FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 22, 2025

Media Contact: James Doernberg, press@corsirosenthalfoundation.org | 434-218-0709

1000+ Air Filters Delivered to LA Wildfire Survivors

Grassroots Volunteers use DIY Corsi Rosenthal Filters for Disaster Rapid Response 

(Los Angeles, Ca.) — As wildfires engulf large areas of Los Angeles, harmful particles and toxic gases from the wildfire smoke pose major respiratory health risks to Los Angeles residents. For Liesl McConchie, a board member of the Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation and a San Diego resident, the fires and respiratory dangers were literally close to home, and she knew that rapid deployment of air filters would protect the health of thousands of at-risk Angelenos. McConchie and her Foundation colleagues quickly designed a rapid response initiative to build and distribute DIY Corsi-Rosenthal air filters. In the last two weeks, the Foundation has built 1,150 air filters using $30,000 in supplies and 1,000 MERV13 furnace filters donated by 3M, and raised almost $10,000 from the public through a campaign on its website: https://corsirosenthalfoundation.org/donate/

DIY filters can be built cheaply and quickly from materials readily stocked by any hardware store (box fans, MERV13 furnace filters, and duct tape), and the EPA recommends them as “a cost-effective approach to improving indoor air quality during wildfire smoke events.” 

Over two weekends, McConchie converted her San Diego backyard into a makeshift assembly line and enlisted her husband, her kids, and 60 San Diego volunteers to assemble 650 air filters bound for LA. “The last two weeks have been a total whirlwind,” said McConchie. “My house became a small factory, my kids helped me pack a 20-foot box truck to the brim, and I drove a truck around LA dropping off supplies to amazing people protecting their community. Working with these selfless volunteers and the wonderful community groups from hard-hit LA neighborhoods has been an exhausting but so rewarding experience; it’s been truly inspiring seeing so many people come together to help in this emergency.”

In parallel, the Foundation supported Joaquín Beltrán, an advocate with the LA-based Action, Care, Equity Coalition, by donating materials to build another 500 air filters. Beltrán set up his own volunteer production line run out of a car dealership that provided space. 

Through McConchie’s and Beltrán’s efforts, more than 1,150 air filters were assembled and distributed to emergency shelters, senior care facilities, schools, neighborhood associations, and vulnerable community members, all in the span of 12 days.

The Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation, founded by Indoor environmental engineer Dr. Rich Corsi and air filter expert and manufacturer Jim Rosenthal, will continue contributing to the wildfire response, but focuses most of its grants program on providing air filters to schools, furthering public health by reducing students’ and teachers’ exposure to viruses, allergens, and other harmful airborne particles.

“We’re glad that we were able to provide so many air filters to areas heavily impacted by wildfire in Los Angeles,” said Jim Rosenthal, the Foundation’s President. “In addition to providing these filters in this moment of crisis, we also want people to understand that cleaning indoor air is important, it has a direct connection to health, and affordable and effective solutions like Corsi-Rosenthal Boxes exist.”

A video and some photos from the wildfire response are available in the Foundation’s LA Wildfire Response Media folder.

About the Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation: The Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Corporation whose mission is to improve human health by supplying and promoting the use of air filters to clean indoor air. For more information visit: https://corsirosenthalfoundation.org/about/

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