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 Fire. In a single day—like so many others—they lost everything: their home, their car, and their beloved children’s boutique, The Gray Dragon, which had just celebrated its first anniversary. Grayson’s school was also heavily damaged, adding yet another layer of upheaval to their lives.

To make matters worse, navigating the aftermath—like so many others—has been filled with the overwhelming stress of dealing with insurance companies. In their case, they’re juggling three separate claims, which has only deepened their anxiety during an already unbearable time.

Originally from South Africa, Adele has proudly called the U.S. home for over two decades. Grayson, born in Santa Monica, is her pride and joy—a bright, empathetic child deeply loved by his community. Adele, known for her humor, strength, and endless generosity, is a single mom who poured her heart into The Gray Dragon to serve families in the Pacific Palisades with beautiful, curated children’s clothing, toys, and books.

Their loss comes just after a traumatic burglary forced them to leave their Brentwood home in April 2023. Still, Adele rebuilt in the Palisades and quickly became a valued part of the community, supporting local schools like Marquez Elementary, Pali Elementary, Seven Arrows, St. Matthew’s Parish, and more.

Grayson, a dedicated student and brown belt in karate, recently earned both first and second place trophies in his very first tournament—trophies that, like everything else, are now gone. He was deeply connected to his dojo, his senseis (Gerry, Billy, Jake, and the team), and the neighborhood kids. More than possessions, he’s lost the sense of stability and comfort that grounded his young life.

When the fire broke out, Adele’s only priority was safety. After evacuating Grayson and two young children from another family, she made a desperate attempt to return solo to their home in the Highlands to rescue Grayson’s puppy, Sir Fluffs-A-Lot—a feisty chihuahua with some bladder issues, but still very much loved!

Gridlock and flames forced Adele to abandon her car and continue on foot up the canyon road, navigating through thick smoke and abandoned vehicles. She pushed forward with a single goal: to save their dog and grab a few essentials for Grayson. A fire crew eventually spotted her about a mile and a half up Palisades Drive and gave her a lift to the home—but couldn’t wait. Adele made it inside, grabbed a small bag and the dog, and fled.

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.

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 where she again set off on foot through the smoke and chaos, determined to get back to her car abandoned on Sunset Blvd. Along the way, she unexpectedly walked into a FOX11 Live Broadcast, her calm demeanor and humor shining through even in the face of such devastation. Video below. 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. Sadly, her car was lost as well but the LAPD got her to safety.

https://youtu.be/eorS4ssJZyU

Once reunited with Grayson, 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.

Donate Now to Help Adele and Grayson Begin Again

This page was set up by Angelica Neri:

I had the honor of working with at Adele at her store, The Gray Dragon, and am devastated to hear of her loss. She truly is a generous woman, and I hope we can all come together and help her rebuild their lives."