For the 18th year, Boys & Girls Club of North SLO County will honor a dedicated community member and their contributions to the organization. “The Board of Directors reviews contributions of our Board members and community partners — current and past — who have made a significant impact,” Board member Pat Bland said. This year, former Board Chair Todd Evenson was selected as the honoree for the Champions of Youth event scheduled on September 8th.
“Todd has served on our Board since 2012 and has been Board Chair for the past four- years, recently passing the gavel over to Nadine Sullivan,” Bland said. Bland added that some of the accomplishments achieved during Evenson’s time as Board Chair include expanding the number of children served as well as establishing community partnerships and adding a Clubsite in Atascadero.
“I have been passionate about serving kids for quite some time,” Evenson said. “I started with coaching both soccer and softball while my own kids were still playing. The satisfaction from giving back and especially in helping kids improve not only their sports skills but also in navigating through life was very rewarding. As coaches, we were able to instill good character development that we knew could last a lifetime. Transitioning to the Boys & Girls Club was a natural fit in that our clubs are all about lifetime results and very intuitive programs. The organization focuses on academic success, character development and healthy lifestyles.” Evenson added that the Board also knows that it is important for children to be in a safe environment after school.
“Ultimately, I can’t think of a better way to give back than to the future of our country, our kids,” he said. “I was humbled to be honored, but also felt there could be 30-plus honorees for this event. In order to achieve the success that we have as an organization, it takes many wonderful volunteers throughout our community to put all of the pieces together.”

“Ultimately, I can’t think of a better way to give back than to the future of our country, our kids,”

Outside of his volunteerism with Boys & Girls Club, Evenson is a residential mortgage lender and co-owner of Connect Home Loans in Paso Robles. “I got into the mortgage industry shortly after arriving from Orange County in the late ‘90s,” Evenson said. “I knew I wanted to pursue real estate and the loan side of the business intrigued me.”
Evenson lives in Paso Robles with his wife of 26 years, Tressa. They have three adult daughters: Nicole, Natalie and Katie. In his free time, he also enjoys yard projects, camping and traveling. “The bulk of my community involvement came in the form of coaching until transitioning to the Boys & Girls Club,” Evenson said.
“The Champions of Youth Dinner event was started as our primary annual fundraiser to support the operating expenses for the organization 18 years ago,” Bland said. The organization has been in operation in North SLO County for over 28 years. “The award has been given to previous and current Board members, including local community superstars such as Sandy Viborg, Jeb Brown, Robert Covarubius, Dale Gomer and JED Nicholson,” Bland said.
On Saturday, September 8, the Club will host its annual Champions of Youth Dinner & Auction at the Paso Robles Event Center, 2198 Riverside Avenue, at 5:30 p.m. Approximately 200 guests come together each year for a lively social hour, passed appetizers and a four-course dinner catered by Chef Jeffrey Scott with local wine pairings, live and silent auctions and dancing. 
Tickets are available by calling Karen, Club Office Manager, at 805-440-8783 or by visiting bgcslocounty.org.