About us

The Altadena Gift Card Foundation was created in response to the Eaton Fire of 2025 to restore dignity and independence to displaced households. 

We focus on providing $250-$500 boxes with varied gift cards to households that help to rebuild daily life essentials—like clothing, self-care, and household goods—so they can reserve limited funds for rent, transportation, and other critical needs. 

Our work centers on community resilience, restoration of home, and preserving Christmas memories that ground us all in belonging.

Tugené Davis, Founder of the Altadena Gift Card Foundation (AGCF), a 501(c)3, is a fourth-generation native of the Altadena-Pasdena community, artist and advocate. She has a deep commitment to resilience and restoration. Her personal journey through displacement shaped the vision for AGCF.

In 2025, when the Eaton Fire devastated Altadena and surrounding communities, Tugené saw the profound need for practical, compassionate support. But her mission began long before that moment. In 2017, after nearly losing her life after childbirth, she and her young family experienced firsthand the challenges of being displaced. For over a year, they lived in temporary housing and hotels, navigating the instability, loss of home and the overwhelming demands of starting over.

During that difficult time, a single $400 gift card became a lifeline. It allowed her and her husband to purchase essential items for their family, things that would have otherwise been delayed because cash had to cover living expenses. That moment of compassion planted the seed for what would later become AGCF: a community-centered response that restores dignity and independence for displaced families.

With a background in Film (MFA, Loyola Marymount University, in progress) and Theatre Arts (BFA, Howard University), Tugené combines creativity, leadership, and storytelling to drive the mission of AGCF forward. Her vision is simple yet powerful: to give families the breathing room to rebuild their lives while preserving their sense of home, belonging, and dignity.

Tugené believes that every gift card is more than financial help, it’s a message of love, support, and hope for Altadena’s future.