The Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) partnered with Giftogram to provide emergency financial assistance to more than 1,500 households within the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) community affected by the Eaton Fire in Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre. Giftogram’s seamless platform enabled PEF to quickly and efficiently send digital gift cards that families could redeem at their choice from hundreds of stores. From big box stores that stock supplies and groceries to food delivery services and local eateries, Giftogram’s extensive list of retailers and convenient redemption options provided the flexibility to meet the unique needs of every recipient.
Through PEF’s Community Financial Assistance program, qualified households—PUSD staff and families with enrolled students—received support to address critical needs like temporary housing and essential supplies. Giftogram went above and beyond to support PUSD families affected by the Eaton Fire. In addition to enabling PEF to deliver critical funds, Giftogram is donating all profits back to the organization to be repurposed for more families in need.
“Giftogram’s flexibility and commitment to community support were instrumental in our ability to provide timely and accessible assistance during the recovery process,” said Patrick Conyers, Executive Director of PEF. “Their partnership allowed us to swiftly deliver resources to those who needed it most.”
To ensure families could easily access their funds through gift cards or direct bank deposits, the Giftogram team provided bilingual support in English and Spanish and swiftly set up personalized redemption processes. Our combined efforts in this urgent situation made a meaningful difference for the PUSD community and staff.
“Gratitude is at the heart of everything we do here at Giftogram,” said Giftogram CEO Bill Grassmyer. “We want PEF to know that we appreciate the vital work they do for their community year-round and their trust in our team during such a difficult time.”
PEF remains committed to creating the conditions needed for learning in the PUSD community, now more than ever. If you want to join us in our efforts, you can donate at pased.org/responsefund, or learn more about partnering or volunteering with us by contacting responsefund@pased.org.
