Description
Through the generous support of our community, the Pepperdine Strong Fund has successfully met the immediate financial assistance needs of our faculty, staff, and students affected by the Franklin Fire and the Palisades Fire. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of care that has made this possible.
As of March 19, 2025, gifts to the Pepperdine Strong Fund will support new needs expressed by our community, specifically a key initiative spearheaded by Pepperdine’s Resilience-Informed Skills Education (RISE) Program. This effort will engage 4–8th-grade students at Calvary Christian School in the Pacific Palisades—many of whom have recently endured unimaginable hardship due to the fires—in meaningful discussions and activities designed to develop their resilience skills, care for themselves and their peers in times of need, and prepare them to navigate life's challenges with confidence.
Your continued support allows us to extend Pepperdine’s mission beyond our immediate campus to enrich lives and foster the well-being and strength of our broader community. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to creating a lasting impact.
The University has created the following website to provide updates on all helpful information pertaining to the current wildfires in the surrounding areas: Pepperdine.edu/Wildfire
PREVIOUS UPDATES: On the evening of Monday, December 9, 2024, the Franklin Fire broke out in the areas immediately surrounding Pepperdine’s Malibu campus. In the hours and days that followed, the fire directly impacted our campus community—especially our students. We are grateful for God’s divine protection over our campus and for the unwavering leadership of our Emergency Operations Committee, faculty, staff, and our first responders in ensuring everyone’s safety and well-being.
As recovery efforts from the Franklin Fire continue, the Palisades Fire, which emerged on January 7, just nine miles east of Pepperdine’s Malibu campus, and continues to burn, has required more urgent attention. Additionally, multiple other fires across the Los Angeles area are affecting our students, faculty, and staff in various ways. While the effects of these disasters are still being tallied, we are already aware that many in our community face unforeseen financial burdens.
In response to the mounting challenges caused by these fires, Pepperdine has established the Pepperdine Strong Fund to provide immediate financial assistance to those impacted by this crisis. Your generosity will help alleviate the financial burdens of evacuation costs, travel interruptions, and other urgent needs, allowing students, staff, and faculty to focus on their recovery while starting the semester during this difficult time.
These funds will:
- Assist with temporary housing, food, and basic necessities for displaced students, faculty, and staff.
- Cover transportation expenses, including rides to airports or other safe locations.
- Help ship items students left behind—such as passports, prescriptions, and other critical belongings—from areas affected by the fires.
Thank you for standing with our Pepperdine community. Your support during this season of unprecedented challenges makes a profound difference in the lives of our students, faculty, and staff.