Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe appoints Fernando Vargas as executive director

Fernando Vargas, a 25-year veteran of Boys & Girls Clubs, has been appointed Executive Director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lake Tahoe.

Vargas, 54, brings extensive experience from Clubs throughout the country, most recently in Elko, Nev., to the position. His successful background with fundraising, fiscal management, strategic and youth development initiatives were cited by Jeff Tillman, Club President, as major reasons for his appointment.

"His qualifications are unmatched and exactly what we need for the organization," said Tillman. "We’re fortunate to have someone of Fernando's background with the Boys & Girls Club to lead the charge with new programs and innovative funding initiatives for our 870 kids."

Firmly rooted in team and relationship building management styles, Vargas increased grant funding by 300 percent, closed individual gifts up to the million dollar level and increased corporate gifts by more than 900 percent over an 11-year period. His efforts in program design have received national recognition in Boys & Girls Clubs of America program excellence award. Throughout his career in the Boys & Girls Club movement, Fernando has raised 32 million dollars for operations, endowments, and the establishment of clubs in Nevada and Maryland.

Vargas vows to bring sound fiscal and fundraising management to the Lake Tahoe organization by engaging club members, parents, community leaders as well as individual and corporate donors.

At the core, Vargas will bring a new philosophy to the Lake Tahoe club by asking its youth members to become more civically engaged in the community.

"The accomplishment of our movement's mission takes place when children understand that privileges are direct results of responsibilities,” said Vargas. “Once this concept is accepted by the community, support flows in every direction. Children involved civically and responsibly in their neighborhoods and beyond are praised and supported by their adult counterparts in every aspect of their development."

Vargas served as chief professional officer at the Boys & Girls Club of Elko for 11 years, Cache Valley, Utah for one year and Salt Lake City as unit director for two years. He was also branch director of Boys & Girls Clubs in San Antonio, Texas and Oakland Calif., a unit director in Maryland, and served as program and individual services director in Baton Rouge, La., beginning in 1986.

He attended Louisiana State University, University of California-Berkeley and obtained his BS from University of Louisiana - Lafayette.

He is a proud father of two daughters and has six grandchildren whom he refers to as the reason for his existence. Fernando is a native of Tracy, Calif.