After the Eaton Fire devastated Odyssey Charter Schools in Altadena, the school community is receiving a $500,000 grant to support its recovery. Thanks to a charitable donation from the Blackstone Charitable Foundation, Odyssey will soon have a new learning space in Old Town Pasadena to serve displaced students.
A New Beginning for Odyssey Charter Schools
The Eaton Fire, now the second most destructive wildfire in California history, burned over 9,418 buildings, many of which were in Altadena. Among those affected were Odyssey students, with 30% losing their homes or being displaced.
To help the school recover, Blackstone provided not only a new facility rent-free but also a $200,000 grant to assist with rebuilding efforts.
“In addition to Blackstone donating the space to Odyssey at no cost, we gave a $200,000 grant to help with the rebuilding,” said Ken Caplan, Co-Chief Investment Officer at Blackstone.
New Temporary Campus in Pasadena
The new learning space will be located in a renovated office building in Old Town Pasadena. The facility will include:
- Classrooms
- A teacher’s lounge
- A community mural
It will accommodate 175 students from fourth to eighth grade and will officially open on Monday, Feb. 24.
“I’m elated to see this space,” said Odyssey Executive Director Carlos Garcia Saldana. “Just two weeks ago, there was no carpet or lighting. Now it’s ready for our students.”
An open house is planned, allowing families and students to tour the facility before the first day of classes.
Community-Wide Recovery Efforts
In addition to Odyssey’s rebuilding, Blackstone contributed:
- $200,000 to continue Odyssey’s educational programs
- $300,000 to Pasadena Community Foundation Eaton Canyon Fire Relief Fund, California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund, and LAFD Foundation
These funds will support ongoing fire recovery efforts across the region, including rebuilding homes and community resources.
