Special Events
What’s Good
What’s Good is our annual community gathering that brings Portland-area companies, nonprofits, and community leaders together to celebrate progress in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space. A diverse mix of professionals connect to uplift stories of inclusion, share DEI initiatives happening inside their organizations, and build community across sectors. The program highlights how businesses partner with local nonprofits to drive collective impact for underserved youth and communities. What’s Good amplifies the power of DEI, and inspires a bold vision that brings companies and non-profits together to advance impactful change.
Youth of the Year
Youth of the Year is our premier teen leadership program and competition – our way of recognizing outstanding Club members who model character, service, academic effort, and leadership. Throughout the year, Club teens build their stories, sharpen public speaking, and develop a service mindset with coaching from caring staff and mentors.
How It Works:
- Preparation & Coaching: Applicants strengthen résumés, write personal essays, and practice interviews and speeches with BGCP staff and community volunteers.
- Judging & Celebration: Finalists share their stories with a judging panel and at a community celebration where we honor their accomplishments
- Ambassadors: Winners serve as BGCP ambassadors–lifting youth voice, representing our Clubs at special events, inspiring younger members and advancing to compete at the state competition for Oregon Youth of the Year.
Why It Matters:
Youth of the Year helps teens grow confidence, leadership, and college-and-career readiness skills–while opening doors to scholarship opportunities and professional networks.
Who Can Participate:
All Club members in high school are encouraged to apply each year. (We also offer a Junior Youth of the Year experience for middle school members to build early leadership skills.)
Get Involved:
Interested teens can talk with their Club Director about eligibility and requirements for participation. Community partners can support by volunteering as practice interviewers, coaches, judges or event sponsors.
Be Great Ball
Be Great Ball is our signature fundraising gala–an inspiring evening that celebrates our Club members and rallies the community behind our young people as future leaders. The night features moving youth stories (including Youth of the Year highlights), honors community champions, and raises critical funds through a live auction and paddle raise.
Proceeds power our Life & Career Readiness work—everything from Career Exploration, Financial Empowerment, and STEAM to Sport & Play and essential wraparound supports—so more kids across the Portland metro area can access safe spaces, caring mentors, and life-changing opportunities.
Who attends: corporate partners, civic leaders, alumni, and friends of BGCP.
How to get involved: sponsor a table, purchase tickets, donate an auction item, or volunteer.
Join us at Be Great Ball each year to celebrate our youth, connect with community, and invest in Great Futures.
Lemonade Day
After 8 weeks of a hands-on entrepreneurship curriculum, every 4th and 5th grader at all BGCP Clubs brings their learning to life at our special capstone event: Lemonade Day Sales Competition. Over the course of the program, Club kids practice goal-setting, budgeting and pricing, branding, marketing, and customer service–then they take their stands to market for a one-day community celebration of youth entrepreneurship.
On Market Day, teams compete for $10,000 in cash prizes, including a top honor for the team that sells the most lemonade. It’s a festive showcase of skill, teamwork, creativity and confidence–and a core component of our skills building continuum for Life & Career Readiness.
Companies can support by hosting stand locations, volunteering to support youth entrepreneur teams, or sponsoring cash prizes.
