From Crisis to Catalyst: Pasadena Community Foundation’s Russo Transforms Fire Recovery Into Long-Term Community Vision

Eight months after the devastating Eaton Fire displaced thousands of residents in Altadena, the Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) is channeling its record $72 million relief mobilization into a blueprint for long-term recovery.

Eight months after the devastating Eaton Fire displaced thousands of residents in Pasadena and Altadena, the Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) is channeling its record $72 million relief mobilization into a blueprint for long-term recovery. Under new President & CEO Khanh Russo, who took the helm in June, the foundation continues its traditional grantmaking across many programs while also mobilizing resources for immediate and longer-term fire relief and recovery efforts — an expanded approach Russo calls “advocacy through action.”

“After the Eaton Fire, we raised $72.4 million and quickly distributed $12 million to support food, childcare, and housing needs… That’s more than just grantmaking—it’s advocacy through action,” Russo said.

PCF has committed $4.55 million to its supporting organization, the Altadena Builds Back Foundation to San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity to rebuild 22 homes in Altadena. Russo stressed the foundation’s role as a partner: “We are not an advocacy organization in the sense of lobbying or driving big policy changes. Instead, we see ourselves as an organization that advocates for and with the community — amplifying local voices, needs, and solutions.”

Russo’s approach reflects his personal history. He was born in 1980 in a Thai refugee camp after his family fled Vietnam, then came to the U.S. as a refugee. “My family came to this country as refugees, and we were welcomed with compassion and dignity. That early experience instilled in me values of respect, equity, and trust — values I now carry into my leadership at PCF.” He added, “The city and region need PCF to be proactive, not just reactive — to anticipate challenges and build for a stronger future.”

Beyond fire recovery, PCF continues to advance its Affordable Housing Initiative, which has created more than 150 units since 2019, and partnering with Pasadena City College to support PUSD graduates through the PCF Scholars Program with financial and socioemotional support. The Pasadena Child Health Foundation, a fund of PCF, continues to fund programs tackling health disparities in the Pasadena Unified School District footprint.

Founded in 1953, PCF has awarded more than $141 million in grants and manages $260 million in assets. The foundation is expanding donor-advised funds and endowments while helping nonprofits adopt technologies to strengthen operations.

PCF has also refreshed its identity with an intertwined-roots logo, a new website (https://pasadenacf.org/), and the tagline “For a Greater Pasadena Area.” Its “Here for Good” Fund offers residents an accessible entry point for giving.

Looking forward, Russo said: “My vision is to expand our donor base, strengthen partnerships, and ensuring PCF remains a nimble, strategic, and compassionate guide that helps Greater Pasadena thrive today and for generations to come.”