Rebuild Hope for Pedro and Leticia

Hi, my name is Paul Balladares, and I’m writing this with a heavy heart. The recent Eaton fires in Altadena, California, have brought unimaginable devastation to my family. In what felt like an instant, both of my parents Pedro Balladares & Leticia Ayala.

lost their homes-two separate properties, both gone to nothing but ashes.

Being the only child, to me, my parents have always been my rock, a force that works relentlessly to build an even better future for us. They came to the United States from Mexico in the 1990s with nothing but a backpack, big dreams, and the hope of building a life that gave them more than what they had. They started from nothing, worked long hours, sacrificed endlessly, and over decades built up something remarkable: a stable life and two homes they could be proud of.

Those had been more than just houses; they were testaments to hard work, endless nights, and so many sacrifices. To them, it was what they had built from nothing since immigrating to this country. They were safe havens filled with love, laughter, and memories.

But all that is gone now. The fires moved so fast, my parents barely had time to grab a backpack, some documents, and run for their lives. It feels like they have been flung back into the days when they first came to this country, starting over with nothing in their hands. The difference is, they are older now, and this loss weighs heavier than ever.

My parents are displaced, trying to figure out just how they should rebuild their lives from scratch. I am an only child, so I do all that is humanly possible to help them, but it's evident that this challenge is beyond my capacity to bear. Therefore, I reach out for assistance.

I am starting this GoFundMe to bring in funds for both my parents, and all of the donations will go into a split to help them rebuild hope.

This was really devastating, but I am an immortal believer in community. I know, with your support, that we can help my parents put their lives together and try to live in some sense of stability.

Any amount you can give will make an incredible difference. If you cannot contribute financially, sharing this campaign with your network will also help us reach more people.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read this and for any support you can give. My parents mean the world to me, and knowing that there are people who care gives me hope that brighter days are ahead.

With gratitude,

Paul