Holiday Fund: Empowering futures: Anderson’s success story with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula

By Kathryn Yee

Anderson O. first started attending Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula while he was a student at Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School. As a newcomer to this country who did not speak English, Anderson found BGCP was a safe place to connect with peers and staff. 

As a high school sophomore, Anderson participated in a math remediation class at EPA Clubhouse. He excelled, and his sense of community and desire to help his peers led him to become a BGCP teaching assistant. Anderson made the most of the EPA Clubhouse and soon discovered Future Grads. His high school did not offer college tours, so Anderson jumped at the opportunity to visit colleges in northern and southern California via Future Grads. He researched potential college and majors and regularly attended office hours to receive support on his personal statement. Anderson initially envisioned himself starting his postsecondary journey at a two-year college, but with encouragement from the Future Grads team, he applied to multiple four-year universities. 

As acceptances rolled in, the BGCP team reviewed financial aid packages with Anderson and his father and found the most cost-effective options. After much discussion, Anderson decided to attend University of California, Berkeley (on a full ride!). He’s now majoring in Nutrition, pursuing his dream to be a Kinesiologist. He is now paying forward the support he received by hosting tours at UC Berkeley for BGCP’s Future Grads high school seniors. 

While Anderson is the first in his family to go to college, he won’t be the last. Oscar, Anderson’s little brother, is an eighth grader at BGCP and hopes to follow in his big brother’s footsteps.

Anderson is just one of 5,900 TK-college students served by Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula. BGCP is now the largest expanded learning provider in San Mateo County with 29 sites from Daly City to East Palo Alto. For more information, visit bgcp.org.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula is one of the beneficiaries of The Almanac’s Holiday Fund. Donations are divided equally among this year’s 10 nonprofit organizations and 100% of the funds raised go directly to the recipients. Donations to the Holiday Fund can be made at almanacnews.com/holiday_fund.

Kathryn Lee is the head of development and marketing for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula.