Aid for Madeleine: Lost Everything in LA Fires

Please support beloved community member and artist Madeleine Dahm as she works to get back on her feet after losing everything in the LA fires.

My beloved godmother, Madeleine Dahm, is one of many who has been impacted by the devastating fires in Los Angeles. While evacuation orders were being issued, she was teaching an hour away and unable to return home in time to gather any possessions. She's since found out her home has burned down, destroying everything she owns. Left with only the clothes on her back, her glasses, and her car, she's lost all of her items of necessity and of sentimental value (irreplaceable family photos and keepsakes).

This is far from the first challenge Madeleine has faced in the last several years—from managing her mother's dementia and declining health from thousands of miles away, to moving last summer from the home she had been in for 12 years when her landlord needed to move his family in. After an exhaustive search, she found a lovely guest house nearby, which has now been destroyed.

Unbelievably, she's also recently lost her companion dog Barley, and she's been processing so much grief in his absence. It's been so hard to see my dear friend and godmother go through this beyond challenging life chapter, and now to see her in these dire circumstances is heartbreaking.

I met Madeleine in high school, where she was my dance teacher and artistic mentor. In her time as an educator and director, she has touched countless lives with her dedication, artistry, and passion. If you've had the magical experience of being in Madeleine's presence, you'll know what a uniquely special person she is, and why she means so much to so many.

If you have resources to give, please consider supporting her through this awful experience so she can do what she needs to do to get back on her feet. And regardless, please share her story so we can reach as many people as possible.

For the purposes of transparency: I'm based on the east coast and all funds will of course be directed straight to Madeleine. I'm merely helping her with logistics as she has more than enough on her plate.

With love and warmth,

Viva

A video outlining Madeleine's experience:

A video depicting Madeleine's search through the rubble that's left of her home: