NFL quarterbacks C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young headlined a free giveaway for families displaced by the Eaton Fire on Saturday, July 18, at Jackie Robinson Memorial Field in Brookside Park.

The event, called "Dena Day: Pass It Forward," ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and was organized by the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles in partnership with the C.J. Stroud Foundation and the Young 9 Foundation, according to an announcement from the organizers. Lowe's and Trader Joe's sponsored the day.

Stroud, who quarterbacks the Houston Texans, and Young, who plays for the Carolina Panthers, were the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. The two have been friends since their high school years in Southern California, the organizers said.

Young grew up in Pasadena. Jackie Robinson Memorial Field sits just south of the Rose Bowl along the Arroyo Seco, in the neighborhood where he spent his adolescence before attending Cathedral High School in Los Angeles.

What organizers provided

Attendees received backpacks and essential items, the organizers said. The day also featured food trucks, nonperishable food, fresh produce, inflatables, games and family activities. A ceremony honored local fire department personnel and community members who responded during the Eaton Fire.

The ongoing recovery

The Eaton Fire ignited on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, killed 19 people and destroyed more than 9,400 homes and structures across 22 square miles in Altadena and neighboring Pasadena. More than 18 months later, households are still navigating insurance claims, permits and housing.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles is offering free household memberships through Dec. 31, 2026, to families whose homes were destroyed or made unlivable by the wildfires. Eligibility requires documentation such as a FEMA letter or insurance report, according to the organization's fire response page. Information on the YMCA's ongoing relief programs is available at ymcaLA.org.