Los Angeles Convention Center Donates 8,000 Pounds of Wood Waste to Support Altadena Fire Recovery
LOS ANGELES, February 23, 2026 – What could have been four tons of landfill waste instead became a vital resource for fire recovery efforts in Altadena, a residential area 14 miles northeast of Downtown Los Angeles, thanks to a sustainability initiative at the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC).
“With such a significant amount of excess wood, we should explore opportunities to donate these materials so they can be repurposed and benefit the community,” said Enjoli Ferrari, Senior Sustainability Manager at the LACC, in discussions with organizers of a recent convention and trade show.
Four tons (or 8,000 pounds) of wood is about 60 percent more than the average LACC event uses, so finding a way to repurpose the material became a priority for Ferrari. After making a call to the ANE Foundation, a local crisis care organization serving vulnerable populations, the donation was secured.
“It has been a godsend to show people that the convention center cares,” said Adrienne Nicole Edwards, founder of the ANE Foundation. Her organization, which sources donations of many types, including food, toiletries and clothing, then coordinates delivery to third parties with a direct need for the items. In this case, it was a group working closely with people needing to rebuild their homes after the Eaton fire, the catastrophic Altadena blaze that destroyed over 9,000 buildings in January 2025.
The wood will be used to facilitate restoration by erecting makeshift walls and fences along property lines or covering exposed pipes in the ground.
“The donation highlights how collaboration between event organizers, venues and local nonprofits can turn waste into meaningful community support – proving that sustainability efforts can extend far beyond environmental impact to helping people rebuild their lives,” added Estella Flores, Vice President of Operations at the LACC.
Ferrari is tasked by the City of Los Angeles with diverting 75 percent of the LACC’s waste each year. So, while appreciating that this exceptionally large donation has had a positive impact upon a community in need, she remains focused. “I simply want to ensure that if we must send waste to landfills, it’s the smallest amount possible.”
ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTER
The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) is an internationally renowned venue for conventions, trade shows and exhibitions currently undergoing a $2.6B expansion and modernization project that will catapult it into the top ten largest convention centers in the U.S. by early 2029. Owned by the City of Los Angeles and professionally managed by Legends Global, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the LACC helped sustain over 12,000 local jobs and generate $685 million in regional economic impact. The LACC prioritizes environmental and social responsibility and is proud to be a LEED® Gold-certified facility. Visit laconventioncenter.com. for more information.
ABOUT ANE FOUNDATION
ANE Foundation is a compassionate crisis care organization dedicated to providing hope, dignity, and essential support to individuals and families in need. Based in the heart of Los Angeles, ANE Foundation serves the homeless, veterans, vulnerable populations, and families facing hardship, ensuring that no one in our community is left behind. Learn more at https://www.ane-foundation.org/home.
MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Michael Jortner
Marketing Manager
Los Angeles Convention Center
213-965-7133