Pasadena College Program Transforms Into Wildfire Relief Lifeline For Students

Pasadena’s College Access Plan rapidly shifted from educational guidance to emergency relief services after the devastating Eaton Fire affected nearly 1,400 of its students. The Pasadena-based nonprofit became a lifeline for families whose lives were upended by one of the state’s most destructive wildfires ever.

“I’m concerned there will be a trauma cliff,” said Mo Hyman, the program’s executive director. “We’re going to see massive trauma impacts in the next several years and those will impact educational choices. This will be a 10-year arc.”

The organization, which typically helps underserved students prepare for college beginning in fifth grade, mobilized staff to provide financial, emotional and mental support to fire victims.

Program coordinators like Karla Ramos reached out to students within two weeks of the disaster, asking simply: “What do you need? How can I help?”

Eighty-two percent of the program’s 1,700 students were impacted by the fires. At least 100 students lost their homes, while others faced displacement as Pasadena Unified School District sites remained shuttered for weeks.

Pasadena High School senior Alejandra Surias fled her Altadena apartment building with her family as flames tore through Eaton Canyon in the dead of night. Thick smoke clogged the air, hampering vision and breathing. When she returned, the building was unlivable with blown-out windows and ash everywhere. College Access Plan connected her family with grocery gift cards from the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation and a care package from Letters Charity containing $10,000, which helped them secure a new apartment in Arcadia.

Fifteen students attended the Grammy Awards after Pasadena Macy’s provided outfits and accessories at no cost.

“I was so grateful because I was so depressed about everything that happened and this was just something fun to distract me,” Alejandra said, “It was such a great time.”

Ca’Leah King, whose son Evan Wade participates in the program while attending UC Berkeley, praised the organization’s support. “They’ve been there for us — they’re like family,” King said. “They’ve definitely supported us emotionally.”

Twin siblings Katarine and Matthew Hart from John Muir High School are filing financial aid appeals after losing their family home made their planned University of Hawaii attendance more financially challenging, with annual costs of $38,000 per student.

Founded in 2006, College Access Plan serves low-income students who are first in their families to attend college. About 98 percent of seniors attending at least three sessions advance to postsecondary education. The California Community Foundation has supported the program with $425,000 in grants since 2022.