The Charity/VIP Lounge at the Malibu Half Marathon and 5K Run/Walk is the best way to experience what’s already a premier race.
The Lounge will feature dedicated gear check, deluxe restrooms, post-race massages, refreshments and catering, and lounge seating and shade brought to you by Bright Event Rentals.
This year, we are happy to welcome Drip IV. Drip IV Therapy is an on-demand mobile IV therapy service that offers vitamin-infused blends to optimize repair, recovery, and rehydration on the cellular level in the comfort of your home, hotel, or office. This time, they will be offering complimentary Hydration Drips to the VIP/Charity Lounge guests.
You’ll get access to the Lounge when you register for the race as a Charity Runner, which also includes express check-in at Packet Pick-up, a special charity bib and two beer tickets.
But the best reason to 'Run for Charity' has nothing to do with these cool amenities. When you select a charity ticket, it includes a $75 donation that goes to support the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu.
In 2017, runners raised over $16,000 for the club. In 2018, the money raised nearly doubled to $30,000. This year, we expect to do even better.
The charity program got its start back in 2015, when Erica MacVittie came on as the new race director. She arrived with a mission to make the event “100% community and people-based.”
“I wanted this event to give people a memorable experience, make them feel special, and more than anything, I wanted to make sure we gave back to the Malibu community we loved so much,” she says.
She decided to designate the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu as the official charity of the race.
Although most people think of Malibu as the home of the rich and famous, it’s also where thousands of low-income domestic laborers work and where some send their children to attend the public schools. Kids come to the clubhouse for various reasons, whether to escape an abusive home, get help with their homework, or just to have fun and stay out of trouble.
The club was actually founded in the wake of the Columbine school shooting to give local youth a place to safely congregate and get mentorship and other important services.
“Despite the area’s celebrity status, many local kids don’t come from affluent backgrounds,” MacVittie says. “Therefore, the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu plays a critical role within the community by providing a safe, affordable, professionally staffed clubhouse with inspiring opportunities for kids to grow and learn.”
Although the race has been supporting the club since 2015, MacVittie created the Run for Charity program in 2017 to encourage runners to actively participate in fundraising for the organization. It’s proven to be an enormously rewarding experience for both runners and the club. In 2017, we had 194 Charity Runners; 284 in 2018; and expect approximately 400 this year.
“By joining the program, you can earn benefits on race day like getting Lounge access, become a Boys & Girls Club of Malibu Charity Champion, and make a difference in a young person's life,” MacVittie says.
She also calls out Bright Events Rentals for being an exceptional event partner who is aligned with race’s social mission.
“They are a company that’s 100% people and service-oriented,” she says. “They care about the community and giving back, and they have truly elevated this space to an oasis by the start and finish line, bringing comfort, stylish touches and luxury to the Lounge.”
Join the Run for Charity program today and get rewarded in so many ways on Race Day and beyond.