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$100 million gift from Mark and Kimbra Walter to support wildfire recovery efforts in Southern California
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$100 million gift from Mark and Kimbra Walter to support wildfire recovery efforts in Southern California

Mark Walter, owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, his wife Kimbra , the Walter Family Foundation, and the Dodgers Foundation have committed a $100 million donation to support wildfire recovery efforts in Southern California.

This contribution is a key part of LA Rises, a comprehensive recovery initiative launched by California Governor Gavin Newsom on January 28, 2025.

LA Rises is designed to help communities devastated by recent wildfires. The fires caused widespread destruction, claiming at least 29 lives and reducing thousands of homes and businesses to ashes. The initiative will focus on rebuilding the hardest-hit areas, including Altadena, Pasadena, and the Pacific Palisades.

The initiative is centered on three primary goals:

Rebuilding Communities – Restoring neighborhoods severely impacted by the wildfires.

Enhancing Resilience – Strengthening infrastructure and preparedness to withstand future disasters.

Fostering Collaboration – Bringing together private sector leaders and government officials to coordinate recovery efforts effectively.

Mark Walter underscored the urgency of action, stating:

“The LA fires have wreaked havoc on our neighborhoods. Now is the time for those with the means to step up and help rebuild stronger than before.”

NBA legend Magic Johnson, who is also playing a key role in LA Rises, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in the recovery process:

“Every resident deserves the opportunity to rebuild and thrive, no matter their background.”

With this $100 million commitment, Mark Walter and his foundations are leading a critical effort to address the aftermath of the devastating wildfires. Through LA Rises, there is hope for a stronger, more resilient future, ensuring that affected communities not only recover but emerge better prepared for future challenges.

Established in 2013, the Walter Family Foundation was founded by billionaire investor Mark Walter and his wife, Kimbra. Walter is CEO of investment firm Guggenheim Partners and part owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The foundation is the grantmaking arm of the family’s TWF Causes, which seeks to “promote equity by countering systemic obstacles that block opportunity for marginalized people and save rare species and wild places.” The foundation supports education and wildlife rescue, as well as arts and culture and community organizations.

The Walters name Social Impact as one of the core tenants of their philanthropy, and while this can cover a lot of territory, education is a big part of it. Kimbra is on the board of OneGoal, “a coalition of teachers, students, school leaders and education advocates working to close the college degree divide,” to which the couple has given millions. Other education grantees include The Academy Group, Chicago Beyond, The Chicago High School for the Arts, and The Bottom Line.

Additionally, through the family foundation, the Walters have supported Northwestern University for several years and Mark has served as a trustee.

Mark Walter’s first gift to the school was $100 in 1986, but the couple gave $40 million to the school in 2014. Northwestern University School of Law is home to the Walter Family Foundation Scholarship Fund.

The Walters list conservation as one of their key philanthropic interests.

They own a 17,000-acre animal refuge in Florida, as well as wildlife preserves in Africa. They have backed the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, where Kimbra is a trustee.

Other grantees include Bubye Valley Conservation Research, Chimp Haven, the American Association of Zoological Parks & Aquariums, and The International Rhino Foundation.

TWF Causes doesn’t name arts and culture or community improvement as funding interests, but tax records show that the foundation supports nonprofits in these areas.

Kimbra is a vice chair of the board of Goodman Theatre, which received a 7-figure gift from the couple recently.

Additional Chicago grantmaking has gone to Get IN Chicago, the University of Chicago, Lyric Opera, Chicago Theatre Group, and the Field Museum.

Grants typically range from $200 to around $1 million, but they have reached as high as $4 million. The most common amount is $1,000. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away around $2 million.


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