Making a Difference: LPL Financial Foundation Helps Children Impacted by California Fires

When the California wildfire ripped through his hometown, LPL Financial advisor Mark Barrett spearheaded efforts of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the North Valley to provide help for hundreds of children who lost their homes, schools and community.

“Over 500 of our member kids were impacted by these fires. During this time, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the North Valley provided a safe haven to give children a sense of community and normalcy in the midst of a disaster. They extended hours, offered onsite counseling support and served meals to 200 children a day so parents could work or apply for disaster benefits. They also increased transportation, hired additional staff and offered financial support, such as groceries, clothing and cash,” said Barrett, president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the North Valley’s board of directors.

Barrett was instrumental in partnering with the LPL Financial Foundation to shine a light on the needs within his community.

The LPL Financial Foundation—created in 2010 to foster economic empowerment for underserved individuals and families by focusing on education, career skills and financial literacy—is donating $50,000 to help support children affected by the wildfire devastation in Northern and Southern California through gifts to the Boys & Girls Clubs in the North Valley and Malibu. The clubs are mission-aligned charity partners that enable underserved youth to reach their full potential. To extend the contributions, LPL advisors and employees are also encouraged to participate in a matching-gift campaign where the foundation will match donations to these important organizations and others.

“The LPL family is joining together to help these impacted communities,” said Allison Harris-Turk, senior vice president, Community Relations. “The LPL Financial Foundation is committed to improving lives of those in need, and we’re so glad we can support the relief and recovery efforts in these communities that are hurting.”

LPL employee Nicole Davis grew up in Paradise, Calif., and has family in the area. The senior analyst said her parents and friends all lost homes in the Camp Fire that destroyed about 90 percent of the town. “The complete devastation up there is wholly unimaginable. I am so grateful to LPL for extending the disaster relief program to help victims of these fires,” Davis said.

Following the fire, more than 400 students joined the waiting list to become members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the North Valley. Barrett encourages fellow financial advisors to take advantage of LPL’s matching gifts program to extend the outreach of this club or others like it. The matching gift program runs through the end of the year.

“This gift from the LPL Financial Foundation helped make those relief efforts possible,” Barrett said. “The foundation truly does make a difference in local communities and is another reason why I’m proud to have been an LPL advisor for 28 years.”

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