Where the Money Goes: Real Needs, Real Impact

Pedal for a cause

So what are we talking about when we say “urgent needs”? These are just a few of the priorities your donations help support:

Life-Saving Equipment Upgrades

Firefighters often work with equipment that’s outdated or worn well past its intended use. From high-tech structure fire helmets to modern brush patrol skid units used in wildfires, updated gear makes a massive difference in safety and effectiveness.

Smarter Emergency Response

With call volumes skyrocketing and emergency teams stretched thin, innovative solutions are key. That’s why the LAFD Foundation supports technology like video-aided dispatching, which helps first responders make faster, more accurate decisions based on real-time visuals—not just caller descriptions.

On-Site Medical Care

To ease the burden on emergency rooms and care for low-acuity patients on the spot, the Advanced Provider Response Unit (APRU) program teams paramedics with nurse practitioners. These mobile medical units treat patients right where they are—reducing hospital transports and speeding up care.

Cancer Prevention Measures

Firefighters are exposed to toxic carcinogens on the job. Commercial-grade extractors, which are high-powered washers designed to remove these toxins from gear, are critical in the fight against occupational cancer. Every station needs one. The Foundation is helping make that a reality.

Fire Station Upkeep

LAFD members live and work in their stations 24/7. Through the Adopt-A-Fire-Station program, your donations help keep these spaces functional and safe by providing funds for essential appliances and repairs—especially in underserved areas where community support is limited.

Investing in the Future: Youth Programs That Inspire

Supporting the LAFD doesn’t stop with current firefighters—it starts with the next generation. The Foundation funds youth programs like Camp SPARK, Cadet training, and Fire & EMS Magnet High Schools. These programs introduce young Angelenos to fire service careers, building confidence, leadership, and life skills along the way.

Many new recruits and drill tower graduates credit these programs with changing their lives—and their communities—for the better.

A Donation That Moves with the Mission

Every day, the needs of the LAFD shift. From wildfires and medical emergencies to structural rescues and disaster response, the stakes are high, and the job is never done. When you donate through Pedal to the Rescue, you ensure the LAFD Foundation can keep pace with those shifting demands.

Your support doesn’t sit on a shelf—it goes where it’s needed, when it’s needed, for the greatest good.

Ride Strong. Give Boldly. Be the Difference.

Your donation helps save lives. It’s that simple.

When you ride, you raise awareness. When you give, you fuel progress. And when you share this mission with others, you become a partner in protecting Los Angeles—one helmet, one dispatch call, one firehouse at a time.

So clip in, saddle up, and pedal with purpose. Let’s rescue the rescuers.