Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley
Westlake Village, CA – The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) are holding the 18th Annual “Stand Up for Kids Gala Dinner & Auction” on Saturday, September 14 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village.
The annual Gala, themed BELIEVE, will run from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will showcase BGCGCV’s programs and services, while also recognizing its outstanding supporters. Guests will be invited to participate in an interactive exhibit and experiential journey into BGCGCV Clubhouses while also enjoying a gourmet dinner, youth and professional performances, silent auction and live auction.
The 2019 Gala Honorees are Cal & Marje Johnston and Amer Soudani. The BE GREAT Presenting Sponsor is The Johnston Group and BE A LEADER Auto Sponsor, Thousand Oaks Toyota.
About the Honorees
Cal & Marje Johnston
Honoree Cal Johnston founded the BGCGCV in 2001 with a goal to provide access for all youth and to build full Clubhouse facilities on middle school campuses. He envisioned starting six clubs in the Conejo area, and his continued leadership has enabled BGCGCV to surpass this vision providing nine Club sites and serving over 4,000 youth every year across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. In early 2019, construction of the latest Clubhouse facility in the Conejo area was finalized. Johnston’s early beginnings made an impact on his desire to help others. Growing up in an orphanage, he learned the importance of providing a safe place for youth. He credits the support he received in his early years that helped him to succeed in life. He is a graduate of the University of California and served as First Lieutenant in the Air Force. Later, he became a real estate development investor and started a successful business. In 1998, he was introduced to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, serving as Regional Trustee between 1998 and 2017. During this time, he traveled across the country, visiting various clubs and observing the different ways each organization delivered programming to youth and families. He observed how many clubs were isolated from schools, making it difficult for children to attend, which helped him craft a vision for BGCGCV.
Cal Johnston’s wife, Marje has supported BGCGCV throughout the years, serving on the Program Committee and leading efforts to ensure that all youth, regardless of family income, had the opportunity to access high-quality club programs.
Amer Soudani
Amer Soudani has been on the Board of Governors for the BGCGCV for 10 years. He chaired the Facilities Committee and was hands on for the design and construction of the new facility at the Sequoia Middle School, named the Rocky and Lon Morton Club. He was also on the Facilities Committee for the Redwood Boys and Girls Club, just recently completed – the John L Notter Club, which ushered a new method of construction that provided the competitive edge for a better and more open space design for this amazing club. Amer resides in North Ranch area of Westlake Village with his wife, Yvette, his college sweetheart and their two children, Alex 16 and Allena 15. He enjoys golfing in his spare time, and as a family, thoroughly enjoys traveling and dining worldwide in addition to spending time in their new found love, their home in Sarasota, Florida. Amer received his BS degree in Civil Engineering along with his life time partner, his wife Yvette from the University of Missouri- Rolla. His past experience in the concrete construction and his extended skills in design-build construction, value engineering and construction management enabled he and his wife to form two very successful companies, Parking Structure Builders, Inc. and DDC Management Service, Inc. residing in the Westlake Village area.
The annual Gala helps to support over 4,200 youth in LA and Ventura county, providing programs during school, summer, and breaks. Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available. Silent Auction is now live to the public at https://www.bgcgcvgala2019.com/lite-ui/?controller=lots&category=All%20Lots.
Information on the Gala can be found at www.BGCGCVGala2019.com.
About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) are open before and after school, during lunch, on weekends, for summer camp, and all day during school vacations. Tours of the Clubs are available upon request. The Boys & Girls Clubs also offer a variety of employment positions with excellent benefits and ongoing professional development. For more information about employment opportunities, supervised youth programs, to donate, volunteer, or register online, log onto www.bgcconejo.org or call 818-706-0905.
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