Attorneys common from 14 states query FireAid’s $100M fund distribution
Fourteen state attorneys common within the US have launched an investigation into FireAid, demanding solutions about how its organizers distributed the $100 million raised throughout a profit live performance for Los Angeles wildfire victims.
The inquiry, led by Oklahoma Legal professional Normal Gentner Drummond, facilities on rising complaints that fireside victims have obtained no direct help regardless of public guarantees that donations would go “on to the individuals who want it now.”
Drummond mentioned: “In Oklahoma and throughout the nation we witnessed the devastation inflicted on Los Angeles County by these large wildfires. Oklahomans are at all times fast to supply assist. It’s no shock that many donated to Fireplace Assist to offer direct reduction to victims, however now we’re seeing questions on whether or not these donations are getting used as supposed.”
The January 2025 profit live performance collection was held on the Intuit Dome and the Kia Discussion board in Inglewood, California, drawing 50 million viewers.
As MBW beforehand reported, the entire funds raised embody ticket gross sales for the 2 concert events, sponsorships, merchandise gross sales, and donations from the general public, together with “beneficiant personal items” from the Azoff household, the Eagles, Andrew Hauptman and Ellen Bronfman Hauptman, and U2.
“Oklahomans are at all times fast to supply assist. It’s no shock that many donated to Fireplace Assist to offer direct reduction to victims, however now we’re seeing questions on whether or not these donations are getting used as supposed.”
Gentner Drummond, Oklahoma Legal professional Normal
Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley has already pushed for a Division of Justice investigation, whereas US President Donald Trump labeled the trouble “a complete catastrophe” on Fact Social.
In response to the criticism, FireAid mentioned it has $75 million has been distributed throughout two phases to greater than 160 nonprofit organizations, colleges, and native teams that have been vetted by Goldman Sachs.
The remaining $25 million is predicted to be distributed by year-end, with all outcomes topic to an unbiased audit by KPMG in December 2025.
In a letter despatched August 6 to FireAid President Gillian Zucker, the attorneys common gave the group 10 enterprise days to offer details about the way it distributed the funds, the way it vetted the organizations that obtained or will obtain grants, in addition to its relationship with The Annenberg Basis, amongst others.
“A major variety of current stories have raised issues that fireside victims have but to obtain any funds or help from Fireplace Assist or the frontline nonprofits and native organizations it partnered with to distribute direct help.”
Gentner Drummond, Oklahoma Legal professional Normal
The attorneys common’s calls for embody donation breakdowns by state, copies of grant agreements with recipient organizations, details about restrictions positioned on grant recipients, measures to make sure funds profit victims instantly, and whether or not audit outcomes shall be made public.
Collaborating attorneys common signify Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.
Drummond mentioned: “A major variety of current stories have raised issues that fireside victims have but to obtain any funds or help from Fireplace Assist or the frontline nonprofits and native organizations it partnered with to distribute direct help.”
In his letter to Legal professional Normal Pam Bondi two weeks in the past, Rep. Kiley, who represents California’s third congressional district, mentioned a few of the nonprofits listed as beneficiaries of the FireAid live performance “don’t even function within the LA space.”
Citing an unbiased report by Fox11 in Los Angeles and Circling the Information, Rep. Kiley mentioned “have uncovered that these donations have been as an alternative diverted to quite a few nonprofits, lots of which have a tenuous connection (at finest) to fireside reduction and restoration.”
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