Welcome Home Celebration for an Altadena Family

“Altadena Strong” cheered the crowd of well-wishers at the Welcome Home ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Wood family on March 27. Supporters and funders, including representatives from United Way of Greater Los Angeles, joined the celebration of the first wildfire rebuild completed by San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity since January 2025.

“It takes a village to build a Habitat house,” said Paul Van Ast, Donor Partnerships Manager. The structure was completed in just six months of construction with the hard work of 1,626 volunteers who helped with the build.

UWGLA is proud to support the completion of the first home rebuilt by Habitat following the devastating Eaton Fire. The East Pine Street property features two homes, a primary residence and an Accessory Dwelling Unit or ADU. 

This is the first of many Altadena ADUs being built by Habitat for Humanity with support from UWGLA. United Way remains committed to providing support and investments to address the long-term wildfire recovery efforts as a community partner.

“United Way of Greater Los Angeles is proud to support the completion of the first wildfire rebuild led by San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, welcoming back the Wood family to their Altadena community after the devastating Eaton Fire,” said Derric J. Johnson, Vice President of Impact & Equity, United Way of Greater Los Angeles. “We are hopeful for the future of the Wood’s family as they work to reestablish what was previously lost. The United Way is committed to providing further support and investments to address the long-term recovery efforts as a community partner.”

“As we started talking with the community about what was most important for them, we realized ADUs were a huge part of what the community needed,” explained Bryan Wong, CEO, SGV Habitat for Humanity. “They’re cost effective, they don’t change the character of the neighborhood, and we can increase density without changing the look and the feel of the city.”

“I think we have the ability to get to build a hundred houses a year,” Wong continued to a big round of applause from the crowd. “We have seven other houses currently under construction. We are on track to build ten houses a month. Thanks to all of you, we cannot do any of this without you. As funding comes in, we will build more.”

Wood, his wife Carol, their daughter Jenine and their son Ken Jr and his family all lost their homes in the disaster. For more about the family, click here.

“My mother always said, ‘the best parties are in the kitchen,’” said LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, 5^th District.

“This house is more than a rebuild, it is proof of what our community can do when it comes together. It is a symbol of hope for all who drive by and a symbol of love to all who have had the honor of helping to build,” said Candace Kim, project director, Altadena Builds Back Foundation.

Kim expressed gratitude to SGV Habitat for Humanity who walk alongside Eaton Fire survivors every day on the path to recovery even as some of them have been displaced from their own homes.

“The work doesn’t stop here,” she continued. “Thousands in our community still need help. As we rebuild from one of the worst disasters our state has ever seen, SGV Habitat for Humanity needs our support, they need our volunteer hours, they need our fundraising, because we want to see them succeed. They need our support so more families like the Wood family can return home. So together we can help Altadena build back!”

“I really appreciate all the help and the generosity extended to us, people have come together to help us at a time when we didn’t know where we were going, what was next or how navigate the system of getting things started,” said Carol Wood. “Habitat has been so wonderful to give us hope beyond what we even dared to imagine could happen. We hope for good things, but we’ve received great things, a great treasure, and for that we’re appreciative.”

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” Ken Wood added.

After presenting the keys to the Woods, attendees were able to tour both the primary three bedroom and two bath residence and the one bedroom and one bath ADU.

Taking it all in, the homeowners took a seat on an engraved bench to enjoy their favorite views of the Altadena mountains and palm trees from their new front porch.

United Way of Greater Los Angeles is investing $425K toward the construction of 50 Accessory Dwelling Units(ADUs) for low‑income households in Altadena displaced by the Eaton wildfire. The first one will be completed next month. This investment is part of our Wildfire Response Fund, established in January 2025. To learn more about the Fund, read the community impact report here.

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