Over my years working in Pasadena real estate, I’ve had the privilege of supporting many incredible community organizations. I met Lisa Cavalier, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena, when they first participated in our biannual Bike Build. Through working with them I’ve witnessed firsthand the impact they have on children and families in our community.
“For over 85 years, this place has been a haven for kids,” Lisa Cavalier explained. “We’ve evolved tremendously over the decades. What started in 1937 as a commitment to serve children in need has developed, especially in the last 5 to 10 years, to care for all young people who need us and any family that would benefit from our support.
“Our mission is to provide a safe place for kids where they can focus on three key areas: academic success, healthy lifestyle, and good character and leadership. We serve youth from 5 to 18, every day after school, on holidays, and during the summer.”
“Young people need a place to feel safe.”
.
“When I first got here, seven years ago, I wanted our facilities to be worthy of the staff, families, and members who come here. So we raised and invested about $3 million into our locations. Young people need a place to feel safe, gain a sense of belonging, and build relationships with adults who care about them. When I’m asked who our target audience is, I always answer that it is every kid, and we have programs that will enhance any child’s life.”
“In this building, for example, kids can learn to play basketball, pickleball, and volleyball. They can learn swimming and be on a swim team. They can learn arts, dance, and piano. It’s really all under one roof and there’s no extra charge for each of those pieces. We try to replace ‘running all around town’ for parents. We even have a sleepaway camp in the summer!”
.
.
“I think there’s a misperception that Boys & Girls Club is only for kids who are under-resourced, and it’s just not true. I’ve also heard people say, ‘Oh, those beautiful buildings, I could never afford to go there.’ But when you actually line up the amount that parents pay for various camps and after-school programs in town, we’re among the lowest at about $50 a week. If you can’t afford that, we offer all kinds of financial aid. And once our members turn 13, we don’t charge any fees at all. We want to make sure teens have a safe place to go with great mentors who look out for them. We even created a dedicated Teen Center where they can work on things like college readiness, mental health, and community service.”
“It’s an honor to work with such dedicated and caring individuals.”
.
“I am so proud of my incredible staff and the work we do here. Many of them have been here for years and some of our former members have even come back to work with us as Youth Development Professionals. It’s an honor to work with such dedicated and caring individuals.
“I remember early on when a pregnant mom with two young children walked in and told us she had just lost her job. We sat her down and said, ‘You know what, you can send them here. There’s not a charge involved. We’ll talk again in six months or a year to figure it out.”
.
.
“Or when the Eaton Fire hit, we were able to raise about $350,000 to directly help our families who lost everything. We also adopted Odyssey Charter School after their building was destroyed, bringing 250 children and about 40 teachers into this building until June so they could finish their school year. It was a tight squeeze, but these were kids who had just lost their school, and many their homes too.
“When I think about how we are perceived in the community, I guess what I would want people to know is that we are available to everyone from every background.”
“These kids are our future neighbors, teachers, and leaders.”
.
“But most of all, I want them to know that we are changing kids’ lives. The staff here works hard every day to keep children safe, to help them figure out what their lives might look like, and to build in them the confidence and skills to achieve it. These kids are our future neighbors, teachers, and leaders and it makes me so proud to know that we are helping them succeed.”
.
Supporting the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena has been incredibly rewarding. Lisa and her staff are doing extraordinary work for our community’s children and are always open for partnerships, donations, and tours of their facilities. Whether you’re an individual or corporation looking to sponsor programs, donate time or money, or simply spread the word about their work, I urge you to give them a call and see how you can help. We can all play a part in ensuring every child in Pasadena has access to the safe, enriching environment they provide.
Watch the Video Interview!
Learn how I work, deliver outstanding outcomes, and treat your interests as my own every step of the way.