Building More Than Homes
Our Commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego
At West Coast General Building Contractors, we believe that building something meaningful goes far beyond the structures we raise. It extends into the communities we are privileged to serve — the neighborhoods where our clients live, where our team members raise their families, and where the next generation of San Diegans is growing up right now. That belief is what drives our deep, enduring partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego.
What began as a single act of generosity during an extraordinarily difficult time has grown into one of the most defining commitments of our company's culture. For owners Beth and Parker Piner, the Boys & Girls Clubs aren't simply a charity they support — they are a cause they live.
A Club That Changes Everything
Each year, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego serves more than 22,000 children and families across the region — from the city's urban core to the rural communities of Valley Center and Borrego Springs. For many of those kids, the Club is far more than an after-school program. It is the constant in an unpredictable world. When schools shut down, the Clubs stay open. When no one is home after school, the Club is. When a young person needs someone in their corner, the staff at the Clubs show up — because they have taken the time to truly know each child.
Beth and Parker Piner have witnessed this firsthand. They have been moved by branch managers and staff who don't just know every child's name, but their dreams, their struggles, and their unique gifts. The Clubs show young people that no matter their circumstances, they have the ability to grow, to lead, and to pursue their dreams. There has never been a greater need for that message than right now.
"The staff at the Clubs genuinely know and support their kids, being in those spaces — seeing that care in action — reminds you of exactly why this work matters so much." - Beth Piner
How It Began: A 50-Mile Race and $8,000 in Four Days
In 2019, Beth and Parker Piner were training for a 50-mile endurance race when the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a halt. Rather than abandon their goal, they adapted and decided to run it anyway — on their own. A suggestion from Dan at Dirt Cheap Demo turned their personal challenge into a fundraiser, and a connection to Bruce Dunn, Mission Pools owner and Boys & Girls Clubs lifetime achievement honoree, changed everything.
In just four days, Beth and Parker raised $8,000 for the Clubs during a year when the organization's own fundraising capacity was severely limited by the pandemic. That act of generosity planted the roots of a relationship that has only deepened over time. In 2021, Bruce Dunn invited Parker to join the Board of Directors — and the Piners' involvement truly took off.
Year-Round Commitment: How West Coast Shows Up for Kids
From the very beginning, Beth and Parker have embraced a philosophy of showing up-rolling up their sleeves, bringing their team, and being genuinely present in the life of the organization. That commitment takes many meaningful forms throughout the year.
You Go Girl!
Beth, Kellie, and Kylah at You Go Girl!
Every President's Day, this annual track meet invites girls in grades K–6 to experience track and field in a supportive, celebratory environment. The goal is not just to run a race — it's to ignite a love of movement, to show girls that their bodies are strong and capable, and to send them back to their schools ready to try out for teams they might not have considered before. For Beth, who knows firsthand how sport can shape a young girl's confidence, this event is a highlight of the year. Beyond the races, girls come together for community-building, speakers, and small group discussions — leaving not just as athletes, but as young women who know their voices matter.
Borrego Springs Golf Tournament
West Coast General Building Contractors is a proud sponsor of the annual golf tournament in Borrego Springs each year, bringing a team of colleagues and partners for a day that is as much about community as it is friendly competition.
For Parker, stepping into Borrego Springs feels like stepping back into something familiar — a tight-knit, mid-western-style community where the Boys & Girls Club is not just a program but a cornerstone of daily life. In places like Borrego Springs, the Club's impact is impossible to miss. These are communities where access to resources, mentorship, and enrichment opportunities can be genuinely scarce — and where the presence of a Club can change the entire trajectory of a child's life.
It is precisely because of this visibility, this clarity of impact, that Beth and Parker made the decision to become Life Changers for the Borrego Branch. Being able to see — really see — how their support translates into opportunity for kids who might otherwise go without makes every contribution feel deeply personal and profoundly worthwhile.
The Summer Games
Held at the Mollenkopf Family Branch, the Summer Games bring children from all the Clubs together for a day of swimming, dodgeball, and soccer. For the past two years, West Coast team members have been on-site as volunteer referees. West Coast is also the proud sponsor of the Summer Games Sportsmanship Trophy — a character award presented to the Club that demonstrates the finest spirit of fair play, encouragement, and respect throughout the day.
