Help The Yapkowitz Family From Altadena

It was 1990 when Ken Yapkowitz and his wife Bronwyn first fell in love with their historical Altadena home (built in 1905) and made an offer to buy it. They lost that bid, but never lost their love for the green-trimmed porch, river-rock walkways and the tree-lined neighborhood. They drove by over and over again, and the next time it was on the market, they snapped it up.

Ken and his family lived in this home for 30 years. It’s where they raised their son Fionn, now a senior at West Point. It’s where they hosted gatherings, connected with neighbors and filled the space with music. Ken works as a data analyst at UCLA (his alma mater) in the department of Strategic Communications. He’s also an accomplished artist. His jug band has provided live musical accompaniment for silent Western films at local museums. Ken and his family are mourning so many losses, including irreplaceable reel-to-reel tapes of sound he did for performances as a student at UCLA, as well as electronic compositions he created in a UCLA electronic music studio decades ago. Ken lost all of his musical instruments in the Eaton fire, except for a 19th-century Fairbanks banjo and a Kamaka Pineapple Ukulele, which he was able to grab on the way out as the embers flew through the air.

But he recently spotted one of his jugs in the rubble of his beloved home. He’s hopeful that he’ll be able to retrieve it and make music again. “The songs will continue, at least,” he said.

We’re raising funds to help recover, cover unexpected expenses and support Ken’s neighbors and family.

Ken is anxiously hopeful that the special aura of Altadena can be preserved as the community starts to rebuild. The Yapkowitz family home’s foundation, like many others in Altadena, was built from river rock, materials indigenous to the area.

“The beautiful trees that made my neighborhood park were planted by people 100 years ago. We need to be able to build for the future. And there were many homes passed down in families. Because Altadena was not redlined in the 20th century it has been a diverse, welcoming community for all. Many of those family homes were lost.”

Amid the trauma and pain and loss Ken said: “The chance to rebuild is the opportunity to create something wonderful.”

*This fundraiser is being facilitated by Ken's UCLA Strategic Communications colleagues. These funds will assist with needs that might not be fully covered by other sources of aid.