Inside the Club - October 2026 Newsletter
This past month, we tried new things, made more friends, and changed up our logo—and we just want to say thanks for having our backs. Because YOU make all of this happen.
Check out how we closed up September and welcomed the Fall!
Did You See?
Photos From Around the Club
Take a look at some photos from our 20th anniversary of Day for Kids Celebration and our Teens accepting a BIG check at the Corona Ross’ Grand opening.
Day for Kids: Carrying on a tradition we’ve proudly hosted since 2006, this year we welcomed 500 kids and family members to Texonia Park in Redlands for a giant, free festival! The park was buzzing with pure joy as families and children roamed the stalls — exploring the games, activities and local resources. Day for Kids sits right at the heart of our mission because it’s all about celebrating our community and we couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who came out to celebrate with us!
Ross Check with Teens: Ross just opened up a new location in Corona and they celebrated by generously donating $5,000 to our Power Hour program. Some of our teens got to pop over and accept the big check in person. Huge thanks to Ross for supporting our kids!
Building a Better Future Together
For over 120 years, Clark Construction Group has built spaces where communities gather.
But according to Sam Hoelscher, Vice President of Clark Construction for Orange County and the Inland Empire, true success doesn’t just come from constructing civic centers — it’s about the heart and care that you pour into people.
"Because our people live in these communities, it just makes sense that we give back—not just with financial support, but with our time," Sam said.
Over the past year, Clark Construction has stood firmly by our side. Their dedication really shined during our recent International Day of the Girl event where, beyond their generous financial support, two of Clark’s incredible team members, Sarah and Sophia, joined us as mentors.
For Sam, he holds supporting the Club close to his heart.
"You can help someone who might be the smartest person at their school, but they lack some of the advantages that others have," he said. "It’s a great way to help them remove obstacles so their life can take off."
As a father of three, two daughters and one son, Sam wants the absolute best for his children: a future with endless choices and no roadblocks. His vision for the world also extends to our girls.
While construction has historically been a male-dominated industry, Sam works alongside extraordinary women leaders everyday—and he hopes to show young girls that construction goes beyond the hard hats and job sites, although that is also an option, he said.
We are so deeply grateful to Sam and the entire Clark Construction team for helping us build greater futures and being part of our village!
Day of the Girl
This month we made history by hosting the Inland Empire’s first ever International Day of the Girl mentorship event at Fairmount Park’s historic Stewarts Boathouse in Riverside!
In honor of the special occasion, we changed our iconic blue logo to a pink hue and brought together 20 middle school girls from University Heights Middle School for an afternoon focused on career exploration, vision building, and mentorship. Students had the chance to network and connect with a group of amazing women leaders from STEAM, athletics, law, and government.
The girls also got to hear from Senator Sabrina Cervantes, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Sophia Choi, world-champion Jiu-Jitsu athlete Kendall Reusing, WEBB Associates Vice President Stephanie Standerfer, graphic designer Aracely Muñoz, and JP Morgan Market Executive Bansree Parikh.
"It is important for young students to hear about career paths and journeys because it provides opportunities to learn about a career path they might not have ever thought about or knew about, and it helps make dreams become goals and goals become reality," Judge Choi said.
The program was designed to celebrate a girl's potential while addressing education and equity barriers that many young women face. Studies show that girls experience a sharp 30 percent drop in confidence between ages 8 and 14. Without the proper support and encouragement, these barriers can taint a girl’s future. To help break down those barriers, the afternoon featured a vision board workshop where students mapped out their ambitions alongside their mentors, followed by small-group Q&As where they asked questions about resilience, careers, and self-advocacy.
Thanks to the support of sponsors like Clark Construction, Molina Healthcare, San Bernardino Supervisor Dawn Rowe, and Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel, the gathering left a lasting impression on everyone involved.
"Bringing this inaugural Day of the Girl mentorship event to the Inland Empire was a huge milestone for our organization and the young women we serve,” said BGCGRR’s Jessica Brown, Vice President of Resource Development. “By connecting middle school students with strong role models across various industries, we helped spark confidence, expand their horizons, and connect them with a community they can carry with them for years to come."
Share the Joy This Holiday Season
As the holiday season inches closer and the shopping lists start growing, it’s also the time to support our neighbors when they need it the most.
If you are looking for ways to give back this holiday season, we’ve got plenty of opportunities! Whether it’s donating toys, donating or volunteering your time, your generosity matters.
Ready to make an impact? Contact Meghan Mccan, our Community Engagement Liason: mmccan@bgcie.org
Coming up at the Clubhouse
Back-to-School Family Dinner
Family Dinners bring Club families together to share healthy, delicious meals while learning simple ways to support children’s well-being.
Friday, Oct. 23
Our doors are always open! Secure a spot at one of our upcoming events—play mahjong with our APALIE friends or come check out our Back-to-School night at the Clubhouse.
Your support gives our staff, families, and kids the tools to build greater futures.
Thank you for being such a vital part of our village!
Warmly,
Michael Wells
Chief Executive Officer