On a night filled with purpose and possibility, the San Leandro community came together for Boys & Girls Clubs of San Leandro’s third annual Night of Exploration gala, presented by the San Leandro Boys & Girls Club Foundation.
More than just a fundraiser, the evening celebrated Boys & Girls Clubs of San Leandro’s 77-year legacy of service and its incredible growth. As the organization continues to deepen its impact and expand access across San Leandro and surrounding communities, Night of Exploration served as a rallying call to build the next chapter together.
City and county dignitaries joined community partners, BGCSL’s board of directors, and supporters, including San Leandro Mayor Juan Gonzalez, Councilmember Victor Aguilar, and representatives from Alameda County, the San Leandro and San Lorenzo Unified School Districts, public safety departments, and local agencies. Their presence underscored a powerful collective commitment to the success of local youth.
Guests enjoyed an inspiring keynote from Club alumnus and world-renowned percussionist, Karl Perazzo. Raised in San Francisco’s Mission District, Perazzo has toured with Santana and collaborated with music icons including Prince, Mariah Carey, John Lee Hooker, and Tito Puente. His journey from Club Kid to global performer spotlighted the transformative impact of opportunities made possible through the Boys & Girls Club.
Throughout the evening, attendees enjoyed interactive explorations designed by youth that replicate many enrichment opportunities available to Club teens. These hands-on experiences ranged from 3D printing and virtual reality to custom t-shirt and hat design, all underscored by the energy of BGCSL’s own teen DJ.
More than $200,000 was raised to support expanding teen programming and workforce development opportunities. In her remarks, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Leandro CEO, Kim Pace, called attention to the unique challenges teens face today—and why investing in them is critical:
“We know from decades of experience as the largest youth-serving organization in the country that programs like ours aren’t just nice to have—they’re essential. Adolescence is a critical period—second only to early childhood. Yet today’s teens face remarkable challenges, and just as we’ve done for decades, we are meeting this moment. That’s why we are committing to serving 1,000 teens in our community and expanding teen programs to create more pathways to college, careers, and leadership.”
The evening affirmed what BGCSL has long believed: when a community invests in its youth, great futures follow.
Presenting Sponsor: San Leandro Boys & Girls Club Foundation
Community Advocate Sponsor: Amazon
Youth Champion Sponsors:
ABC Supply Co. Inc.
Fremont Bank
General Roofing
Kaiser Permanente
McNely Construction Company
Mike and Nancy Pretto
Principal Consulting Group
Ross Stores, Inc.
Local Legend Sponsors:
BME Electrical Construction
CAZ Investments, LP
Daryl Thomas
FH Dailey Chevrolet
Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Jacqui Watson Diaz & Loren Diaz
Kristen Jones and Landon Stone
Mike LeFaivre
Port of Oakland
Rotary International, San Leandro
Safehouse
Shaw Bakers
Supervisor Lena Tam; District 3
Waste Management
