Rebuild Hope for Marian and John Pressman

Marian and John Pressman are more than just family—they are pillars of love, kindness, and generosity in the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know them.

After 20 years of raising two daughters in a rent-controlled apartment, they worked tirelessly, saving every penny they could. In 1994, they achieved a dream: purchasing a modest, one-story house in Pacific Palisades that quickly became a sanctuary for their family. It wasn’t just a house; it was the realization of years of hard work and sacrifice.

On January 7, 2025, that dream was tragically destroyed in the catastrophic Pacific Palisades fire. In the chaos of evacuating, Marian and John, along with their neighbors, left with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Their home, filled with decades of love, laughter, and memories, is gone. Irreplaceable treasures—like their grandchildren’s artwork, family videos, and Marian’s late mother Lourdes’s ashes—were lost to the flames.

The heartbreak of losing their home is only part of their story. Marian has been courageously battling metastasized cancer, which spread to her lymph nodes last year. Just one week before the fire, she received wonderful news: after months of experimental treatments, her latest CAT scan revealed no detectable cancer in her lungs. It was a moment of hope, a rare and beautiful piece of good news in a long, hard journey. But that joy was short-lived, eclipsed now by the overwhelming loss of their home. While Marian continues to face cancer in other parts of her body, that milestone of remission now feels painfully distant as they face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from the ashes.

This loss would be devastating for anyone. For Marian and John, the challenges are compounded. Marian’s treatments are paid mostly out of pocket, adding an unbearable financial strain to an already overwhelming situation for a one-income household.

Rebuilding feels like an impossible dream under the weight of these challenges. But with your help, we can begin to restore their sense of hope and security.

If you are able, please consider contributing to Marian and John as they navigate this painful journey of recovery. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a meaningful impact. Your generosity can offer them the comfort and stability they so desperately need during this difficult time.

Thank you for your compassion and support.