Amid the catastrophic wildfires that have driven over 130,000 residents to move out and claimed around five lives in the Los Angeles area, over 1.2 million individuals are without power, 440,000 more are in the same situation, and about 1,900 properties have been stated destroyed, a glimmer of hope appears from the sports community.

Renowned CBS Sports reporter and ardent animal activist Amanda Balionis has teamed up with different authorities to mobilize assistance for the people affected by the Palisades fires. Let’s find out how Balionis is trying to help those in distress!

Amanda Balionis’s efforts to assist victims of the L.A. fire

Amanda Balionis has used her social media presence to rally support for those affected. Famous for her lively coverage of NFL, college football, and PGA Tour golf on CBS Sports, Balionis’s Instagram posts have grown to be a key source of information for people affected by the fires. With an emphasis on establishments that house animals, she has been disseminating details regarding evacuation centers. One such recent Balionis Instagram story focused on the work of “Wags & Walks Rescue Nashville,” a nonprofit group devoted to the rescue and rehabilitation of needy canines. By publishing their “Los Angeles Wildfire Support & Resources” call to action, Balionis highlighted the urgent need for assistance. 

The outreach of the golf pundit goes beyond only saving animals. To make sure the audience knows of the assistance that is available to people in need, she has played a crucial role in educating them about evacuation centers for those affected by the fires. She recently shared two pieces of information: one about LA211 partnering with Airbnb to offer shelter to those evacuated due to the Palisades fire, and another from the page “walkgoodla” which posted about evacuation center arrangements listing various locations for humans as well as animals.

To help her followers understand how to contribute or provide help successfully, Balionis has been quite helpful in spreading knowledge. She makes sure that assistance reaches the people who need it most by identifying trustworthy organizations and offering precise directions on how to help. In the past, Balionis has also contributed to animal welfare organizations and rescue homes and helped raise money for assistance during natural disasters like hurricanes. Let’s see how she managed to do it!

Balionis’s association with ‘Puppies and Golf ‘and other NGOs

In addition to her immediate response to the fires in Los Angeles, Amanda Balionis is also the founder and president of “Puppies and Golf” a nonprofit organization designated as 501(c)(3) that supports and promotes shelters nationwide.“I started to reach out to animal rescues in the cities that I was in and visit them on the road,” Balionis said in an interview with Golf Digest, revealing the real purpose of Puppies and Golf. “The amount of work and selfless love that’s put into these dogs and the horrible stories that these dogs have are heartbreaking” she shared.

The organization focuses on helping military veterans by connecting them with rescue dogs and giving stray dogs their forever homes. The 2020-founded nonprofit is a reflection of Balionis’s dedication to improving lives outside of the sports world and her love for animal welfare. Additionally, in 2024, Puppies and Golf hosted a fundraiser to commemorate their fourth anniversary. The group also hosted National Service Dogs Day with K9s For Warriors in 2024 and donated more than $30,000 to help with Hurricane Helene’s devastation. About $150,000 has been donated by them to various animal shelters and welfare organizations.

Balionis’s dedication to social duty is further demonstrated by her engagement in charitable events and her affiliation with other NGOs. Her public persona and professional connections have enabled her to raise awareness and funds for several causes.