Former Milwaukee Brewers star Ryan Braun has had a challenging few weeks as he was evacuated from his home in California due to the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. The 41-year-old baseball player expressed his deep appreciation for the firefighters who have been working tirelessly to keep people and buildings safe during this crisis.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Braun emphasized the heroic efforts of the first responders, stating, “Firefighters and first responders are truly heroes. I don’t think that we get an opportunity to thank them often enough. But those guys have put their lives on the line. They’ve worked night and day. I know a number of firefighters who literally didn’t sleep for 72 hours.”
Braun, along with World Series champion Mike Moustakas, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, Brewers star Christian Yelich, and Mike Attanasio from the Brewers’ ownership, founded California Strong to assist communities affected by the wildfires. California Strong is a program of the YMCA dedicated to providing support to all Californians after disasters.
Yelich highlighted the resilience of the California community in times of need, stating, “The community seems to step up every time there’s people in need. It’s a long recovery process, and it’s not something that happens overnight. It’s a multiyear process, and we are here to help people get back on their feet and support them throughout the journey.”
Moustakas explained how California Strong originated from a simple gesture of checking in on each other during tough times, which eventually evolved into using their platforms to help those in need. He expressed excitement about supporting families in need and helping the community rebuild.
See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"
Braun acknowledged the long and difficult rebuilding process that lies ahead for those affected by the wildfires. He emphasized the importance of providing support to those in need both in the immediate aftermath and in the long term. California Strong, in partnership with Proactive Sports, is working to assist Californians in getting back on their feet and rebuilding their lives.
Proactive Sports owner Emily Capretta shared the organization’s commitment to supporting those impacted by natural disasters, highlighting their partnership with California Strong since its inception. The goal is to provide immediate assistance to those affected by the wildfires and continue to support them throughout the challenging rebuilding process.
As California continues to battle the wildfires, Braun and his fellow athletes are dedicated to supporting their community and helping those in need. Their efforts with California Strong are a testament to the power of unity and compassion in times of crisis.
