Lowe Family, Supervisor Horvath Pledge Contributions During Launch Event
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles launched a $25 million capital campaign to rebuild and expand the Palisades-Malibu YMCA into a dual campus, which was announced during a press conference at Simon Meadow on Thursday, August 14.
“Since the 1960s the Palisades-Malibu YMCA has been more than a facility—it has been foundational to our community,” read the event program. “Generations of families, students and neighbors have found a home at the Y, where programs and services have fostered growth, health and connection.”
The project will support rebuilding the space that was destroyed in the Palisades fire on Via De La Paz, which will be renamed the Lowe Family YMCA, as well as a proposed expansion to Simon Meadow.
“With a new dual-campus model, we are expanding our reach and deepening our impact to serve the Palisades-Malibu region like never before,” read the program. “Together, these two campuses will carry forward the legacy of the Palisades-Malibu YMCA, building on our roots while evolving to meet the urgent needs of today.”
At the time of the event, the Via De La Paz main campus was proposed to be rebuilt with fire-resistant construction; men’s, women’s and family locker rooms; teen center and multipurpose room; welcome center; green energy systems and solar power; enhanced youth and wellness spaces; and a “sustainable, environmentally conscious design.” The Via De La Paz facility was anticipated to receive partial support from FEMA for its rebuild.
The expanded campus at Simon Meadow—“entirely donor-funded through community giving”—is proposed to include an outdoor pool complex; fitness and wellness center/basketball court; outdoor programming spaces; bocce court and t-ball baseball diamond; permanent infrastructure to support programs; and expanded capacity for camps, sports, and outdoor community events.
In its current iteration, Simon Meadow is used by YMCA for things like the annual Palisades HoHoHo! and its two largest fundraisers of the year: the pumpkin patch and tree lot.
During the campaign launch event, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath pledged $10 million toward the rebuild effort.
“Community isn’t just about the homes we live in—it’s also about the places where we come together, where we build relationships and where we watch our children grow,” Horvath said. “The Palisades-Malibu YMCA has long been one of those beloved gathering spaces, and its loss after the fires remains deeply felt.”
Members of the Lowe family, including Bob and Beth, spoke on their family’s history and commitment to the facility. The multi-generational Palisadians shared about raising their children while participating in YMCA programming as early as when their sons were in first grade, with their grandchildren now a part of it and their son, Rob, a longtime board member.
“The Palisades-Malibu YMCA has been an important part of our family for three generations,” Bob Lowe said. “We are so pleased that the Lowe family can help ensure that the Y will be able to serve the Palisades families now and for generations in the future.”
Additional speakers during the launch event—which was emceed by YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Board Chair Wendy Greuel—included YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles President and CEO Victor Dominguez, Palisades-Malibu YMCA Executive Director Jim Kirtley, Councilmember Traci Park, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, Mayor Karen Bass, Palisades-Malibu YMCA Board President Tracey Price and YMCA teen speaker Taylor Beljon-Regen.
“This marks the beginning of a new chapter for the only community center in the Palisades,” Kirtley said. “The Palisades-Malibu YMCA will not only be a return to what was, but an opportunity to create something even greater.”
Following the press conference, attendees were invited to eat brunch, while listening to a program emceed by longtime community leader and current Honorary Town Sheriff Sam Laganà, whose experience with YMCA dates back decades.
At the time of the event, several donor recognition opportunities remained available, ranging from $100,000 for a team lounge, executive director’s office or administrative office to $2 million for a fitness center. There is also a $1 million opportunity for a “Beacon of Hope” monument to “honor the transformational impact and legacy of the Palisades-Malibu YMCA illuminating the path for future generations.”
“We’re not just restoring what was lost—we’re honoring our past while building a more sustainable tomorrow,” the program concluded. “This is more than a building project—it’s an investment in our well-being, community resilience and our shared future.”
For more information or to contribute to the campaign, visit ymcala.org/locations/palisades-malibu-ymca.
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