Description
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.