YouthHope’s ‘A Walk in Their Shoes’ Gala Highlights Lives Redirected

Photos by David James Heiss

The Mitten Building in downtown Redlands was decked out for YouthHope’s “A Walk in Their Shoes” fundraising gala.

By David James Heiss

Redlands News Collective

Unlike most fundraisers, this gala wasn’t particularly intended to make guests feel good about themselves.

Neal Waner, who emceed the 15th annual "A Walk in Their Shoes" fundraising dinner at the Mitten Building, said as much to the crowd of at least 270 guests, each of whom paid $95 a plate to raise money for the YouthHope Foundation.

For those uninitiated to the event, Waner explained that actors would later regale them with tales — not necessarily of inspiration, but of hardship; a sublimated recounting of actual struggles experienced by the homeless and unhoused youth served by YouthHope.

There was plenty of reason to celebrate and feel uplifted, though: several alumni of YouthHope’s programs were recognized for their success as adults, and keynote speaker Redlands Police Chief Rachel Tolber shared encouraging statistics resulting from YouthHope’s years of assistance under the tutelage of founder Heidi Mayer.

In the mid-to-late 1990s, as Tolber was finishing her education at the University of Redlands, she noted that the city’s youth homeless population was “relatively small,” but it proliferated starting in the 2000s. She was an intern at the time with the Police Department, working alongside another nonprofit, Building A Generation.

“I really had a front-row view to the challenges that were facing members of our community, especially our homeless population," Tolber said.

In those early years, she met Mayer. “It was on the corner over by the annex where the (police) Administration Building is now, and it was when our retired Chief Jim Bueermann introduced me to Heidi. He explained the remarkable work that she was doing. And at that time, Heidi was serving our youth in the community one person at a time out of the back of her car. And I thought, ‘What an amazing vision, and what an amazing woman.’"

Tolber shared figures highlighting YouthHope’s impact since 2009: 1,209 youth moved into housing; 4,900 bus passes distributed; 159 youth tutored by case managers; 41 enrolled in adult school; 87 completing the GED; 94 enrolled in college; and 427 who received job security assistance.

Police Chief Rachel Tolber delivers a keynote address.

“Those numbers are staggering, but they're not just services delivered. They represent individuals and futures that have been redirected," Tolber said. "Public safety is strongest when that village stands together.”

Barbara Harris of Loma Linda accompanied her adult daughters, Emily and Nora, to the event. Harris helps congregants of Trinity Episcopal Church of Redlands make clothing accessories, including scarves, slippers, gloves and socks, as donations to the foundation.

“We’re pretty involved with what they’re doing,” said Harris, who sews hats for YouthHope. “Some of the stories that come out of YouthHope are heartbreaking, and we’re happy we’re able to help.”

“You always think it’s a small town until you go to an event like this,” Emily Harris said. “It’s surprising and impressive how many people are interested in helping youth.”

Pamela Anderson of Fontana, who had been seeking a nonprofit to donate clothing her children had outgrown, was accompanied by Mackenzie Monoya of Grand Terrace.

“To think what kids go through is unbelievable,” Anderson said.

Monoya said she was inspired by the admiration the youth have for Mayer. “Seeing how much they love Heidi, you’d imagine a lot of them have never received love — makes me cry thinking about it.”

Three actors — Leilani Baldwin, Kenna Reading and Gavin Hutchens — performed soliloquies mirroring the authentic struggles of YouthHope constituents.

Hutchens’ character described a life where his mother left when he was 4 and his best friend died by suicide in front of him. He resorted to drugs and self-harm before crediting Mayer for listening without judgment and treating him "like the mother he never had."

Reading’s character expressed gratitude to YouthHope for helping her obtain a food handler’s card and allowing her to experience the "true Christmas spirit."

Baldwin’s character, born in prison and a repeated victim of incest, described fighting and probation before Mayer became the first person to “treat me like a real person.”

YouthHope founder Heidi Mayer gives Giovanni Jiminez some recognition. Jiminez provided some of the acoustic guitar ambience for the event.

Five YouthHope alumni were presented certificates by Mayer for excelling in adulthood. They included Giovanni Jimenez, who runs Pacific Pool and Spa; an alumna teaching sign language at community colleges; a student studying business while working for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Gorgonio Pass; a staffer for a family service program in San Bernardino; and “Jason,” a pest control worker and father of eight.