Help Tracey, Phil & Asher Recover from the LA Fires

On January 7th, my cousin Tracey, her son, Asher, and her husband, Phil, lost their home in the Palisades fire. Their house was up in the Marquez Knolls, near the Highlands where the fire started, and so they had very little time to evacuate. They got out with a few important papers and little more than the clothes on their backs.

Relatively new to the Palisades community, Tracey and Phil moved from New York City as newlyweds in the Summer of 2022. They quickly built a life in the heart of the community, making connections with their neighbors, spending time in the village, frequenting the library and the rec center, hiking in Temescal Canyon, and going for walks on the beach. They’d forged friendships with longtime Palisadians. For Tracey and Phil, 12-year-old Asher, and their rescue dog, Oscar, it had become home. A place where they’d host family gatherings and where Phil and Asher spent hours shooting hoops in the driveway. And in an instant, that was all taken away.

Tracey is no stranger to tragedy. She’s endured personal traumas and is a cancer survivor. And through it all she’s held on to her faith and optimism. Her perseverance and determination have inspired all those who know her. She is truly a light. But the sudden loss of her home and community has been utterly devastating.

These wildfires have taken so much from so many; it is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of loss. And while Tracey and Phil will never recover their cherished photos, and family heirlooms, and Asher, his sports jerseys and stuffed animal collection -- they need help and support in their attempts to start anew and re-create a home for their small family.

Any, and all contributions would be greatly appreciated.

About me and this effort:

My name is Robinne Lee. Tracey is not only my cousin, but one of my best friends. I spent 20 years living in Los Angeles, nine of them in the very house that Tracey and Phil lost. That house holds memories for both of our families. Birthdays and Thanksgivings and brunches and barbecues, deer and puppies and bouncy houses in the backyard, and reggae nights under the stars. We raised a family in that house, and Tracey and Phil were hoping to do the same. It is my goal to help them get back on their feet after this tremendous and unthinkable loss.