LOS ANGELES — Celtics guard Jrue Holiday’s home in Ventura County has not been damaged by the Los Angeles wildfires, but returning here this week he has been met with startling reminders of how severely life has changed for so many.
When he went to drive to his home he found some of his usual routes blocked off because of the destruction from the fires. And as the Celtics eked out a 117-113 overtime win over the Clippers on Wednesday night, Holiday’s sister, Lo, was evacuated from her home in Santa Clarita because a new fire was raging across 1,000 acres.
Lo Holiday and the rest of their family here are safe, but the overall devastation has been crushing to Jrue, who was able to do very little while about 2,500 miles away in Boston. But this week he has helped organize meetings with families who lost everything.
Before the Clippers game, Holiday and several other Celtics met with three families with young children, and more are expected to attend Thursday’s game against the Lakers as guests of the Celtics.
“Obviously, LA is close to my heart,” Holiday told the Globe. “I still have a place out here, UCLA is right around the corner, and where I went to high school is right around the corner. So to see families just lose everything is hard. I still have family out here who are affected by the fires, so I think trying to bring light to a pretty dim situation is important.”
The families received care packages from the Celtics as well as other memorabilia. Al Horford signed an NBA Finals jersey for a child in one family, and Jaylen Brown autographed two of his All-Star jerseys for another. On Thursday night, Jayson Tatum is planning to meet with a family from his hometown of St. Louis that was previously homeless and received permanent housing in Los Angeles just before being evacuated because of the fires.
Holiday is hopeful that the gifts and interactions will provide some comfort for these families during a dark time, but he and his wife Lauren are exploring ways to do even more through their foundation and their JLH Social Impact Fund. They have put a resource page up on the foundation’s website and are already working with grantees involved in providing relief services.
“I think for me and my wife, just trying to brainstorm to see what we can do to bring people comfort or things they may need at the moment,” Holiday said. “It’s just hard to imagine what happens to them long term. They have young kids who are probably in school somewhere and have to figure out their life now, which is pretty difficult. I feel blessed to be able to help any way I can.”
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.
In the wake of devastating wildfires that have ravaged communities across the country, NBA star Jrue Holiday has stepped up to offer support and solace to those affected.
Holiday, who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks, recently donated $1 million to help those impacted by the fires, including providing essential supplies, shelter, and resources to those in need. Additionally, he has been actively involved in relief efforts, volunteering his time and resources to help with recovery and rebuilding efforts.
In a statement, Holiday expressed his deep concern for those who have lost their homes and livelihoods in the fires, and his commitment to doing everything he can to help them through this difficult time. His generosity and compassion have brought hope and comfort to many of those who have been affected by the fires, and his actions serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of coming together to support one another in times of crisis.
As communities continue to grapple with the aftermath of the fires, Holiday’s contributions serve as a beacon of light and hope, showing that even in the face of tragedy, there are always those willing to lend a helping hand and make a difference.
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