On May 30, all hands were on deck at Lakeside Golf Club for the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and Greater East Valley’s yacht rock–themed gala, which brought together community members, replete in their best nautical-inspired looks, to celebrate the organization’s successes and support the vital programs it has provided to area youth and families over the past 31 years.
More than 370 guests, including public officials, donors, sponsors and other stakeholders, enjoyed an evening filled with dinner, drinks and plenty of entertainment, including live music from Yacht Groove and dance performances from Burbank Performing Arts and Deaf and Hard of Hearing program members. The gala, emceed by NBC4 news anchor and award-winning journalist Lynette Romero, also featured a spirited speech from the Club’s Youth of the Year, Mher Khachatryan, as well as a live and silent auction, opportunity drawings and more.
This year’s gala honored longtime supporters Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center and its senior director of clinical operations, Carol Granados, for their meaningful engagement and lasting partnerships with local nonprofits. Through its Mother Joseph Fund, the hospital invests in initiatives that support disaster response, lifelong education, community-driven change and healing opportunities that strengthen individuals and families. Boys & Girls Club chief development officer Tracey Ban says the hospital’s impact on the community extends far beyond medicine.
“The Saint Joseph team is guided by compassion, kindness and a genuine desire to improve the lives of others. They believe that caring for one another creates better outcomes, stronger communities and a deeper sense of connection and purpose,” Ban shares, adding that Granados, a Boys & Girls Club board member for the past four years, exemplifies the hospital’s dedication to service, having embraced the Club’s mission wholeheartedly and thrown her support behind various programs, including those that support health and life skills.
Proceeds from the annual gala are essential to making the Boys & Girls Club’s mission possible every day, as more than 57% of the organization’s members receive financial aid, ensuring that no child is ever turned away due to an inability to pay.
“Every dollar raised through the gala directly supports opportunities that help the young people in the community,” Ban explains. “From academic support and mentorship to leadership development and enrichment activities, these investments ensure that our members have the tools, resources and encouragement they need to reach their full potential and become the productive, responsible and caring citizens our mission envisions.”
For more information about the Boys & Girls Club and how you can help the organization thrive year-round, visit bgcburbank.org.