Cool Kid Caleb Gomes helps out younger kids at Malibu Boys & Girls Club

MALIBU, Calif. (KABC) -- Our Cool Kid for Thursday April 14 is Caleb Gomes, who was named "Youth of the Year" for LA County's Boys & Girls Clubs for doing so much to help younger kids.

Caleb has faced many challenges in his young life. He and his mom had to move 20 times in 17 years.

But then he found a place where he felt at home - the Malibu Boys & Girls Club.

His mom worked in Malibu, so he could go to the club after school and stay until she finished work. Eventually he saw he could be more than just another member. He saw younger kids who needed help, so he became a volunteer.

A very good volunteer, in fact. He was so going at mentoring younger kids that he was recently named a co-winner of "Youth of the Year" for the Los Angeles County clubs and he will soon be considered in a similar state-level contest.

Caleb plays varsity basketball at Malibu High School. But he hopes to teach kids skills that extend way beyond the court.

He has a simple message for them: "If you just put your mind to it and you have a passion about that thing - it could be about basketball, whatever it may be - it's possible for you to achieve that."

Caleb will be the first in his family to pursue a college education, and has already been accepted to several schools.

That's just the beginning of what's sure to be a life of helping others.