BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE PENINSULA ANNOUNCES DEATH OF LONGTIME CEO PETER FORTENBAUGH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2022

Menlo Park, October 9, 2022 – Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula (BGCP), today issued the following statement: “It is with great sadness that we announce Peter Fortenbaugh, longtime BGCP CEO, died Friday night surrounded by his family in Palo Alto, California. The entire BGCP family mourns this loss. On behalf of our Board of Directors, management team, and staff members, we extend our deepest sympathies to Peter’s wife, Betty, and their three children, Henry, Sam and Pippa. Peter was a larger-than-life figure who focused his remarkable passion, experience and energy on making the community a better place for all kids to grow up, and he will be deeply missed.”

Fortenbaugh was a Silicon Valley nonprofit pioneer and “Chief Community Builder” who mobilized thousands around the mission to support students and families in the lowest-income neighborhoods of San Mateo County. Under Fortenbaugh’s 20 years of leadership BGCP has experienced extraordinary growth:

• 400 to 3,500 students

• 4 to 24 sites

• 30 to 290 staff
• 50 to 1,100 volunteers
• an annual budget of $2 million to $28 million.

In a recent communication to the BGCP community, Fortenbaugh said, “Time is our most precious asset, and the most important thing we do every day is decide how we spend it. For me, I can’t imagine a better way to spend my time than by working with you for a brighter future for our kids and families.”

Rob Burgess, Chair of the BGCP Board of Directors, issued the following statement: “Peter established a true community based on values and partnership. His vision and leadership have inspired thousands of people. As Peter passes the BGCP baton on, it will not be accepted by one person, but by the whole community because he changed lives. Peter has positioned his beloved BGCP community to thrive into the future. His physical presence may have changed, but his life’s work will go on. Peter was a giant of a man who made a dent in the universe. As we hold Peter in our hearts, the Board is confident Jenny Obiaya, who has served alongside Peter as co-CEO since October 2021, will continue BGCP’s strong service to the community as BGCP’s CEO.”

Obiaya has dedicated her career to empowering youth in systematically disadvantaged communities. Prior to joining BGCP in August 2020, she was Chief Strategy Officer, Lavinia Group (Educational Consulting), Director of Schools (Rocketship Public Schools), Managing Director (Teach for America) and a teacher and principal (Success Academy Charter Schools). Jenny earned her BA from Harvard in History of Science and her MS in Education from the Relay Graduate School of Education.

Obiaya reflected, “Peter has undoubtedly impacted us all with his tremendous optimism, resilience and unwavering dedication to helping others. I’m committed to building on Peter’s legacy to empower students in our community to thrive.”

A public memorial service for Peter Fortenbaugh will take place on November 5th at 2 PM at Filoli Gardens in Woodside, California. More details can be found here. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Peter Fortenbaugh Legacy Fund.

If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can visit Peter’s PostHope website: https://posthope.org/peters-health-journey/posts.

PRESS CONTACT
Kathryn Yee, BGCP Head of Development & Marketing
650-763-6024
KYee@bgcp.org
www.bgcp.org

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2022 Proclamation Honoring and Celebrating the Work of BGCP, City of East Palo Alto
2021 Certificate of Recognition, California Senate
2020 Nonprofit of the Year Award, California Association of Nonprofits

BGCP Overview

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Jenny Obiaya, BGCP CEO
Rob Burgess, BGCP Board Chair and Retired CEO, Macromedia
Scott Forstall, BGCP Board Member, Entrepreneur, and Producer
Sean Mendy, BGCP Board Member and Founding Partner, Concrete Rose Capital


Please contact Head of Development & Marketing Kathryn Yee (kyee@bgcp.org, 650-763-6024) to schedule interviews.