Stars including Pierce Brosnan, Julia Roberts and Minnie Driver came out to support the Malibu Boys and Girls Club Saturday night.
The event (hosted by Kelly and Ron Meyer, Keely and Pierce Brosnan, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, and Rory Kennedy and Mark Bailey) was held at the estate of The Bachelor executive producer and BGCM board member Mike Fleiss, where guests dined on a buffet by Malibu Farms on the twinkle-lit front lawn.
“We’re hoping to raise a lot of money. It’s nice to do some stuff that benefits the community that I actually live in,” said second-time host Fleiss. “People think this isn’t a place that needs any help, but there are people who need a little assistance. So I’m proud to help out in that way.”
The Indian-summer-themed gala featured a special concert by three-time Grammy winners Jakob Dylan and The Wallflowers, along with rising musical artist Carousel. The event also featured the introduction of BGCM youth of the year, 17-year-old Mariarely Cruz.
“It’s really nice, I’ve never had so much attention,” she said. Cruz grew up in a gang family and is the first in her family to progress past the eighth grade. “I’m just telling my story so people can understand where I came from. I came from drugs and a rough neighborhood.”
The gala’s ticket sales (a seat at the event went for a cool $500) and silent auction proceeds will provide the majority of the BGCM funding for the year.
