Wood used for exhibit booths at large corporate event donated to organization helping Altadena families rebuild after devastating 2025 fire
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 Los Angeles Convention Center, 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 Ferrari.
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.”
