Pepperdine Supports a Community Affected by the California Fires
MALIBU, California. – Pepperdine University has offered crucial resources to assist its community amid
the devastation wrought by the recent wildfires in and around Los Angeles, even as
the University prepares to resume in-person classes Tuesday.
“While I am struck by the tremendous, immeasurable loss, I have also seen something extraordinary: the selfless sacrifice and outpouring of support from and for our community,” said University President Jim Gash. “Moments like this define who we are at Pepperdine, the deep connections we share, and the strength we draw from those bonds.”
To propel response and recovery efforts, Pepperdine has made available its Malibu campus a strategic staging site for local relief. The City of Malibu’s Emergency Operations Committee temporarily operated from campus after being displaced from City Hall due to the fires. Similarly, the University welcomed SoCalGas to establish its incident command center at the Malibu campus, providing workers greater proximity to neighborhoods impacted by the Palisades Fire.
Pepperdine’s Caruso School of Law is setting up pro bono legal clinics to provide disaster relief assistance to victims of the recent wildfires. These free clinics will help residents with FEMA claims, insurance issues, and other related legal matters. Led by Professor Jeff Baker, faculty, alumni, and local volunteer attorneys will provide limited-scope legal assistance.
In response to the fires, Pepperdine created the Pepperdine Strong Fund. The Fund
- assists the many students, staff, and faculty members who have faced loss and displacement;
- provides safe temporary housing, meals, and essential items for families who are still sorting through the damage; and
- eases the burden of travel interruptions and evacuation expenses, allowing affected individuals to focus on rebuilding and regaining stability.
In response to the fires, Pepperdine’s Student Health Center and Counseling Center have remained open, with access to medical and mental healthcare available through the Timelycare App. Pastoral care has also been made available through the chaplain’s office.
To learn more about Pepperdine’s response to the fires, visit Pepperdine.edu/wildfire.
About Pepperdine University
Founded in 1937, Pepperdine University is an independent, Christian university located
30 miles west of Downtown Los Angeles in scenic Malibu, California. The University
enrolls approximately 10,300 students across its flagship liberal arts school, Seaver College; the College of Health Science, and four graduate schools—the Caruso School of Law; the Graziadio Business School; the Graduate School of Education and Psychology; and the School of Public Policy. Pepperdine is committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian
values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership.
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