Jill Jacobson's Fundraiser for BGCC!

The last five years have changed my life.  Working with the staff, volunteers and supporters at Boys and Girls Club has been amazing.  I am pictured in the photo above with a volunteer, Karen Egan, who comes to the Club two afternoon each week to work with 6th grade students to ensure they develop the study habits they will need to success in middle and high school.  She is such an inspiration.  I know together, all of us, are making a difference for Coastside youth.  

I have shared these stories before, but they still hold true.

It is so fun for me to see kids in the after-school program doing some of the same projects my kids did -- Historical Figures and Science Fair.  Greg and I were able to be involved with these efforts, but not every kid has a family who can help them.  I love that BGCC is here for all kids with supplies, expertise, and simply a place for them to work on this capstone  experiences.

And, I am such a fan of the BGCC~Cunha Sports program. Both my sons, Chris and Steve, played sports at Cunha. Steve played flag football, tennis, and basketball.  Chris ran cross country and track and played basketball.  They made lifelong friends in this program.    When Cunha Sports were going to be cancelled in 2020, we asked alums why Cunha Sports Matter?  Here are some of the answers from by sons and their peers.

"Cunha Sports Matter because they are the best place to build friendships. Middle school can be a tough transition from elementary school, and having a sense of belonging and working together toward one common team goal really helped me with that transition. There is no better feeling than knowing you have friends and teammates that have your back at all times, no matter what." - Christopher Jacobson. University of Michigan B.A. Sport Management. Minor in Physics

"Cunha athletics is important because it gives kids from all walks of life on the Coastside an opportunity to participate in something that facilitates togetherness. Cunha athletics gave me my first real experience in the power of the Coastside community, and that I could contribute to community pride at a young age." - Logan Marshall, Logan represented  Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on their cross country team.

“Cunha sports was where I played on my first team. It was where I created lifelong friendships/brotherhood! It showed me discipline, work ethic and a way to express your feelings. If I didn’t have Cunha sports, I wouldn’t be the person/ athlete I am today.”- EJ Madriaga.  EJ worked for years as beloved BGCC staffer and now owns his own fitness studio.

“Cunha sports were the catalyst of many memories, lessons, and friendships I hold today. 

They provided a healthy, affordable outlet for us all to grow collectively and individually, and to fail and learn from our mistakes safely. 

If I didn’t have those opportunities, I don’t know if I would have achieved the things I have thus far.” 

— Corey Cilia.  Corey played competitive basketball for the Vietnams' National team.