Help Charlie & Kyrstin Recover from the Eaton Canyon Fire

Dear friends, family, and community,

As many of you know, my brother, Charlie Benandi, and his partner, Kyrstin Ohta, were forced to evacuate their home in Altadena, CA, on Tuesday, January 7, due to the devastating Eaton Canyon Wildfire. Their home, located directly on the fire line, miraculously remains standing, but the damage and challenges they now face are overwhelming with the costs of remediation and replacing many smoke damaged items.

The evacuation orders have been lifted and the National Guard and law enforcement have allowed residents back into their area of Altadena, however, Charlie and Kyrstin are still unable to safely return to their home. While they are grateful their home is still standing, it requires extensive remediation, including new insulation, roofing, HVAC ducts, and repairs to shingles that were torn off during the fire. Additionally, all personal belongings must be either replaced or cleaned and remediated due to smoke and fire damage.

As of this update, they are on Day 30 of their displacement and their 7th temporary housing location. The emotional toll of this experience has been immense. Kyrstin shared how neighbors they didn’t even know stood on their roof with hoses, fighting the flames and embers, trying to save their home. While they are deeply grateful for this act of kindness, the uncertainty of their situation and loss of job income has been overwhelming.

The Financial Strain

This unexpected disaster has brought significant financial strain. Charlie, a dedicated physical therapist and owner of Benandi Physical Therapy, has been unable to fully operate his private practice during this time. Many of his patients have also been impacted by the wildfire, further compounding the financial challenges. Despite these obstacles, Charlie remains committed to his patients and is doing everything he can to keep his practice running while displaced.

Kyrstin, who recently completed a two year contract with Southern California Edison, is now without a job. Over the past few months, she has submitted over 1,000 job applications and endured long, arduous interview processes and has still not secured her next role. As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with eight years of experience in industries such as music, mortgage, design, utilities, and operations, she is determined to find stable work. However, the wildfire has disrupted her ability to continue applying for jobs, adding to the uncertainty of their future.

Why We Need Your Help

Charlie and Kyrstin are facing both immediate and long-term challenges. They need assistance to cover:

This GoFundMe is being set up to help ease their financial burden during this incredibly difficult time. Your generosity will directly support them as they work to rebuild their lives and navigate the aftermath of this disaster.

A Story of Resilience

Kyrstin is a highly skilled and accomplished professional with over eight years of experience in project and program management. She is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Certified Scrum Master (CSM), with expertise in Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall methodologies. Throughout her career, Kyrstin has worked across diverse industries, including utilities, music, mortgage, design, and operations, where she has successfully led teams, managed complex projects, and delivered impactful results.

Most recently, Kyrstin completed a contract with Southern California Edison, where she led instructional design teams, managed release schedules for digital products, and collaborated with DevOps teams across multiple workstreams. Her ability to manage budgets, timelines, and stakeholder relationships has been instrumental in driving success in her roles.

Despite the challenges of being displaced by the wildfire, Kyrstin has remained focused and organized, leveraging her project management skills to navigate the complexities of temporary housing, home remediation, and financial uncertainty. She has even joked about the “number of spreadsheets” she’s created to stay on top of everything. Her resilience, adaptability, and determination to rebuild her life alongside her partner, Charlie, are truly inspiring.

Kyrstin’s dedication to her work and her community is evident in everything she does. From leading training sessions and managing large-scale projects to fostering collaboration and innovation, she has consistently demonstrated her ability to overcome challenges and deliver results. Now, as she faces the uncertainty of job searching while displaced, she remains committed to rebuilding and moving forward with strength and determination.

How You Can Help

Any contribution, big or small, will make a meaningful difference. Your support will help them cover immediate needs and provide hope as they work to rebuild their lives. If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this campaign with your network.

If you would like to donate privately off the GoFundMe platform, please reach out to me, Charlie, or Kyrstin for Zelle information.

Thank you for your love, generosity, and support during this difficult chapter. Together, we can help Charlie and Kyrstin get back on their feet and provide the strength they need to move forward.