Jamie Lee Curtis has revealed she is donating $1 million to LA firefighting after fighting back tears over the destruction of Pacific Palisades.
The 66-year-old actress announced her donation on Instagram on Thursday, revealing that she had been in contact with LA Governor Gavin Newson to discuss where the money could best be used.
She wrote: ‘While the fire continues to rage and @calfire @losangelesfiredepartment and all available first responders and agencies involved in fighting fires and saving lives are still hard at work and neighbors and friends are working together to protect each other, my husband and I and our children have committed $1 million from our Family Foundation to establish a support fund for our great city and state and the wonderful people who live and love there.
“I am in discussions with Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass and Senator Schiff about where these funds should be directed for the most impact.”
This comes after Curtis fought back tears as she admitted the Pacific Palisades fires were “catastrophic” during an appearance on The Tonight Show on Wednesday.
They flew to New York City to perform on the Jimmy Fallon-hosted show when fires began spreading through the city she calls home.
Jamie Lee Curtis has revealed she is donating $1 million to LA firefighting after fighting back tears over the destruction of Pacific Palisades
She revealed on Instagram earlier on Wednesday that her home is safe, but many of her neighbors’ homes have been destroyed.
The actress appeared in theaters on January 10 to promote her new film The Last Showgirl, but before discussing the film, she became visibly emotional as she addressed the fires.
‘I’m literally about to cry. Especially because of that beautiful welcome,” Curtis began as the audience began to applaud, with one shouting, “You are beautiful!”
Tearfully, she continued, “As you know, where I live is currently on fire. Literally the entire city of the Pacific Palisades is on fire.”
‘I flew here last night. I was on the plane and I got text messages. And it’s damn spicy, guys. It’s just a catastrophe in Southern California,” she said.
‘It is clear that there have been horrific fires in many places. This is literally where I live. Everything. The market where I shop. The schools my children go to. Friends, many, many, many, many friends have now lost their homes,” she said.
‘That’s right, it’s really a terrible situation. Obviously I’m going home first thing tomorrow and be with my family and try to help my friends,” she continued.
“But what I can tell you is, if you know anyone on the West Coast or not, support the American Red Cross,” she said.
The 66-year-old actress took to Instagram to announce her donation, revealing that she had been in contact with LA Governor Gavin Newson to discuss where the money would best be used.
Curtis is pictured with husband Christopher Guest and children Ruby and Annie in 2022
This comes after Curtis fought back tears as she admitted the Pacific Palisades fires were “catastrophic” during an appearance on The Tonight Show on Wednesday
The 66-year-old actress flew to New York City to appear on the Jimmy Fallon-hosted show when fires began spreading through the city she calls home.
“They come in and help people. Do everything you can. Anything in your community to help people, whether you need it or not, you will need it. Give blood, donate, whatever,” she said to applause.
“And remember, since I’m in the middle of a very big television show, everyone living anywhere should have an emergency kit at home,” she added.
“I’m an ambassador for the American Red Cross. Make sure you have an emergency kit with prescription glasses, medicine, dog food, baby food, everything you need if you have to flee,” she added.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, she spoke about her appearance on the program in a post shared on Instagram.
Jamie wrote: ‘Flying to New York and hearing the beginning of the stories about the fire was very challenging being far away from my home, family and friends and feeling very powerless.
“I got dressed and showed up for work here in town, complete with the recreation of the hip, a meme from the movie Perfect, and was greeted by so much warmth from @fallontonight @jimmyfallon and @questlove and their team.
“It was complicated to feel like we were making comedy in the midst of such profound tragedy across the country, but we did.”
Jamie added, “The hug he gave me to support my fragile feelings will always be remembered, and I leave New York City with the hopes, prayers and good thoughts of everyone on the East Coast as I return home to the best coast and my beloved City of Angels to help with the recovery and rebuilding.”
Hours before taking to the skies, she shared a video showing the devastation in Pacific Palisades, where she confirmed her home is safe.
‘Our beloved neighborhood is gone. Our house is safe. So many others have lost everything. Help where you can. Thank you to the first responders and firefighters. @americanredcross,” she said.
Hours before going on air, she shared a video showing the devastation in Pacific Palisades, where she confirmed her home is safe
Jamie had previously said her home was at risk of being destroyed by the bushfires, but later confirmed it was safe from the flames.
She also shared another Instagram post, showing her beloved church in Pacific Palisades engulfed in flames.
“This is the church in the Palisades that had a beautiful Sunday school and school and was a beautiful house of worship and the building where I got sober 25 years ago,” she said.
“I think of all the souls who came there for solace and solace and all the baptisms and funerals and weddings and the thousands of people who got their lives back through sobriety,” she added.
“Also the sorority in the Palisades where I met a lot of down to earth people. Both have disappeared. Difficult times. We will persevere. God bless you all,” she concluded.
Hollywood Boulevard has been evacuated and 100,000 people have been told to flee as six wildfires rage as Los Angeles’ apocalyptic skies continue to fill with smoke.
Two new fires broke out overnight in the Hollywood Hills and Studio City, forcing emergency responders to redeploy their already scarce resources to the burned landscape.
The National Guard has been deployed and could send military personnel to help, amid revelations that hero firefighters are “triaging” homes and neighborhoods.
The LA Fire Department issued an evacuation order for people in an area within Hollywood Boulevard to the south, Mulholland Drive to the north, the 101 Freeway to the east and Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west – all iconic addresses in showbiz.
The latest fires have burned vast swaths of iconic real estate in Southern California, from Malibu to Santa Monica, and from Pacific Palisades to Runyon Canyon, impacting millions of people who have been overwhelmed by the unprecedented spread and massacre.
So far, at least five people have been killed in the disaster – which destroyed 2,000 structures and left thousands of people in the city with nothing but ash.
More than 130,000 people are under evacuation orders, while Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes and Paris Hilton are among the stars who said they had lost homes. Billy Crystal and his wife Janice lost their home of 45 years in the Palisades Fire.