When the Los Angeles County fires erupted on January 7, engulfing neighborhoods and displacing families, Baby2Baby didn’t hesitate. Within hours, the
When the Los Angeles County fires erupted on January 7, engulfing neighborhoods and displacing families, Baby2Baby didn’t hesitate. Within hours, the organization mobilized its extensive network of resources, volunteers, and corporate partners to provide crucial relief to families who had lost everything. “We’re used to responding to disasters,” says co-CEO Kelly Sawyer Patricof. “So when this happened in our hometown—where our headquarters are, where a majority of our staff lives—we were ready to go. This is what we do and have done for the past 10 years.”
The nonprofit swiftly delivered critical items—diapers, formula, clothing, and other necessities—to families in need. Since Patricof and co-CEO Norah Weinstein joined the charity in 2011, the organization has grown tremendously. Their work has attracted an impressive roster of celebrity supporters, including Jessica Alba, Jennifer Garner, and Kim Kardashian, all of whom rallied to support the organization’s fire disaster relief efforts.
By Rachel Borkow.
This year, Vanity Fair has chosen to support Baby2Baby alongside other local charities as part of its Oscar week festivities—a testament to the organization’s influence and impact. For Angeleno families reeling from the devastation of the fires, Baby2Baby’s immediate presence on the ground provided not just crucial items, but a sense of stability amid chaos.
The charity’s comprehensive network of 470 partner organizations that include schools, resource centers, evacuation centers, and state agencies enables its agility during crises. “Our phone is ringing off the hook,” Weinstein says, describing the influx of support from corporate partners like Huggies and Skechers, who reached out immediately as the fires spread. “We have worked for a decade fostering these relationships with these corporate partners, so they understand the ins and outs of our needs on an ongoing basis. They know Baby2Baby is going to find the right home for their diapers or toothpaste or clothes and that we’re going to get them to these kids.”
With the fires tearing through the heart of the entertainment community, celebrities didn’t just offer their names—they offered their hands. The organization’s Culver City headquarters became a hub of activity as Vanessa Bryant, Nicole Richie, Miranda Kerr, Ciara, Russell Wilson, and Hillary Duff arrived to pack boxes and organize supplies. The support extended beyond volunteer hours. Emma Grede, founding partner of Skims, joined Kardashian to donate 10,000 clothing items. Garner’s Once Upon a Farm contributed thousands of baby and toddler snacks.
“These aren’t just names on a piece of paper,” Patricof says. “They actually show up and do the work.”
By Stella Kalinina.
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