Trio of Teenage Friends Committed to “Build Back Pali”
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
There is an adage “it takes a village”—but three teenage boys who saw their homes lost or damaged in the Palisades fire are proof that individuals can also make an impact if they have the right game plan.
Uniting, the three formed the Build Back Pali effort to revitalize the Palisades community each proudly grew up in.
Windward School sophomore Mason Cohen has teamed with two childhood friends, Harvard-Westlake sophomores Jake Yoon and Dylan Fullmer, in the wake of the fire to create a fundraising campaign that has received over $100,000 in less than one month.
All funding will go directly toward local restoration projects and initiatives that benefit the community, including rebuilding and maintaining local businesses, schools, places of worship, supporting community programs, and preserving the character of the Palisades. Funding comes through donations from individuals, corporations, grants and foundations, and the mission statement is three words: Rebuild. Restore. Revive.
Over the course of the project, the three plan to share “success stories” and highlight “the individuals and businesses” they help, aiming to “inspire continued collaboration and demonstrate the power of working together to rebuild and strengthen” the community.
The three have known each other for 11 years, since they were in kindergarten at Village School. Growing up, they spent time at their favorite shops and restaurants, playing sports, biking around town, going to the beach, and surfing.
Often they met in the Village or spent weekends at Yoon’s house—but after the January 7 fire, reconnecting and sharing their experiences made them realize how much the Palisades meant to them. The inspiration to start Build Back Pali was born.
The idea for Build Back Pali spawned when the boys hung out for the first time after the fire, and talked of their experiences of evacuating and witnessing their homes and community in danger. Their instincts were to do something to help rebuild.
The “turning point” came after they watched a video of manager Albino Fuentes walking through the ruins of Cafe Vida.
“It was heartbreaking to see such a cornerstone of the Palisades community reduced to ashes—a place we’d eaten at countless times for over a decade,” Cohen said. “Seeing the devastation on Albie’s face made it clear that we had to take action and give back to the community that was such a big part of our childhood.”
Cohen said that running Build Back Pali takes up a “significant amount” of their time, but that the “long nights and weekends” are worth it to support their community.
“We’ve spent countless hours setting up the nonprofit, organizing fundraising, managing our website and social media, and reaching out to the community for support,” Cohen said. “It’s a big commitment but we’re passionate about doing our part to help our town rebuild.”
Yoon said at this point, the best way to support their efforts is by donating to the GoFundMe, spreading the word, attending future fundraisers or volunteering.
Fullmer said that the group wants the Palisades to know: “We’re all in this together.”
“The fires may have taken our homes and businesses, but they haven’t taken away the strength, resilience and sense of unity that makes this community special,” Fullmer said. “Our goal is to support and uplift those affected to show that even in the most difficult times, we can all come together to rebuild something even stronger.”
The name Build Back Pali came up naturally in conversation while they were brainstorming ideas.
“Dylan probably said it first, but we all immediately felt it captured our mission to help restore the Palisades while keeping the spirit of our community alive,” Cohen said. “Our initial goal was $100,000 to support the rebuilding of our local businesses.”
Build Back Pali raised 70% of the initial goal in two weeks, with donations coming from the LA area, but also across the country as their story was shared.
“The businesses are the heart of our neighborhoods,” Yoon explained. “They provide jobs, services and a sense of belonging to countless people. In times of need, they stepped up for us. Now it’s our turn to step up for them.
“Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of friends, families and dedicated citizens, as well as compassionate supporters from beyond, we made great progress in a short amount of time, but there’s still work to be done. Every contribution—no matter the size—brings us one step closer to helping these businesses recover, reopen and continue serving the people who depend on them.”
“We launched [Build Back Pali] by creating an Instagram account, website and a GoFundMe page, then spread the word to everyone we knew via text, email, phone calls and in-person conversations,” Fullmer said. “Whether it was our friends from school, teachers or our parents’ colleagues, we made sure they knew about our cause and what we’re trying to accomplish. We sought to rally as much support as possible, as quickly as possible.”
Cohen, who is currently staying in a hotel, has lived in the Palisades his whole life.
“My childhood house that I was born and raised in for 14 years [in the Alphabet Streets] was a block from Palisades Village and it burned down,” he said. “Luckily, with the help of brave firefighters from [LAFD] Station 69, the house I’d recently moved into was narrowly saved. However, it’ll be a while until we can move back in due to smoke damage and other factors, so we’re looking for a rental place to stay in for the meantime.”
Among his favorite hang outs were the yogurt shoppe, Toppings, Beech Street Cafe, Casa Nostra, Cafe Vida and Modo Mio. He played for years in PPBA, went trick or treating in the Alphabet Streets and Huntington neighborhoods, attended the Fourth of July Parade, and ran in the Turkey Trot.
“I found out by looking at the news reports in the early morning and seeing the Alphabets decimated,” Cohen said. “It was very sad to see it go. I’d made so many memories, and my whole life was there. I saw my elementary school, my favorite hangout spots and my friends’ homes all destroyed. I knew right away I wanted to help rebuild the community I love, so the next generation of kids can have the same special experiences I’ve had.”
Fullmer is also a lifelong Palisadian, and the 16-year-old is coping with the situation as best he can.
“We’re currently staying at my grandma’s house in Westwood while we search for housing at a reasonable price,” Fullmer said. “Our family’s currently unsure about our plans in the Palisades for the future.”
Living in Sunset Mesa, Fullmer feared the worst when the blaze began.
“It was immediately a massive threat to my house and the area,” he recalled. “The first night I believed my house was burned down. However, three days later, with a police escort, my dad and I went to see it and were shocked that the roof was torn off but the first floor was intact. Our backyard got burned but due to the bravery of firefighters, many parts of the house were saved. I was extremely blessed to be able to gather irreplaceable items from my house.”
Yoon has been a Palisades resident since he was 2 years old when his family moved to Los Angeles from Hong Kong.
“After the fire, we initially stayed in Manhattan Beach, but the long commute to school in Studio City made things difficult,” he explained. “Right now, we’re at a hotel while looking for a more permanent place. My family plans to rebuild but with so many other residents doing the same thing, the process will take time. My parents estimate our house will be finished by the time I’m in college.”
Optimistic at first, Yoon did not learn about the fate of his home on De Pauw until the following day, January 8.
“It was about a day after the initial evacuation warning when I woke up and checked with my parents for an update on the house,” Yoon explained. “The night before they’d reassured my sister and I there wasn’t much reason to worry, but when I walked upstairs for breakfast, I immediately knew something was wrong just by the looks on their faces. A few hours later they showed me a photo. Our house had burned down. I almost broke into tears, but then I reminded myself that my family and loved ones were safe.”
The trio set up Build Back Pali as a 501(c)(3) so all donations are tax deductible. They have now exceeded their initial goal with donations on top of their GoFundMe page, which are from donor advised funds and foundations coming in last week to the nonprofit.
The boys created new hats that were an instant hit with first responders, LAFD, the National Guard and community. The grassroots effort was referenced on a KTLA news clip with all three boys commenting.
“Even small can contributions make a big impact, whether it’s through financial support or simply sharing our mission with others,” Yoon said. “Anyone interested can visit our website or follow us on social media to learn more and get involved.”
For more information, visit buildbackpali.org.
