Saturday’s annual Boys and Girls Club of Malibu fundraising gala is sure to make an impression on attendees. Jakob Dylan and the Wallflowers will perform at the event, which takes place at the Malibu estate of Mike Fleiss, the creator of the hit TV series “The Bachelor.”
But the most powerful impression may be the club’s 2013 Youth of the Year, 17-year-old Mariarely Cruz.
A junior at Malibu High School, Cruz is a remarkable young woman who overcame severe disadvantages to grow into a powerful mentor for others.
“Mariarely’s story allows her to really connect with other kids who come to us with difficult home lives,” Kasey Earnest, chief professional officer for the club, said. “It makes her a great mentor and shows these kids that don’t have a typical Malibu background that they’re not outsiders. They belong.”
Mariarely grew up in South Central Los Angeles in a neighborhood ruled by gangs, where drugs and violence were common. Born with a hole in her heart that required surgery when she was only nine months old, Cruz said she always felt different.
She attended several schools in that area, but never felt like she fit in with the neighborhood vibe. When her father found a job as a local handyman, she was able to transfer to Malibu High School and try to rise above the chaos that had been her childhood.
“I am the first in my family to pass the eighth grade,” Mariarely said. “My dad saved my life bringing me here. He is my hero.”
In fact, Mariarely will be the first in her family to attend college, which she plans to do after graduating next May. Her father, Magno Cruz, quit school in the 6th grade to care for his ill mother in Mexico. When he was 15 years old, he came to California to find work. He also acted as father to Mariarely’s step-siblings.
“My dad works really hard for us,” Mariarely said. “He told me that his biggest accomplishment was to see me as a star. He cried when I told him about this award. It’s him and me.”
Not that the transition was all smooth. When Mariarely first came to MHS, she was painfully shy and withdrawn. But she joined the Boys & Girls Club in 8th grade and began to blossom.
“We really pushed her emotionally,” Earnest said. “But over the past several months, she has become more confident in who she is as a young woman. Now she sees what it is to overcome mediocrity and push for greatness. Now, she’s sees future possibilities instead of limitations.”
The Boys & Girls Cub of Malibu is a nonprofit organization that has been operating for 13 years. The club enhances the lives of youth by helping them realize their potential as productive and contributing citizens, no matter what their background. As Earnest pointed out, not all of the children who attend the Malibu chapter of the Boys and Girls Club come from privileged backgrounds.
Malibu’s diverse population has many families facing serious economic challenges and sees many youngsters struggling with tough choices as they navigate a road to adulthood. The proceeds from the gala will directly benefit the 1,100 children who rely on the club for vital services.
This year’s gala is being co-hosted by local celebrity couples Keely and Pierce Brosnan, Kelly and Ron Meyer, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, and Rory Kennedy and Mark Bailey. Organic, gourmet-centric Malibu Farm will cater dinner.
Mariarely is taking a pragmatic approach to her higher education. She wants to attend Santa Monica College first before heading to a university with a strong marine biology program. This in itself represents powerful progress. Earnest said that when she first arrived at BGCM, Mariarely didn’t even know what college was or how it could affect her life.
“I decided I wanted to study marine biology after seeing the therapy that marine animals can give,” Mariarely said. “My cousin is autistic and he swam with dolphins once. I remember how surprised I was at how gentle they were with him. He really opened up to the dolphins, and I want to have a career in that.”
Tickets are $500 per person, and can be purchased online at www.malibuyouth.org or by calling 310.457.1400 or via email: info@bgcmalibu.org. For further information, call BGCM at 310.457.1400.