The Children’s Lifesaving Foundation (CLF) held its annual Surf Camp4All event at Zuma Beach on Friday, treating children, young adults and families from local homeless shelters to a day of surf, sun, food and bonding.
For some, it was the first time they had ever felt sand under their feet, caught a wave or eaten pizza with friends and family on the beach.
About 100 CLF youngsters and family members were on hand at Friday’s event, which offered surf lessons, volleyball and plenty of sunshine.
Jasmin Perez, once a timid girl uncertain of her future, spent the day tanning and mingling with other youths. CLF founder Maria D’Angelo began helping Perez 10 years ago, and thanks to CLF, the 20-year-old’s biggest problem today is deciding on what graduate school to attend. She credits D’Angelo for her road to success, calling her an “Earth angel.”
“When I first met [Maria], I was antisocial, now I am a public speaker at events for the organization,” said Perez. “She did not just help me, she helped change generations of families who were like me.”
Perez plans on attending graduate school for specialized nursing. She recounted how D’Angelo “ambushed” her 10 years ago and took her at a period when her dad suffered through serious kidney disease. Fortunately, her dad is doing well after receiving a life-saving kidney transplant four years ago.
For the past 21 years, D’Angelo has been using her Malibu-based organization to help generations of homeless families claim new lives by providing them homes, education and overall support.
But she does not take all the credit. Through donations from community members and other organizations, CLF’s ongoing mission has been a success.
“People have been very generous and motivated to help our families,” D’Angelo said.
Among its services, CLF provides rent and deposits for families in need. The group also helps subsidize household incomes, and teach and tutor the families at their learning center. However, its main objective is to provide a good college education for the children.
D’Angelo’s son, Sean McCaffery, works as program director of the family-run organization. He, his mother and his sister, Francesca, have been serving others ever since he can remember.
“It just stuck,” McCaffery said.
To further the organization’s cause, the McHugh-O’Donovan Foundation created an endowment fund for CLF to dole out more college scholarships. Other organizations that work with CLF, including Homeboy Industries, Covenant House, Bridge To Skate and Para Los Ninos, attended Friday as well.
Melvin Stovall, who attends Santa Monica College, has dreams to open a bakery after college.
Deblin Haskin, a formerly homeless teen, is proud to be the first person in his family to graduate high school and to attend college. Haskin said that feeling positive about his struggle pushes him more to want to change.
“I have been in foster homes since birth, I was even starved at one home, but I can’t be mad at anyone. The greatest way I found to deal with my emotions is to play piano,” said Haskin.
Next up for CLF is a four-day day camp at Hess Kramer in Malibu on Labor Day weekend. The Family Reunion Camp retreat that reunites sister, brothers, moms, dads and other family members.
