In January, California experienced life-threatening wildfires that left countless households homeless and towns reeling in their wake. Eager to contribute something to the situation, 99-year-old Dick Van Dyke planned Vandy Camp, an exclusive charity soirée dedicated to raising funds for California’s Community Brigade.
The group certifies volunteers on managing wildfires and crises better, so communities are safer during emergencies. The veteran actor and performer, known for his record-breaking roles in classic films, went the extra mile to make people more aware of the cause.
Dick Van Dyke performed ‘Mary Poppins’ songs at the California wildfire fundraiser
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Van Dyke, his wife Arlene Silver, and his acappella group, The Vantastix, took the stage at Aviator Nation Dreamland in Malibu, performing songs from his old movies. Before the performance, he uploaded a rehearsal video on the web, where they were performing songs from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
For the fundraiser night, he and his wife donned Mary Poppins-themed shirts as a dedication to his character in the film. The evening featured a humorous parody of “Bare Necessities” and a performance of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, which elicited a thunderous response from the crowd. Even though he joked about his singing, his performance after proved otherwise.
Dick Van Dyke survived a number of fires throughout his life
Van Dyke shared his wildfire history, recalling the way his Mandeville Canyon home miraculously survived the Bel-Air fire of 1961 as other homes in the surrounding area burned. More recently, they both had to evacuate for the Franklin Fire in December 2024. He spoke about running out of energy trying to make it to his car, where neighbors came and got him.
They did not lose their home, however, a part of their guesthouse caught fire. In January 2025, the Palisades Fire threatened to reach his house, but this time, no evacuation of his residence was necessary. Since he has lived through a plethora of wildfires, Van Dyke is more actively engaged with the cause than ever and assists in providing relief to the victims.