Bill Koeneker Malibu fire victim

Bill Koeneker is a longtime resident of Malibu's Trancas Canyon whose uninsured humble little trailer where he has lived since 1985 was destroyed in the Woolsey Fire. What little Bill had other than a small bag of clothes he was able to grab before evacuating is gone.  

Many of you know Bill as a writer for the Malibu Surfside News and a fixture at City Council meetings and many other community events for nearly 40 years until 2013. Bill—a man who loves people and talking to people—has been devastated by this fire. He will turn 70 in March, is legally blind, and walks with the assistance of a cane. His only source of income is social security. As is the case for most journalists, Bill did not accumulate a great deal of money over the years and has no savings.   

If you can donate money—every dollar counts—you will help Bill get on the path to recovery. AND PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD. Money donated to this campaign will go to:

·     Finding a longterm home
·     Clothing
·     Food, toiletries, and other necessities

Also, if you have any ideas or leads for longterm housing in or near Malibu, please let us know. Bill does not have a computer or smartphone, so we will get the messages to him and we can give you his phone number if you want to speak with him directly. We are Bill's friends and care deeply about him. He is a kind man who has helped others in Malibu over the years. We hope the community can return the favor.

Best,
Annette Watterson and Jonathan Friedman ([email redacted], [phone redacted])