Aid Pizza of Venice Staff in Crisis Recovery

Pizza of Venice tragically burned down in the Eaton Fire, and at this time, we are uncertain about the future—whether it involves rebuilding, relocating, transforming, or closing POV. For this reason, we believe it would not be right to raise money for a rebuild when the entire community is in need of help from anyone who can provide it.

Currently, our team at POV is 8 people who are all out of work, and several team members have lost their homes or have been evacuated. As a business, we are committed to doing everything we can to support them, but we need your help to ensure they can recover from this disaster.

We are aiming to raise $100,000 to divide up between our employees to help them be

able to maintain in the current situation. None of these funds will go to ownership—they

will solely be distributed among our staff to help them recover and rebuild. We deeply appreciate any support you can provide during this incredibly challenging time.

Thank you for standing with us.

To our community and customer base, we love you and thank you for all the support.

Wishing everyone the best and hoping for a speedy recovery for all.

Jamie & Sean

Vic

My name is Victor Chacon, and I have been the head chef at Pizza of Venice for five or six years. I’ve lived in Altadena my whole life. Over the years, I’ve experienced other fires here, but none like the Eaton Fire. Growing up in Altadena was fun—I remember spending hot summer days at Loma Alta Park, swimming at the public pool, and having water balloon fights with friends. As time went on, Altadena changed in positive ways, with more businesses sprouting up, including Pizza of Venice. When I began working at POV about nine years ago, I started with prep work, became a line

cook, and eventually worked my way up to head chef. This place has been instrumental in my

growth, both as a person and as a professional. From late-night dart games with the team at the

Ale House to creating new recipes with Sean and the crew, every moment at POV felt like home. From the small original dining room to the recently expanded version, I’ve loved it all. POV wasn’t just a job—it was my second home and my baby. Sure, we had tough times, but getting through them with the team made me proud. Knowing we had each other to tackle a busy night serving amazing food to the community I grew up in brought me immense happiness.

When the Eaton Fire started, I was immediately concerned for my parents, whose health isn’t

the best, as the smoke would be harmful to them. When the evacuation order came, I didn’t know how much time we had, and my focus was on getting them out as quickly as possible. We went to the Pasadena Convention Center, where we were met with kindness and support. Then, I learned that POV had burned down, and my heart broke. Something we had built as a team

was gone. After the initial shock wore off, panic set in as I worried about my financial situation.

Being the head of the family and suddenly losing my only source of income was overwhelming.

I’m really going to miss POV. It wasn’t just a restaurant; it was a part of our community and my

life. I want us to continue the legacy we built together. I know it will take time, but with the

support of our community, we can navigate this uncertainty and help our employees move forward. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to support us—it means everything.

Jeff

My name is Jeff Burns. After moving to Pasadena 10 or 11 years ago, I was going through a difficult time in life, trying to figure out my next steps. I needed a job, so I applied to Pizza of Venice. I interviewed with Sean, got the job, and joined what became my new family. I started as a dishwasher and worked my way up, taking breaks and coming back over the years. The POV team and I have been through so much together. I didn’t just find a job—I found family, mentorship, and a community. Many of our customers became friends, and so many lived right in the area. I’ve watched babies grow up at POV and high schoolers leave for college, join the military, or start families and careers. POV changed my life for the better and did the same for so many others. Sean and Jaime built something special with POV, focusing on hard work, attention to detail, and making everything from scratch. It was unlike any corporate franchise I had worked for in the past. I love POV!

I live higher up in the Pasadena mountains, and when the fires started, I wasn’t warned, but I

could see the flames from over the ridge around 6:30 p.m. That’s when I began packing and

warning my family. I had my 4-year-old son and my 8-month-old nephew with me. Within 40

minutes, the fire was on the hill next to our house and in the hills behind us. The smoke and flames were blowing in our direction. We grabbed what valuables we could, and I loaded my grandmother, mother, stepfather, nephew, and son into the car. We had to leave our glowing orange home, not knowing if it would be the last time we saw it.

At 3:30 a.m., I decided to go back and check on the house. Thankfully, it was still standing.

Battling the wind and smoke, I sprayed down the house and surrounding area as best as I could

before leaving again, praying for the best. Driving past the Eaton golf course through the embers and flames, all I could think about was the people and their homes, wondering what would happen. The hotels were chaos—full of people, disoriented and shocked, unable to process what was unfolding before their eyes.

POV is gone, and I don’t know when I’ll be able to return to my home. I’ve been applying for jobs because I have a family to support. While I’m hopeful I’ll find something soon, I’m worried about making ends meet in the meantime. Thank you to everyone who has reached out and supported us. I hope you are all safe, and together, we will figure out how to rebuild Altadena!

