The Boys & Girls Clubs of America is one of the most recognizable organizations. Each location creates fun opportunities for kids and gives parents peace of mind that their children are safe after school and during summer break. But above all, the club is a place for mentorship, where kids can learn lessons that last beyond the school year. It doesn’t come cheap, but as Geovanny Ragsdale knows firsthand, the reward is well worth it. In this episode of Amiga, Handle Your Shit, Jackie Tapia sits down with Geovanny Ragsdale, certified fundraising executive, president, CEO, and driver of the Boys and Girls Club of the West Valley, to discuss fundraising and mentorship. She’s spent over 25 years leading fundraising initiatives to support higher education and other philanthropic efforts. Their conversation begins with Geovanny’s incredible journey, from the daughter of immigrant parents to a certified fundraising executive. Growing up in Costa Rica and Los Angeles, she dreamed of seeing the world and, upon graduating, studied abroad in France. Through her travels, she learned about the power of giving back on a larger scale. That seed started her lifelong journey of fundraising. Geovanny truly has done it all. Today, she shares the biggest moments that shaped her career, from organizing a life-changing fundraiser in India to mentoring a single mom's five kids. It's easy to see why this cause is so special. In her tenure alone, she’s helped the organization grow sustainably, raising over 4 million dollars. Tune in to episode 298 of Amiga, Handle Your Shit, for an incredible conversation about fundraising on an executive level and how your donation, be it money or time, helps the next generation succeed. Episode Takeaways Growing up between Beverly Hills mansions, a grandmother's farm in Costa Rica, and Atwater Village, and how early travel shaped the way Geovanny sees people. (04:59)The professor who changed her idea of business: you create value so you can make a difference (07:51)The cow bank project in India, built on ideas from microlending (13:17)Geovanny speaks on the nine years building programs across Latin America, including opening new ones in Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador (20:27)Why the Boys & Girls Club’s 40% growth this year means Geovanny has to raise far more money (33:18)The graduation-day conversation with a mother of five club kids that brought Geovanny to tears (37:44)Geovanny's advice for handling your shit: put the phone down and live in the moment you're in (46:42) Resources: Connect with the Boys & Girls Club Boys & Girls Club of the West ValleyFind a Boys & Girls Club near youConnect with Geovanny Ragsdale: LinkedInInstagramConnect with WebsiteFacebookInstagramLinkedInJackie Tapia Arbonne websiteBook: The AMIGA Way: Release Cultural Limiting Beliefs to Transform Your Life Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.