In recognition of the one-year anniversary of the Los Angeles wildfires, Bank of America announced a $1 million grant to the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles to help rebuild the Lowe Family YMCA serving the Palisades-Malibu community that was destroyed by the fires. The Bank of America grant is the first and largest corporate award to date for the YMCA’s $25 million capital campaign that was launched over the summer. The project is expected to break ground this spring, bringing new facilities and additional programs for working families and seniors in the community.
“As we mark the first anniversary of the devastating fires, we also celebrate the incredible progress of the YMCA’s efforts to rebuild its destroyed Via de la Paz site and a nearby campus,” said Raul Anaya, Bank of America president for Greater Los Angeles. “The wildfires destroyed so much – thousands of homes, businesses and communities – but it never destroyed L.A.’s spirit. As a longtime supporter of the YMCA, we’re proud to help bring this space back to life for so many residents, and encourage other donors to help bring this important effort over the finish line.”
“We are deeply grateful to Bank of America for their generosity and for being our first corporate donor to this campaign,” said Victor Dominguez, President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles. “Our corporate partners are critical to engaging our full communities in the rebuilding process. As the Center for Community Well-Being with dozens of locations across the L.A. region, we activated on day one of the fires to support our communities. We will continue to help Palisades rebuild not just the buildings, but the community and connections that make it so special.”
The Lowe Family YMCA has served Palisades and Malibu area children, families and seniors for over 60 years. In response to the widespread displacement and trauma caused by the fires, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles quickly mobilized through nearby centers and partner sites to deliver emergency childcare, case management, and trauma-informed care to thousands of residents.
These efforts continue today, but the long-term recovery of the community depends on restoring a permanent YMCA presence in the area. The YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles has committed to replace the burned site with two new resilient campuses – one on the original Via de la Paz site and one at the nearby Simon Meadow site. The dual campus will expand programming around youth development, mental health services, emergency preparedness and multigenerational engagement. In recognition of Bank of America’s leading corporate donation, the new Welcome Center at Palisades Via De La Paz will be named for Bank of America.
This is more than just an act of generosity, it’s a commitment of hope to our Palisades and Malibu communities – contributions like these are critical to help us rebuild, and ensure our doors will be open for generations to come.
To learn more about the Lowe Family YMCA and how you can get involved, visit,
ymcaLA.org/pm