One of BGP’s and OHG’s managing partners, Brad Blake, founded and is the president of College is Real, a non-profit education organization based in Richmond, CA (www.collegeisreal.org). CIR serves more than 400 high school students annually at the three Richmond public high schools.  Its mission is to change the college-going culture in Richmond.  CIR provides motivation, counseling, tutoring, college application support, financial aid and a wide range of other resources to its student-members.  CIR has an impressive track record with a 100% high school graduation rate, 95-100% college application rate and 90-95% four-year college acceptance rate.  CIR’s graduates attend almost all University of California and Cal State Universities and several private universities including Stanford.  Many of BGP’s and OHG’s employees serve as mentors to CIR students and provide financial support at its annual fundraiser. 

Other organizations that BGP’s and OHG’s employees volunteer for include:

• Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
• Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation
• Habitat for Humanity
• Glide Memorial Church Meal Service
• Berkeley Food and Housing Project
• Various youth sports organizations