At last week’s Power 100 Luncheon in Los Angeles, hosted by The Daily Beast Chief Creative and Content Officer Joanna Coles, the conversations weren’t just about networking and career milestones—they addressed community building and service leadership. Case in point, the event’s focus on (and fundraising for) the devastating wildfires that ravaged parts of the city in January.
Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation President Liz Lin recounted the harrowing experience of visiting the Pacific Palisades in the fires’ aftermath: “Everything was flattened, everything was level,” she recalled of the “war zone” she encountered. I had this utter disbelief that this community has died, and what do you do with the community that has died?”
Despite witnessing such devastation firsthand, Lin offered words of encouragement for the path forward. “Everybody here was impacted or knows someone that was affected by one of these fires,” she said. “And I’m just asking everybody here to acknowledge that. Do something. If you don’t know anybody, go to a fire station, and say thank you to the firefighter. Just do something to make sure this is not forgotten and that sense of community still lives on. I think that’s really going to be important moving forward.”
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Actor Cobie Smulders, whose home with husband Taran Killam was tragically lost in the Palisades fire, spoke of the bravery of the first responders. “I met so many of them, and they came from so many different areas—around the state and the country,” she told The Daily Beast. “These people were in it and had been in it since the very beginning, putting their lives at risk, so I’m hoping that a lot of this help is also [for them].”
She also reflected on the strength of the LA community in times of crisis, expressing deep gratitude and promising to pay it forward. “I’ve always been a believer in helping your community in any way, and I’ve only seen an amazing response from everybody,” she said. “It’s really been a beautiful thing to witness, seeing people come together to help out where they can. I will make it my job to help and assist where I can and hope people do the same.”
Melora Hardin shared a deeply personal story about the Eaton fire, an experience that profoundly changed her perspective. In her neighborhood, she recalled once scoffing at a neighbor’s yard sign that clashed with her views. When the fire broke out there, she and her husband decided to stay, determined to protect their home. It turned out that the neighbor stayed behind too, spending the night on his roof with a garden hose, ultimately saving multiple homes.
“It was a self-check for myself,” Hardin reflected. “We are all different, and it’s one of the greatest things about our country.”
Camiel Irving, Uber’s VP of Operations, reflected on her experience surviving one of the nation’s most devastating disasters in recent years—Hurricane Katrina. Now, her focus is on creating opportunities and the power of collective purpose. “You all are also mentors, coaches, moms, aunties, and community builders,” she told the room. “It’s in your DNA just to show up for people and leave the world a little better than you left it.” Irving shared Uber’s efforts in response to the wildfires, providing 17,000 free rides to and from emergency shelters and thousands of free meals to families in need. Uber, which sponsored the luncheon, also pledged to match donations to the LA Fire Department Foundation up to $250,000 on the day of the luncheon.
Ashlee Margolis, founder of the Beverly Hills marketing firm The A List, also wasted no time in launching a relief effort that continues to make a difference. Through her agency, she’s been able to tap fashion brands like Lululemon, Ann Taylor, Birkenstock and Steve Madden for clothing donations, and celebs like Jennifer Lopez and Jamie Lee Curtis have contributed to the cause. “We see 17 families an hour, three days a week, and have about 60 volunteers every day,” Margolis told The Daily Beast.
Multiple women in attendance, including Smulders, stood up to acknowledge that they had received help through Margolis’ program—a testament to the power of community and the generosity of women lifting each other up in times of crisis. As the road to rebuilding LA stretches on, it’s clear that this kind of unwavering support will be needed more than ever.
