While most of the standing-room-only crowd came dressed for island hopping, volunteers associated with Pathways for Independence were waiting for them with Hawaiian leis and a welcoming smile.
With tropical tables set amid neon palm trees, hundreds of local citizens came out to the temporary island paradise at Cal State University in Long Beach to participate in “Pathways to Paradise,” a fundraiser to support young women get a fresh start in life.
For an hour or so before the festivities, supporters had the chance to walk on either side of the main stage area which had been transformed into rows of ad-hoc restaurants with delicacies that ranged from ribs and potatoes in a cocktail glass (plastic) to chicken sausage and even super thin pizza.
Nearly 40 local restaurants set up booths to give away food to support the Pathways cause.
Executive Director Diana Hill welcomed the throngs of supporters as workers scrambled to assemble dozens and dozens of temporary chairs to handle the overflow.
“I couldn’t be more excited about what we’ve created here at the Beach,” she said, referring to the students’ pet name for the campus, said Hill.
Hill thanked Cal State for their participation and support, noting that CSULB President Dr. Jane Connolly has worked hard to make it easier for the nonprofit’s clients to enter the university.
“We think the partnership with Cal State is amazing,” said Hill, noting that eight of the nonprofit’s 38 current female clients are enrolled in college.
“This is how we change the world, one person at a time,” said Hill, who went through a long list of people and businesses who have been instrumental for the past three decades. The event alone had approximately 80 sponsors, said Hill.
As Executive Director, Hill said she has made a conscious effort to tie the overall community to the “dreams” of the battered women, and not the more “downtrodden” parts of their story.
Courtesy photo
This was the 28th annual event, she said, asking the crowd to “help me honor” the nearly 350 young women who have been affected and assisted by the Pathways programs.
“Our alumni are delightful,” she said. “Servant leadership is what it’s all about,” she added.
“Aloha,” said Lindsay Mais, Pathways Board Chair, who thanked everyone associated with the program and for the supporters who continue to fund their work. “You mean the world to us,” she said.
Lisa Mais, Fund Development Director, thanked the program’s young clients, whom she said, “dare to dream big.”
“To our amazing supporters, sponsors, service providers, volunteers, and friends of passion, we are beyond grateful to make this evening a reality,” she said.
During the live auction, several high-priced items, including a private jet golf outing to Pebble Beach went for nearly $30K, and after the auction, several volunteers actually volunteered to donate that amount, which officials say pays for the cost for each woman in the program for a year.
A young woman named Mell, who is currently involved in Pathways, recounted what eventually drove her to ask for help.
“I have memories of human tragedies, and now I know I’m on my way to things that I’m most passionate about,” she told the silenced crowd.
“Picture me, in a tiny trailer, having to share a room with my parents and having to pretend I was asleep as my dad stood on the opposite side of the room and smashed my mom with a white picture frame when she walked through the door,” said Mell.
“In 2022, the emotional abuse I encountered threatened to turn physical,” she said, “and my dad threatened to hurt me on multiple occasions.”
At that point, said Mell, she knew she needed help.
“So I reached out to a friend connected with Pathways and told them I was in an abusive household,” she said.
“I have moved in twice and came back when I was finally ready and comfortable being on my own,” she admitted.
I now I have a safe place on my own,” she said. “I’m in Cal State Long Beach with my own studio, and my paintings for sale,” she smiled.
“What I have always desired is to impact others as an art educator,” said Mell. Thanks to Pathways, “I now have the opportunity to work toward that goal,”
The event attracted people from throughout the region.
David Munoz, of Norwalk, said it was his second trip to the event. “We love the food, we love the cause and we love the bidding,” he said. “We bid on the L.A. Raiders tickets, but we got outbid,” he said with a smile.
Faiqa Siddiqui, of Fullerton, who runs a credit-counseling nonprofit there that connects people with a brighter future, said she agreed to attend when she learned the cause of battered women.
Hill said after the event that she was “extremely pleased” with the overall event, thanking a small army of dedicated volunteers who began planning the event in April.