Although the sold-out crowd initially shivered by the pool in their tropical apparel at the 48th annual Tropical Night Luau as blustery gusts blew in off the lagoon, the broad smiles on the faces of the Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy children and an inspiring speech by a graduate of its Pre-Apprenticeship program clearly warmed the cockles of their hearts, turning the event into the nonprofit’s most successful fundraiser to date.
Once inside the Quail Valley River Club, where guests enjoyed a delicious Hawaiian-style dinner, Phil Barnes, YG executive director, spoke about the recent official opening of their newly renovated state-of-the art facility, which he said will provide hands-on experiences and real-world career opportunities for middle school, teenagers and young adults.
“We will soon be able to double our capacity and build upon our successes,” said Barnes, noting that three-quarters of their construction pre-apprenticeship graduates have secured full-time employment or are enrolled in trade school…