Nate

My name is Nate Banks, and I have been working at Pizza of Venice for seven years, since I was 17. I got the job through a friend, starting as a dishwasher, and over time, the team taught me how to roll dough and prep ingredients. They even gave me my first knife one Christmas.

I’ve lived in Altadena my entire life, and while I was fortunate that my home was spared, many

houses on our block burned. We haven’t been able to return to our house for almost two weeks,

but I’m grateful it’s still standing. The cleanup efforts are daunting, but I’m thankful to only need

to clean up and not rebuild.

Losing POV is both shocking and life-changing for me. It wasn’t just my job—it was a place

where I learned, grew up, and built meaningful friendships. My goal this year was to save up,

buy a car, and try to move out, but now that feels unrealistic. Right now, my focus is on helping

my family recover from this disaster. This has been a devastating time, but I remain hopeful for what’s next and deeply grateful for the community that has always supported us. Thank you all, and my heart goes out to everyone affected by the fire.

Keenan

My name is Keenen Dillon. I moved to California in 2017 from Arizona, looking to be around more of my people. I started out living with my best friend on Loma Alta for a couple of years before moving into my own place. Even after moving out though I would go to Loma Alta and we make music almost every day, and I found peace, happiness, and purpose in Altadena. It became, and will always be, the only place out here that truly feels like home. Sadly, that home and creative space are now gone, along with much of the music, instruments, and equipment we needed to continue.

The love and support I’ve experienced between the communities of Altadena and Pasadena

have been incredible—it’s the kind of connection I left Arizona to find. During my time in “the Dena,” I’ve worked in multiple places, but POV felt like home. It was a team of people working toward the same goal with positivity and dedication. I loved serving the community healthy food, watching people celebrate life events, or just seeing familiar faces come in for their weekly pie. I don’t know what’s next on my journey, but aside from needing to make ends meet, I would love to help rebuild the only home I’ve ever truly known.

Johnny

My name is Jonathan, and I was an employee at Pizza of Venice. In a devastating turn of events, the business I’ve worked at for the past year was destroyed in the fire, leaving me without employment. This job was more than just a paycheck—my coworkers felt like family, and

now the thought of not working with them again is heartbreaking. Going from working five days

a week to seeing the place I loved reduced to ashes is incredibly painful. POV gave me stability,

and it’s hard to imagine finding another place as special as it was.

This tragedy has taken more than just my job. I also lost my childhood home and my car, which I

worked so hard to get running well and looking decent. Now, I need to replace a lot of essentials

and help my family as we recover from this disaster, all while preparing to join the Navy later this year. Your support means more than words can express. Thank you for considering a donation

during this difficult time—it truly makes a world of difference.

Sam

I’ve lived in Altadena for 14 years. During that time my home became the center point for family

occasions. When friends would come over we would often order POV. I began working at POV

in October 2024 but my memories run 10 years deep. My home burnt down in the fire. All I can

do is hope to rebuild and be grateful that my pets and family are safe. As POV may have burnt

down, the memories will always be there. I am thankful to all who have reached out in the past

few weeks. I hope to see my neighbors and locals soon.

Thank you,

Sam Jensen

Jesus

My name is Jesus, I attend John Muir where I play on the soccer team. I live with my mom, who

is currently unable to work due to medical issues. My older sister helps as much as she can, but

she has her own family to care for, so it’s been very tough on us. Losing my dad a few years

ago made everything even harder to handle.

A few months ago, I decided to look for a job to help support my mom, and I was so grateful

when Pizza of Venice gave me the chance. It was my first job, and everyone there was so

welcoming. It felt like I finally had an opportunity to make a real difference for my family.

When I found out that the restaurant had been destroyed in the devastating Eaton Fire, it truly

broke my heart. It’s hard to put into words how deeply I feel about what’s happened. Not only is

it heartbreaking to see something I cared about so much go through such a tragic and

overwhelming loss, but it also hurts to know I won’t be working with my amazing team anymore.

Pizza of Venice was the first place that made me feel like I truly belonged and could contribute.

I’m currently looking for a new opportunity to help my family, and any help during this difficult

time is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for everything, Pizza of Venice—I will always be

grateful for the opportunity you gave me.

Sincerely,

Jesus Delgado

Hi my name is Mauricio Perez I worked here at Pizza Of Venice. Unfortunately me & my family

of three were evacuated at 3am from our home in Altadena, Ca. Sadly due to the Eaton Canyon

wildfires I have not only lost my place of work but my home as well. I grieve with all the other

family's who are struggling in this time of need. Any support will be greatly appreciated it. Thank you.

Mauricio