FFY 2026 Board Members: Karen N, Karen W, Connie M, Sandeep A, Paddu M, Fiifi D (not all members pictured)

Small but mighty, Friends for Youth staff

Today was the day.

"Registration, raffle, merch stations—everyone to your places!"

The anticipation in the room was almost tangible. Slowly but surely, our Friends for Youth family started to trickle in—board members, mentors, mentees, partners, Besties Club members, longtime supporters, sponsors, and friends, all gathering in one place for a shared purpose: mentorship.

The sounds of a live jazz band drifted through the room, setting the perfect tone for our Midnight in the French Quarter celebration. Laughter echoed through the ballroom. Hugs were exchanged, new connections were made, and the room came alive with conversation. Guests stopped by the photo booth, browsed the raffle tables, and were met with the familiar question: “Raffle tickets? Heads or Tails wand? You won’t want to miss the game!”. I looked around, and the room was buzzing with joy. As everyone began to take their seats, it was my turn to step on stage. My feet tingled with nerves.

"Thank you all for being here tonight on this very special evening."

After opening the evening and sharing our gratitude, I was joined by our CEO Emeritus, Karen Wilmer, to kick off the awards portion of the night. We had the honor of presenting the John Gaston Excellence in Mentoring Award to two longtime pillars of the Friends for Youth community, Gwen and Michael Havern.

My heart beamed as they stood for their recognition. Both Mike and Gwen have been longtime mentors. In fact, Mike was my brother Diego's mentor. But their impact reaches far beyond their own mentorship matches. For 18 years, they have poured their hearts into Friends for Youth, investing in meaningful mentorship relationships and showing up for young people across the San Mateo County community. Their dedication has touched countless lives and strengthened our community in invaluable ways. In recognition of their extraordinary service, they also received a special acknowledgment on behalf of Senator Josh Becker's office—a fitting tribute to their lasting impact.

Up next, our Board Chair, Sandeep Ashok, stepped up and shared heartfelt remarks honoring Cecilia Chu, who we affectionately know as Cece—or, if you’re lucky, Gran Jefa, aka Wally’s mom. He spoke about her leadership, heart, and vision, and how she has shaped the organization in extraordinary ways. He reflected on the remarkable growth she has led at Friends for Youth, helping set the organization up for continued success with the support of this community.

Cece then took a moment to share even more of her heart with us. She closed with a poem—thoughtful, grounding, and full of love. Though she is stepping into a new chapter, her impact will continue to live on.

We love you, Cece.

In many ways, having mentees at the gala was part of Cece’s vision, and to honor that, I made it my mission to have them in the room. One special guest was our alumni mentee, Yael Galicia. During a mentorship spotlight, we shared a clip from his testimony in our 2025 impact video. His journey with Friends for Youth began as a freshman in high school, and today he is thriving as a mechanical engineering student at the College of San Mateo. Watching his story unfold on the screen, surrounded by the very people who helped make it possible, was another really special moment.

After a lively auction and a fun game of Heads or Tails, we transitioned to our keynote speaker of the evening. Henry Ward is the CEO and co-founder of Carta, the ERP for Private Capital. He has been part of Friends for Youth since 2013, building a decade-plus-long mentorship with his mentee, Joevanny. What started years ago has grown into a relationship that has shaped both of their lives in lasting ways.

As Henry shared their story, he reflected on how mentorship transforms not only a young person's life, but the mentor's life as well. His parting message was one that Joevanny had once shared with him:

"You get me."

Three simple words that stayed with him and later unfolded into his relationship with his own son. A reminder that mentorship weaves threads that stretch across lives, families, and generations, creating connections that continue beyond a single match. There wasn't a dry eye in the room.

I stood in the back, quietly wiping tears from my own eyes, looking around the room at everyone who was sharing in that moment. And I had a thought.

This is community.

Relationships that blossom into something bigger than any one person. People from different walks of life and experiences, all brought together by a belief in young people, in human connection, and in our collective ability to leave this world a little better than we found it.

This night wasn't just a fundraiser. It was a room full of people choosing to believe, and to show up.

This is mentorship.

With gratitude,
Eunice Navarro
Friends for Youth Alumni Mentee & Sr. Development Coordinator