Help Claire Rebuild After Palisades Fire

This is Claire Copeland, a recent college graduate who beat the odds. She is very dear to our family.

She lost everything she owned - including her car, all of her clothes and furniture, her keepsakes, and important papers - in the Palisades Fire this week and needs support.

She became close with our family a few years ago while working to put herself through college as a scholarship/financial aid student and has helped us with all sorts of administrative work, social media for Joanna's work, and childcare.

Claire was working as a live-in nanny in Pacific Palisades at the time of the fires. Ivan and the boys moved her into the apartment of a single mom last summer and everything was going well - until she had to fly to Texas last-minute to help a family member recovering from an accident. Not long after, the Palisades fire struck.

She left all of her belongings behind - even her cute little Volkswagen Jetta - and took only one small carry-on with her to Texas. We were absolutely horrified to watch her building burn on the news and to have to deliver the news to Claire that it was likely all gone - which was confirmed Wednesday.

Now, Claire is left with nothing except one small bag and her student loans. Because she wasn't a renter (she was technically a guest) and the woman she worked for appears not to have insurance, Claire has no recourse aside from her auto insurance (which will likely not end up being very much).

Our sweet Claire has had a rough few years, including a bad accident in 2022 and losing four sorority sisters (one of whom was a very dear friend of hers) in the PCH accident that killed four beautiful young women in 2023.

She fought so hard to graduate from Pepperdine despite many hardships. It was her life's dream. We are SO proud of her for graduating (with honors!) this past Fall.

Now she has a brand new degree in marketing and is a bright, positive light who is wonderful with kids and especially dear to our daughter. She just needs some support to get back to building her bright new life. Unfortunately, her family is unable to help.

If you are able to help in ANY way, it would be so meaningful.



We are setting the goal at $10,000 only because we have never done this before and have no idea where to start. Thank you so much for reading and sharing. Even a few bucks or a share can help.

GoFundMe wants me to write who I am now! I am Joanna Schroeder, an author and editor and mom of three from the Los Angeles area (originally from Michigan). My husband, Ivan, and I live close to the Palisades fire but have so far been safe. Claire has been like a member of my family for a few years and is very dear to us.