Riviera CC donates $1 million for fire relief

In the wake of the devastating fires that have impacted the Pacific Palisades community, The Riviera Country Club Club’s ownership and Tiger Woods are stepping up in recovery efforts.

The Riviera Country Club CEO Megan Watanabe announced that the club will donate $1 million to local rebuilding initiatives, partnering with the California Community Foundation to benefit the Pacific Palisades Community Council as well as the CD11 Foundation to restore public spaces and help the community heal.

“The Pacific Palisades neighborhood and District 11 is very important to our club and our membership,” Watanabe said. “Our focus now is to support rebuilding the Palisades community and help councilwoman Traci Park in this very important time of need. Our members and partners have reached out to us asking how they can help in the recovery efforts, and we have informed them of our donation efforts (Riviera Community Donation) and welcomed them to support these two foundations by contributing to the fund we have set up with the California Community Foundation.”

Riviera chair Noboru Watanabe added that, “We are devastated for those who have been affected by the Los Angeles fires. We will do our best to support our community in the recovery efforts.”

The Genesis Invitational, hosted by Woods, is further bolstering the recovery efforts through several tournament initiatives to benefit wildfire relief.

Riviera has been a cornerstone of Southern California’s sports history since 1926 and has proudly hosted more than 60 tournaments since 1929. Due to the impact of the fires, this year’s Genesis Invitational was relocated to Torrey Pines, but the spirit of Pacific Palisades remains at the heart of the event.

“We look forward to the Genesis Invitational returning to Riviera in 2026, our 100th anniversary of the club,” Watanabe said. “We also will be hosting the U.S. Women’s Open later that year and the future will find Riviera as the home to the Olympics men’s and women’s competition in 2028 as well as the U.S. Open in 2031.”

Donations to Pacific Palisades relief efforts can be made through the California Community Foundation.