A fundraiser to help establish a mentoring program in San Benito County was held by Girls, Inc. of the Central Coast on Oct. 25 at San Juan Oaks Golf Club.
The program, known as ECHO, is a leadership mentoring program for high school girls that helps young women find career development opportunities. The organization hopes to have the program in place at San Benito High School by the fall of 2014, said Patty Fernandez, director of the Girls Inc. of the Central Coast in Salinas.
“Part of our strategic plan is to grow into San Benito County,” she said in a phone interview Tuesday.
The luncheon was hosted by Girls Inc. of the Central Coast, an affiliate of the Girls Inc. national organization, which helps provide “girl-focused” programs to girls and young women throughout the country, including in Monterey and San Benito counties.
About 240 guests attended the first annual Girls, Inc. fundraiser, said organizers.
“It was really great to see so many community members come out,” Fernandez said.
Cosponsors of the event included the Community Foundation for San Benito, Women’s Club of Hollister and the Zeta Epsiolon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma.
One of the programs sponsored by Girls, Inc. is “Smart Choices,” which helps high school girls make positive decisions about relationships and health.
Nayeli Gallardo was among speakers at the event. She is a resident of Monterey County and a Stanford graduate. She has been a member of Girls, Inc. since middle school and now works for the organization in event planning and alumni relations.
“I think they really enjoyed not hearing from just us, but from the actual girls from the high school,” Gallardo said Tuesday. “We were pleased so many people from the community were there.”
If you would like to donate to the organization, visit www.girlsinccc.org or send donations to Girls Inc. of the Central Coast, 318 Cayuga St. Suite 209, Salinas, CA 93901.
