Staff Reports | Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Triad
High Point, NC — The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Triad hosted its annual Mardi Gras Masquerade to a packed room of community leaders, corporate partners, elected officials, and long-time supporters, raising critical funds to support youth programming in High Point and advance the organization’s Future Ready Triad expansion.
The evening combined celebration and purpose, featuring a live auction, online auction, and powerful remarks highlighting the growing regional impact of the organization.
Mayor Cyril Jefferson, First Lady, and Board Member Raven Jefferson
Mayor Cyril Jefferson and First Lady & BGCTriad Board Member Raven Jefferson were among the many distinguished guests in attendance, reflecting the broad community support behind the movement to expand high-quality youth development opportunities across the Greater Triad.
A Celebration Rooted in Community
The Mardi Gras theme carried special meaning. In his welcome remarks, President & CEO Dr. William D. Gibson acknowledged the cultural significance of the celebration and connected it to the mission of the organization.
“Here in the United States—especially through New Orleans—Mardi Gras has been profoundly shaped and enriched by Black culture,” said Gibson. “As an organization that primarily serves Black youth across this region, it feels especially meaningful to celebrate a tradition shaped by Black excellence, creativity, and community strength.”
He continued by reminding attendees of the stakes, stating, “We declare that zip code will not determine destiny. And together, we commit to building something Better. Bigger. Bolder.”
Throughout the evening, guests responded generously during both the live and online auctions, demonstrating their commitment to investing in safe spaces, caring mentors, academic support, athletics, and workforce pathways for youth across the region.
High Point as the Anchor
The Mardi Gras Masquerade remains one of the organization’s key annual fundraising events supporting Clubs in High Point. However, this year’s event also celebrated the broader Future Ready Triad expansion—an ambitious regional strategy to grow from serving approximately 2,000 youth today to 9,000+ youth annually by 2030, expanding from 6 clubs to 25 to 30 across the region.
High Point serves as the anchor of this expansion, with a long-standing commitment in Asheboro, and will extend into Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Burlington, and surrounding communities across Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance, and Randolph counties.
“This is not just about expanding Clubs. It’s about expanding opportunity,” Gibson emphasized. “When we go Better, quality and outcomes rise. When we go Bigger, more youth are reached. When we go Bolder, entire communities change.”
Leadership and Community Commitment
Board Chair Leslie Bates reflected on the significance of the evening and the organization’s trajectory.
“What we witnessed at Mardi Gras was more than generosity—it was belief,” said Bates. “Our community believes in the young people of the Greater Triad. This event demonstrated that when we come together around a shared vision, we can build something sustainable, impactful, and transformational for generations to come.”
The success of the event was made possible by the dedicated efforts of staff and board members who worked tirelessly to plan and execute the evening, as well as the sponsors and donors whose generosity fuels the mission.
Board Member and Chair of the Mardi Gras Planning Committee, Sharyn Andrews, expressed her appreciation for the strong community turnout and enthusiasm.
“It was inspiring to see so many leaders, partners, and friends of the Club show up and celebrate with us,” stated Andrews. “The energy in the room reflected a community that truly cares about its young people. We are grateful for every person who attended, bid, supported, and helped make the evening such a success. It was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish together.”
Building a Better, Bigger, Bolder Future
As Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Triad continues to expand its footprint and strengthen program quality, events like the Mardi Gras Masquerade play a critical role in ensuring financial sustainability and community ownership.
Every dollar raised helps a young person belong, rise, and become.
Event Sponsors
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Triad gratefully recognizes the sponsors whose generous support made the Mardi Gras Masquerade possible:
- JEM Aviation
- Kay and Dave Picha
- Piedmont Chemical
- Breece Enterprises – Jacob Breece
- Carolina Thomas
- Marsh Furniture
- Teresa and Wayne McGee
- Smith & Jennings
- Standard Colors
- Krissa and Tom Schaaf
- Bonnie and David Horney
- Donna and Tubby Smith
- Elizabeth and Don Swaim
- American Woodcrafters
- Sharyn and Roy Andrews
- Barbour Spangle Design
- Coca-Cola Consolidated
- Karen and David Black
- Bernard Robinson & Company
- Davis Furniture – Ashley Williams
- Edward Jones – Whit Holbrook
- Exacta Chemical
- Forvis Mazars
- Kelli and George Holbrook
- Amy and Jeff Lewis
- McMichael Foundation
- Leslie and David Moore
- Jim Morgan
- Roberson, Haworth & Reese
- Mike and Carla Ferrara – TriadLean
- 7 Degrees of Change – Kimberly Norcross
- Dunbar & Smith – Scott Dunbar
- Mary and Gary King
- Pinnacle Bank
- Thomas Bus – Mark Childers
- 98 Asian Bistro
- Debbie and Don Burton