YMCA Hires New Director

Long before she accepted the position as executive director of the Palisades-Malibu YMCA, Palisadian Carol Pfannkuche knew all about its importance to the community. After all, her two daughters, Molly (13) and Katie (10), have participated in several Y programs’much as Carol did herself during her childhood in Torrance. So her new job seemed like a natural fit. ‘Growing up, the local YMCA was the center of community life for me,’ Pfannkuche said. ‘Now, my goal is to see this Y grow to be that same thing for kids in the Palisades.’ An active volunteer in the community and at Palisades Presbyterian Church, Pfannkuche previously worked in public relations for the Motion Picture and Television Fund in Woodland Hills and believes her marketing skills will serve her well at the YMCA. ‘So far, I’ve learned that I have a lot to learn,’ she said this week, her second on the job. ‘But I believe building relationships is the first step. I’ve really made an effort to get to know our members. I love hearing their stories.’ YMCA Board Chairman Duke Ostendorf said of the hiring process, ‘We had about 15 people apply and from there we narrowed it down to five pretty quickly. We only interviewed the top three candidates and in my mind the choice was easy. Carol’s background makes her more than qualified, and she really understands how communities work together towards a common goal.’ Carol and her husband Tony bought a house in the Hollywood Hills when they were married but quickly discovered that that particular environment was not conducive to having kids. ‘There were no sidewalks, no schools nearby, there was no neighborhood feel to it at all,’ she said. ‘But we had friends who lived here [on Bienveneda] that we’d visit often on weekends. And the more time we spent here, the more obvious it became to us that this was the place we wanted to raise a family.’ Pfannkuche’s top priority is to increase membership at the Y by better publicizing its programs. ‘So many people are unaware of all we have to offer and the impact we have on the community. I’m really excited about our upcoming summer camps. They’re going to be better than ever.’ The first donation the Y received under Pfannkuche’s watch came Monday morning in the form of a $3,500 check presented by Marjorie Graham, Project Chair of the Palisades Junior Women’s Club, for maintenance of the Temescal Canyon pool and Y camps.