300 Club donates $300,000 as Fresno leaders rally to recruit mentors for boys in need

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California on Saturday hosted a Men's Service Challenge event in Fresno where officials from the governor's office, local elected leaders and law enforcement urged men to volunteer as mentors and presented a $300,000 donation from the 300 Club.

Josh Bridal, representing the governor's office of service and community engagement, said the state is —in crisis' over the condition of many young men and urged men to sign up for the Men's Service Challenge, a California Volunteers initiative that is calling for 10,000 male volunteers statewide. —We are here because we're in crisis,' Bridal said, and directed listeners to menservicechallenge.com.

Organizers and speakers said the cash gift from the 300 Club will help local mentoring operations. Jack, a 300 Club committee member, said the group has raised about $8 million for the organization over decades and that this year's…