Bank of America announced a $1 million grant to rebuild the Lowe Family YMCA serving the Palisades-Malibu community, which was destroyed in the Los Angeles wildfires one year ago.
The grant represents the first and largest corporate contribution to the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles' $25 million capital campaign launched last summer. The organization plans to break ground this spring on two new resilient campuses to replace the burned Via de la Paz facility.
"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."
The new facilities will include the original Via de la Paz site and the nearby Simon Meadow site. The dual campus will expand programming for youth development, mental health services, emergency preparedness and multigenerational engagement, bringing additional services for working families and seniors.
Victor Dominguez, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, emphasized the importance of corporate partnerships in the rebuilding process.
"Our corporate partners are critical to engaging our full communities in the rebuilding process," Dominguez said. "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 the Palisades and Malibu area for more than 60 years. Following the fires, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles mobilized through nearby centers and partner sites to deliver emergency childcare, case management and trauma-informed care to thousands of displaced residents. These services continue today.
In recognition of the bank's leading donation, the new Community Room at the Palisades Via De La Paz club will bear Bank of America's name.
The grant brings Bank of America's total philanthropic contributions for fire recovery to $4.5 million. The bank recently announced $10 million in zero-interest capital to three community development financial institutions for business and housing needs, and introduced a Rebuild Solution to help qualifying mortgage clients reconstruct their homes. The bank plans to rebuild its destroyed financial centers in Pacific Palisades and Altadena.
For more information on Bank of America's relief efforts, visit BankofAmerica.com/LARebuild. To donate to the Lowe Family YMCA capital campaign, visit YMCALA.org/give/.
Edited by SMDP Staff