For Californians, this year has been marked by loss: over 14 wildfires tore through the Los Angeles area in January, upending lives and neighborhoods. By the time the summer rolled around, devastation hit immigrant communities as ICE raids resulted in the arrest of hundreds across Southern California and the Central Coast. When their home base needed help most, the San Bernardino-based Mexican-American group Fuerza Regida stepped up to turn urgency into action, earning the title of Variety Hitmakers Humanitarians of the Year.
“When the fires happened in the city, it was crazy — everything unfolded so fast,” explains frontman Jesús Ortiz Paz. “As a band, and along with the Street Mob [Records] family, we knew we had to go out there and help. We wanted to directly reach the families who didn’t have access to resources or didn’t know where to turn. That’s why our first instinct was to rent hotel rooms for them — people needed immediate shelter. We were blessed to be in a position to provide that.”
Since bursting onto the música mexicana scene — and claiming their highest U.S. debut yet at No. 2 with their ninth album, “111Xpantia,” — the five-member band has made giving back a core part of their identity. From supporting families displaced by wildfires to funding scholarships and legal aid, Fuerza Regida has consistently turned their success into action for the communities that raised them.
In January, Fuerza Regida opened their hearts and pockets to families displaced by the Los Angeles wildfires, providing shelter for more than 50 households affected by the devastating series of 14 fires that tore through the region.
The group continued their support of the next generation in April by launching four full-ride “111Xpantia Scholarships” at Cal State San Bernardino, requiring students to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and submit an essay. The scholarships drew more than 270 applicants, marking the highest response the university has ever received for a single award.
“We always say, if we are blessed, we are going to bless others,” says Paz. “For us it’s not that hard — it’s how we were raised. All our parents taught us of the importance of giving back to the community and people that helped and supported you.”
Fuerza Regida honed their craft performing at parties and local events starting in 2017. True to their roots, the group recently opened a headquarters in the city for their indie label, Street Mob Records, developing and signing songwriters, producers and artists. In November, the group ran its second iteration of the “Don’t Fall in Love Fest” at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino with headliners including Future and Banda MS.
“We grew up here in Inland Empire, we are Mexican-American and we grew up seeing first-hand what the community needed,” explains Paz. “We really came from nothing, so when I support a project or a cause, it’s because it hits close to home. Things like giving back meals, aid, shelter, helping in education — those are tools we can help others with and maybe they too can make something great.”
In May, the band partnered with comedian Druski to release a limited-edition merchandise collection, with 100% of proceeds benefiting the Immigrant Defenders Law Center to provide legal aid during immigration raids. That same month, the band worked with local hat makers — including 31 Hats, Barbas Hats and Gallo Fino — to launch a hat collection, again donating all proceeds to legal services for families affected by ICE enforcement, while also supporting local small businesses.
“It was important to have our neighbors and local brands come together to help each other. We are stronger in numbers,” says Paz.
Giving back is a top priority for the group, who don’t limit themselves to any single cause. In early May, they responded to an urgent call from Mary’s Mercy Center, a homeless services provider in California’s Inland Empire facing potential closure due to federal funding cuts. The band supplied 14 carts of essential items — including water, clothing and sanitary supplies — helping the center continue serving its community.
In August, they partnered with Dos Equis for a charity auction benefiting the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, raising funds to support childcare, job training and family services for Latino communities across California.
“We are proud of the impact we’ve had on the community, and we plan to keep going,” says Paz. “It’s an honor to be recognized, but we don’t do it for the accolades. We want to show that the Inland Empire looks out for each other. We hope to inspire others to help their communities, and we aim to expand our support beyond California to every place our fans call home.”
