Pokémon Company and Niantic Commit $1 Million to Aid LA Wildfire Relief Efforts

In a joint effort to support the relief efforts for the Los Angeles wildfires, The Pokémon Company International and Niantic, the developer of Pokémon Go, have pledged a combined donation of $1 million. The Pokémon Company will donate $500,000 to GlobalGiving's California Wildfire Relief Fund, with Niantic matching this amount with an additional $500,000. The funds will be used to provide grants to nonprofit organizations such as the Pasadena Community Foundation and the Downtown Women's Center, which are working tirelessly to support local communities affected by the recent wildfires. Raquel Daniels, Chief Diversity Officer at The Pokémon Company, expressed her sympathy for those impacted by the wildfires, stating, "Our hearts go out to those affected by the devastating wildfires in Southern California. We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with our partners at Niantic and GlobalGiving to support relief efforts in the greater Los Angeles area." Victoria Vrana, CEO of GlobalGiving, also commented, "Thanks to the generous donation from The Pokémon Company group, we have already been able to provide emergency grants to local nonprofit partners on the frontlines of relief and recovery. Their continued support will help ensure that fire-impacted communities receive the vital assistance they need in the coming weeks and months." The Pokémon Company is among several video game companies that have donated to support the ongoing wildfire recovery efforts in LA. Other notable donations include Activision's $1 million contribution to the LAFD Foundation and Direct Relief, as well as an additional $1.6 million raised from the proceeds of its Call of Duty LA Fire Relief Pack. Sony has also donated $5 million to support first responders, community relief, rebuilding efforts, and assistance programs for those affected.