On Thursday, May 9th, BGCSF President Rob Connolly joined Gap Inc. CEO Glenn Murphy and Gap Foundation President Bobbi Silton to speak in front of thousands of Gap Inc. employees and announce the news that our future Clubhouse in the Western Addition will be named in honor of late Gap Inc. co-founder and longtime BGCSF volunteer Don Fisher.
Rob was joined on stage by youth from the Visitacion Valley Clubhouse and by Mario Barajas, Columbia Park Youth of the Year, who delivered a moving speech that garnered a standing ovation. Glenn, Rob and Mario presented Don’s wife and Gap Inc. co-founder Doris Fisher with a rendering of the new Club. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house!
For nearly half a century, Don was an active board member and volunteer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco. He and Doris helped improve the lives of and create opportunities for thousands of young people over the years. Don did not seek recognition for his work – he did it because he cared about making a difference. Now, Don’s lifelong dedication to his community will be recognized for years to come with the Don Fisher Clubhouse. It is estimated that the future Clubhouse will serve 2,000 youth a year, ages 6-18, with an average daily attendance of nearly 200. It will open in November 2014.
“The naming of this Clubhouse in Don’s honor is a tribute to his 46 years of Board service, his tremendous generosity, his love of San Francisco, and his tireless efforts on behalf of at-risk youth,” said Rob Connolly, president of BGCSF. “We are incredibly grateful to the Fishers and Gap Inc. for being our longtime champions, and we hope their faith in our organization will serve as a catalyst and inspiration for others to get involved in the project and help us realize this dream.”
To support the development of the new clubhouse, Gap Inc. is donating $1 million, comprised of employee donations, corporate matching dollars, and a Gap Foundation grant.
“Don’s passion for making the communities in which we live and work better still inspires our employees every day,” said Glenn Murphy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gap Inc. “We are proud to join the Boys & Girls Clubs to honor Don, and to support their outstanding work to make a difference in the lives of young men and women in our hometown of San Francisco.”
To learn more about the Don Fisher Clubhouse or make a donation, click here .
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