Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter's Fund

Give to A Hero

East Coast Student Raises Funds For LAFD Firefighter Victims

On January 7th, David Kaplan headed home after playing golf and saw flames as he drove up Sunset Blvd in Pacific Palisades. Once home, he and his wife Janet Rifkin watched as water scooping airplanes dropped water on the flames and went back to the ocean to scoop more. This fire was close and burning fast.

It wasn’t long before the call to evacuate came and they slowly made their way South going five miles per hour until they reached a hotel in Marina Del Rey. Having never evacuated before David and Janet took only a few days’ worth of clothes with them.

It would be Friday before they were able to find out if their townhome was standing. The fire burned nearly every building around their home, including the grocery store and the town center. “It looks like Gaza,” said David. “Third world misery in a first world setting,” he said.

Although their home was spared it is uninhabitable.

Sophie and her Granfather, David Kaplan
Sophie and her Granfather, David Kaplan
Sophie's Grandparents, (L to R) Janet Rifkin & David Kaplan
Sophie’s Grandparents, (L to R) Janet Rifkin & David Kaplan
Sophie's Grandmother, Janet Rifkin
Sophie’s Grandmother, Janet Rifkin

Photos Courtesy Sophie Ann Kaplan

Granddaughter Sophie Kaplan, a junior at Suffield Academy in Suffield, Connecticut spent many summers with her grandparents and wanted to help in any way she could. She began researching relief organizations in Los Angeles. After reading the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund website she knew this was the organization that would do the most good for the firefighters and their families.

“I called and spoke with Chris Stine, president” said Sophie.  I wanted to help people by changing their lives rather than just giving out food,” she said.

Suffield Academy fundraiser for our Los Angeles firefighter charity
Suffield Academy fundraiser for our Los Angeles firefighter charity
Suffield Academy fundraiser for our Los Angeles firefighter charity
Suffield Academy fundraiser for our Los Angeles firefighter charity

Photos Courtesy Sophie Ann Kaplan

Lilia Rosenkranz and Sophie Kaplan with the flyer she created to support WODFF with her Go Fund Me.
Sophies Flyer – (L to R) Lilia Rosenkranz and Sophie Kaplan with the flyer she created to support WODFF with her Go Fund Me.
Sophies' Friends - Suffield Academy students (L to R) Annabel DeForest Keys, Ava Butterfield, Teddy Linz, Alice Eilberg all donated to support WODFF.
Sophies’ Friends – Suffield Academy students (L to R) Annabel DeForest Keys, Ava Butterfield, Teddy Linz, Alice Eilberg all donated to support WODFF.

“Out Of Dress Code” Day Raises $1,900

She met with Suffield Academy’s head of school and financials to discuss a fundraiser. “Out of Dress Code” Day was a huge success! Out of the 400 students, 300 participated by donated a minimum $5 up to a $15 maximum and were allowed to wear clothing considered “Out of Dress Code” for the Day. Sophie also set up a GoFundMe for the L.A. firefighter charity and raised $2,685 on that site!

“Sophie’ fundraising is particularly rewarding to us, she is our first grandchild, and we have a particularly strong relationship,” said David.

“We are so proud of her, said Janet. “California is symbolic to her, it’s part of her childhood and I’m happy she found some place to put her emotional devastation and uncertainty.”

By Shawna McLean