"All children deserve access to opportunities that encourage healthier minds and bodies, build good discipline, self-esteem, and community. Physical activities and team sports can even the playing field and help kids find a greater sense of purpose and self-worth." — Parker Piner
The Clubs Sportsmanship Trophy winners!
Back-to-School Shopping & the Christmas Toy Drive
Parker Piner made a surprise guest appearance at the wrapping party — because some traditions are too good to miss, and some moments of joy are simply not to be passed up.
Every August, Beth, Parker, and West Coast team members join Boys & Girls Club kids for back-to-school shopping — an experience that is as much about getting to know the children as it is about the supplies themselves. And each holiday season, toy drop boxes at our construction sites and offices fill up thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our clients and partners, with hundreds of gifts delivered to the Clairemont Branch for the annual wrapping party.
29029 Everesting: Climbing for a Cause
In 2024, Parker Piner took on one of the most physically demanding fundraising challenges: the 29029 Everesting event at Snowbasin, Utah — a grueling multi-day challenge in which participants climb the equivalent of Mount Everest's elevation gain on foot.
Parker climbed 30,000 feet in just 36 hours, scaling the mountain 13 times under the summer sun. It was a test of body, mind, and willpower — and it was all for the kids. In six weeks of fundraising, Parker raised over $31,000 for the youth programs of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego. Beyond the dollars raised, Parker's hope was to do something equally important: raise awareness. To show people what the Clubs make possible. To inspire others — friends, colleagues, clients, partners — to look more closely at this organization and consider how they, too, might get involved, whether through a donation, a volunteer shift, or simply spreading the word.
The Evening of Changing Lives: Beth Piner Takes the Chair
The Evening of Changing Lives is the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego's largest annual fundraising gala. It is an evening of extraordinary energy — a celebration of the kids, the staff, the volunteers, and the donors who together make the work of the Clubs possible. And it is the event that generates the critical resources that keep that work going throughout the year. This year, West Coast GBC's own Beth Piner has the honor of serving as its Chair.
Beth's connection to the gala began in 2021 when she and Parker attended for the first time to celebrate Bruce Dunn's lifetime achievement recognition. In 2024 she joined the auction committee, and when asked to chair the 2025 event, she first requested to serve as co-chair and spend a year on the steering committee — because she wanted to truly understand the work before leading it. That thoughtful, intentional approach allowed her to contribute meaningfully while learning the inner workings of an event of this scale. It also gave her the opportunity to begin leveraging her and Parker's network in service of the organization — connecting people, building momentum, and quietly becoming one of the event's most enthusiastic champions.
Now, having done that foundational work, she steps into the chairmanship humbled and energized. The more time she spends inside the Clubs, the more she understands what every dollar raised does:
"The staff at the Clubs genuinely know and support their kids — their strengths, their stories, their potential. Being in those spaces reminds you of exactly why this work matters so much." — Beth Piner
Beth being interviewed at the 2025 ELC gala
An Invitation to Be Part of Something Extraordinary
The Evening of Changing Lives is more than a gala. It is a statement — a declaration by this community that our children matter, that their futures are worth investing in, and that together, we have the power to change lives.
Beth and Parker have seen that power at work. They have watched children find their confidence, discover their strengths, and step into their potential because a Club was there to meet them where they were. They have felt the privilege of being part of an organization that asks not just what it can give to children, but who each child is and what they need to truly flourish.
This year's Evening of Changing Lives will be a celebration of all of that — and a rallying cry for more. More resources. More volunteers. More community members who are willing to say: I believe in these kids, and I'm going to do something about it.
"Supporting the Clubs isn't just about one event or one moment — it's about investing in a brighter, stronger future for our entire community." — Beth Piner
We invite you to be part of it. Attend the Evening of Changing Lives. Make a donation. Volunteer. Sponsor. Share this story with someone who needs to hear it.
Because when we invest in our young people, we invest in all of us.
To learn more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego or to get involved with the Evening of Changing Lives Gala, visit www.bgcsd.org or reach out to our team at West Coast General Building Contractors — we would love to connect you with this incredible organization.