LA Strong Foundation: A Family-Driven Force for Relief, Equity and Community

LOS ANGELES, CA — In the wake of devastating wildfires across Altadena, Pasadena, Malibu, and the Palisades, a new model for community resilience is emerging—one rooted in family, equity, and hands-on action. The LA Strong Foundation, founded by husband-and-wife duo Drew and Maxine Koven has become a fast-acting, community-powered force for relief across Los Angeles County.

Whether responding to disasters or partnering with local nonprofits, LA Strong’s focus is always on dignity, access, and empowerment. Today, with deep community ties and a growing network of grassroots partners—including Sisters of Watts and Wins and Lessons Foundation—LA Strong is proving that meaningful impact doesn’t require red tape. It just takes people who care, families who lead, and a commitment to show up where it matters most.

In an exclusive Q&A with The Voice of Black Los Angeles, co-founder Drew Koven talks about how lived experience, urgency, and family values shape everything LA Strong stands for.

Q: Drew, you’ve spoken about growing up in diverse communities including New York. How did those experiences shape the values that guide the LA Strong Foundation today?
Drew: Growing up in Brooklyn, living in Manhattan, East Harlem, Boston, and now Los Angeles, I’ve always been surrounded by people from different backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences. That environment taught me early on that listening is key to knowledge and understanding. Strength comes from community, and diversity isn’t just something to respect—it’s something to embrace and learn from.

At LA Strong, those values guide how we show up. We never assume we know what a community needs. We listen, partner, and respond in ways that are specific and culturally informed. We don’t do cookie-cutter solutions—we focus on real, lasting impact.

Q: What inspired you to take action so quickly after the Altadena/Pasadena/Malibu and Palisades fires, and how did that experience shape the foundation’s mission?
Drew: Our hearts and minds. We asked: What can we do? What should we do? And then we just did it. The fires were devastating, and we saw how quickly families could lose everything—physically and emotionally.

Waiting wasn’t an option for us. We’re not about bureaucracy; we’re about boots on the ground. People needed help now, and many others wanted to help but didn’t know how. That urgency and need for coordination became part of LA Strong’s DNA. We’re here to make it easier to access and offer support, to simplify the process, and to empower communities across LA to step up together.

Q: What lessons did you learn from the fire response that will guide how LA Strong supports future crises?
Drew: One of the biggest lessons? No one person or organization can do it all. It takes a collective. That means fast action, clear communication, trust, and coordination. People don’t just need help—they need it yesterday.

Read More: https://voiceofblackla.com/wins-and-lessons-foundation-hosts-back-to-school-community-event-a/

We also learned the value of partnering with local leaders who already have deep relationships in their communities. That ensures resources go directly where they’re needed. Whether it’s another wildfire, a flood, or something else, we’re committed to staying nimble, collaborative, and ready to respond—while also supporting the first responders and their families who carry so much of the burden.

Our sons are involved in different ways. Our 12-year-old comes to events and helps hands-on. Our 25-year-old helps with the website and strategy. We want them to see that giving back is also about giving to yourself. It’s part of who we are as a family and as a community.

Q: What does it mean for you to be hands-on at events with your 12-year-old son, and how do you hope that shapes his view of service?
Drew: It’s incredibly powerful. Being side by side with him—distributing supplies, talking to families—it shows him that service is immediate, human, and deeply fulfilling. He sees the impact directly, and we believe that will stay with him for life.

Our older son was raised the same way. He now works in venture capital but still contributes to the foundation. They’re both growing up understanding that service isn’t something you do once—it’s a way of life.

Q: As a married couple and parents, how do you and Maxine balance running a foundation with raising two sons, and how do you involve your family in the work?
Drew: It’s definitely a balancing act, but it’s a shared effort rooted in our family values—kindness, love, oneness, and faith. We divide responsibilities based on our strengths, and our Board reflects those values too.

Q: How did collaborations with organizations like Sisters of Watts and Wins and Lessons Foundation strengthen LA Strong’s ability to make an impact?
Drew: These collaborations are everything. Groups like Sisters of Watts and Wins and Lessons already have trust in their communities. By working with them, we can scale faster, listen better, and make a deeper impact.

They help us widen our perspective and identify needs that might go unseen. We’re not here to compete—we’re here to collaborate. Together, we build something stronger and more sustainable for all of Los Angeles.

To learn more or get involved with LA Strong Foundation, visit https://www.lastrongfoundation.org or follow @LAStrongFoundation on social media.