, Cancer Support Community Greater San Gabriel Valley (Cancer Support Community) has donated $100,000 from its 35th Annual Angel Gala, Rise Together, to the Pasadena Community Foundation’s Eaton Fire Relief and Recovery Fund.

“This gift is deeply personal for us,” said Patricia Ostiller, Executive Director. “For 35 years, this community has supported Cancer Support Community’s mission, and we saw this as our moment to give back in a meaningful, tangible way. It was an unprecedented decision, and exactly the right one.”

The Angel Gala, held on April 26, 2025 raised essential funds to support Cancer Support Community’s free programs for those affected by cancer — including support groups, counseling, educational workshops, and wellness activities. But this year, the event also served as a rallying cry for solidarity. Moved by the stories of loss and resilience following the fire, Cancer Support Community leadership and donors came together to make a bold choice: to extend Cancer Support Community’s circle of care to those beyond its usual reach.

The $100,000 donation will help Pasadena Community Foundation provide both immediate relief and long-term recovery support to individuals and families affected by the fire, including housing assistance, rebuilding support, and mental health services. Pasadena Community Foundation continues to collaborate with nonprofit and government partners to ensure that resources reach those who need them most.

“This generous and unexpected gift from Cancer Support Community is a testament to what it means to truly be a part of a compassionate, interconnected community,” said Jennifer DeVoll, President & CEO of Pasadena Community Foundation. “We are honored by Cancer Support Community’s trust and partnership and inspired by their bold leadership.”

Serge Melkizian, Cancer Support Community’s Board President, shared, “When we have a loved one that is impacted by cancer or has lost their home in a fire, often times it is hard to find the right words or we don’t know how to help, so it’s great to have resources such as Cancer Support Community and Pasadena Community Foundation, where they can get the emotional support they need and to help them rebuild.”

“We always say: ‘Community is stronger than cancer.’ This year, we saw that community is also stronger than fire, stronger than loss, and stronger when we show up for one another,” said Ostiller.

To support the Eaton Fire Relief and Recovery Fund and learn more visit pasadenacf.org/eaton-fire-fund.