After the Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse (L.A. CADA) was destroyed in the January 2025 wildfires, Dale Griner took an artistic approach to raising funds for the community.
When Dale Griner, a creative/design specialist in AECOM’s downtown LA office, heard that two recovery treatment facilities with the Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse (L.A. CADA) were damaged in the Eaton Fires, his first instinct was to reach out and help.
Dale learned that the residents who were in primary treatment from drug and alcohol addiction had to be evacuated and moved to other locations. One facility was damaged when a tree fell through the roof due to the winds, and the other burned to the ground on January 7th. In all, 37 residents were permanently displaced and lost everything due to the fires.
“Facebook was flooded with posts about the devastation along with personal stories from affected neighbors and friends,” Dale shares. “I felt an overwhelming urge to do something to help this organization that has done so much for the recovery community, so my friends and I immediately jumped into action.”
He reached out to L.A. CADA and pitched the idea of creating an event to raise money for the impacted community. A few of his artist friends were also willing to help organize for this vital cause.
Together, they developed a list of local artists for the event. Producer Nate Buck supercharged the talent search when he secured comedian Margaret Cho. With her on board, Dale and his friends knew they’d need a larger venue. After reaching out to the LA LGBT Center, they booked the organization’s Renberg Theatre, a performance space that seats over 180 people.
The impressive lineup of artists, musicians and comedians featured Beth Lapides, Christina Simos, Jose Mun and Scott Silverman — artists who are popular in the local community — along with Lisa Li, Brett Kohler and Margaret Cho as the headliner. News of the star-studded event spread and ushered in attendees from the greater Los Angeles area. L.A. CADA’s staff, volunteers and even residents who had been evacuated in the fires organized and ran the evening’s programming, which helped keep expenses low. In total, the event raised more than $17,135 toward their goal of $75,000.
“We were so happy to help this agency. It’s fulfilling to see the faces of the clients who volunteered and hear their reactions to the performers,” Dale says. “Showing that the community cares about them and their wellbeing was everything to me.”