Help a Single Mom Recover After The Palisades Fire

Help Adele & her Family Rebuild After Losing Everything in the Palisades Palisades Fire

Adele and her 9-year-old son, Grayson, are facing unimaginable heartbreak after the devastating Palisades Highlands fire. In a single day - like so, so many other families - they lost their home, their beloved children’s store The Gray Dragon, their car, and all of their belongings. Grayson’s school, St. Matthews' Parish, also suffered severe damage, adding another layer of challenges to their lives.

Adele, originally from South Africa, has proudly called the U.S. home for nearly two decades, most of that time spent between West Hollywood and the Palisades. Grayson, born in Santa Monica in 2015, is her pride and joy—a bright, compassionate boy adored by his community. Adele is known for her humor, resilience, and unwavering generosity. A single mom, she built The Gray Dragon to serve families in the Pacific Palisades with an amazing selection of clothing, toys, books and so much more.

After a burglary forced them to move from their Brentwood home in April 2023, Adele rebuilt her life in the Palisades, becoming an integral part of the community. She’s tirelessly supported local schools like Marquez Elementary, Pali Elementary, Seven Arrows and St. Matthews' and was even in the process of working with the Palisadian Post on a gift for the 1st baby born in the Palisades – a true community tradition.

Grayson, deeply connected to his karate dojo, his senseis, Gerry, Billy, Jake and the team as well as the neighborhood kids, has lost not just his belongings but also the cherished sense of stability his young life depended on. As a brown belt, he just participated in his first karate tournament and not only managed a second place but also a first place. The trophies of which are now forever lost.

When the fire broke out, Adele’s first priority was getting Grayson and others to safety. After evacuating Grayson and siblings from another family, she ensured they were safe before she desperately attempted to make it back to their home in the Palisades Highlands to save Grayson’s dog, Sir Fluffs-A-Lot. A 3lb furball chihuahua who has a perpetuity to try and empty his bladder on everything! But they love him anyways!

Determined to reach their townhouse, Adele, like so many others was forced to abandon her car due to the gridlock and burning fires, and she set off on foot up the burning Palisades Drive canyon road, navigating through abandoned vehicles and intense smoke. Her sole focus was saving their beloved dog and retrieving a few essentials for Grayson.

For those who know Adele, her incredible humor often masks her grit and anxiety. She’s joked in the past, “If you ever see me running, you better run too because something’s chasing me.” But on that fateful day, fear of telling her son his dog had been lost to the fire was far greater than braving the flames on Palisades Drive.

A firetruck eventually stopped her on Palisades Drive after she made it a good mile and a half up the road, recognizing her determination. The crew gave her a ride to their home but couldn’t wait as there were obvious greater need elsewhere. But Adele insisted on pressing forward even when others would have turned back. She had just minutes at their townhouse to grab a small bag for Grayson and their beloved pet.

The return journey was equally harrowing. With the fire closing in and no time to spare, a Good Samaritan offered Adele a ride partway down the hill, getting her as far as Calvary School, where she again set off on foot through the smoke and chaos, determined to get back to her car parked near The Gray Dragon. Along the way, she unexpectedly walked into a FOX11 Live news event, her calm demeanor and humor shining through even in the face of such devastation. For those who wants to see what it looks like when pure adrenaline is driving you, the YouTube link is below – you can find her at the 5:12 mark. And for those who are wondering why she had EarPods in, it was to mask the intense and traumatizing noise of listening to homes collapsing around her.

FOX11 Los Angeles

Once reunited with Grayson, thanks to the heroic efforts of a couple of LAPD officers and a St. Matthew’s dad who stayed behind to help neighbors and hose down their homes, Adele was finally able to take a breath and begin to process the overwhelming reality: their lives, along with so many others, had been reduced to ash.

Adele has poured her heart and soul into her family and community, always putting others first. Now, she and Grayson need our support to rebuild from scratch.

Donations will help provide:

How You Can Help

Adele’s resilience, generosity, and humor have touched so many lives. This is our chance to give back. Any contribution, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this page is a powerful way to help.

Let’s come together to help Adele & Grayson rebuild their lives, one step at a time.

From the bottom of their hearts, thank you for your kindness and generosity during this difficult time.

Donate Now to Help Adele and Grayson Begin Again