Malia Ward Wins $100 And Turns It Into A $1k Donation To The Homeless

The curly haired, lovely, yet tough daughter of Chris Ward – remember when she shoved Gabby Medina off that wave? If not watch it here – is an absolute sweetheart. She’s a thing of beauty with a radiant smile and an outgoing personality that comes with growing up travelling the world. Her home base is a magnificent four-story beach house in Corona del Mar, Ca, where she resides with her mother (who’s also stunning) Miss Jacqueline Miller. At the tender age of 19, Malia’s a professional surfer, a model, and most recently a humanitarian. 

Last weekend, she won a whopping 100 dollars at the 28th Annual Newport Classic. And after a few contemptuous remarks about the meagre purse, she decided to do something with it. “I posted tosocial media and people were like ‘100 bucks? Fuck that! Give her at least three, jesus,” she tells Stab. “Another good one was ‘$100 you gonna keep all of dat?’ or my personal favourite, ‘Don’t spend it all in one place.” 

Cue Village of Hope, an Orange County rescue mission located on a decommissioned military base. The shelter consists of a 192-bed transitional housing for homeless men, women and children. Malia and Jacqueline saw the shelter’s appeal for diapers and baby wipes which read: 

We are at an all-time high in women and children living at Village of Hope. We are averaging 5,000 diapers a month. We are asking the community to donate 22,000 diapers and 32,000 baby wipes to get us through the end of the year.

She's pretty, charitable and probably surfs better than you! Photo: WSL

“I heard on the news that Village of Hope needed diapers and wipes for homeless parents for about 80 babies,” she continues. “And it was perfect timing. I had just won my contest, posted about, had just read those negative comments about the money I won and thought, what better way to ‘spend it all in one place’, than helping people in need?" 

Malia, called for her friends and family to join the cause. “I obviously used my 100 from the contest,” she says. “And then I asked my friends and family to see if anyone wanted to match my 100 dollar donation. I got nine others to throw in the same amount, and I headed to Costco!” This garnered the attention of FOX LA, the Orange County Register and a few other local media outlets.  

“With the money, we raised 2,400 diapers and 100 boxes of baby wipes,” says Miss Ward. “It’s all about perspective, making a difference in my life is one thing. But being able to help people in need is far more rewarding.” 

We love a slice of feel-goodery as much as we love Malia and thus we clap our hands and give a heartfelt bravo.