FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 10, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Christina Cano, Christina.Cano@cv.ca.gov, (279) 224-2907
Central Valley Invests Additional $300K in California Men’s Service Challenge after State Commits $5 Million
What you need to know: The state announces $5 million to support the California Men’s Service Challenge — calling on 10,000 men to serve as mentors, coaches and tutors — and now local organizations are stepping up to offer additional financial support. A $300,000 investment in the Central Valley will boost efforts by Big Brothers Big Sisters to recruit more male mentors across the Central Valley.
FRESNO, Calif. — Today, Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement (GO-Serve) Director Josh Fryday joined Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula, Mayor Jerry Dyer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California, the 300 Club Committee, local leaders and law enforcement to highlight the California Men’s Service Challenge and to announce a new $300,000 local investment to expand mentorship opportunities across the Central Valley.
The $5-million statewide initiative, announced earlier by the state, calls on 10,000 men to step up and serve their communities as mentors, coaches and tutors through the California Service Corps and partner organizations.
The California Men’s Service Challenge builds on Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent executive order responding to rising suicide rates, disconnection and declining college attendance among young men and boys to address the mental health crisis while creating new pathways to purpose, leadership and belonging.
“California is committed to the long-term success pathways for young boys and men. This local investment combines with our commitment through the state to continue uplifting the next generation of leaders,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
Madera County Chief of Probation Rick Galindo, Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni, Fresno Police Department Deputy Chief Mark Salazar, Fresno County Board of Supervisors Chair Buddy Mendes, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California COO Nick Lutton, Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig, GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California CEO Diane Phakonekham, Kings County Board of Supervisors Chair Doug Verboon, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, Tulare County Supervisor Eddie Valero, Tulare County Supervisor Larry Micari, Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula and other community leaders announce the Central Valley’s investment in the California Men’s Service Challenge in Fresno.
Through this effort, California Volunteers, Office of the Governor is partnering with leaders already doing the work including Improve Your Tomorrow, Big Brothers Big Sisters, MENTOR California, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, the Giants Community Fund and the American Institute for Boys and Men.
California Men’s Service Challenge participants will engage young men directly, helping them build connections to education, careers and community. The effort advances Governor Newsom’s broader commitment to create more pathways for youth success. By combining service with mentorship and skill development, the initiative provides a sustainable model to ensure young men feel valued, supported and equipped to thrive.
“Across California, young men lack connection and direction, while they are desperately needed to serve in their communities,” said GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday. “Through service, we can help them find purpose, build careers and make a real difference. The California Men’s Service Challenge is calling on 10,000 men and also organizations to lead, and partnerships like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California, along with the support of the community, are helping more boys access the mentorship and guidance they need to thrive.”
The state’s $5 million investment will create more new paid service opportunities over the next two years. These will be combined with thousands of volunteer opportunities and existing paid California Service Corps positions to offer near-peer mentorship by pairing young people with mentors close in age or life stage.
In the Central Valley, a $300,000 local investment from the 300 Club Committee will support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California in recruiting and mentoring young men. The goal is to build trust and relatability and to strengthen organizational capacity to engage more young men in service and provide education awards to encourage participation. For more information on grant funding, go to www.CaliforniaVolunteers.ca.gov/2025-california-mens-service-challenge.
“Here in the Central Valley, the need is clear and urgent. When men step up to mentor, they help change the direction of a young person’s life. We are calling on men from every background to join us in building a stronger future for our children,” said Nick Lutton, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters Central California.
The California Men’s Service Challenge builds on the California Service Corps, the largest service force in the nation, which empowers Californians to tackle the state’s toughest challenges while building skills for the future. Together with local partners, schools and community organizations, this new effort will ensure more young men see themselves as leaders with the power to create lasting change.
Path and purpose
In July, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to address a growing issue — the alarming rise in suicides and disconnection among California’s young men and boys. The order directs a coordinated statewide response to improve mental health outcomes, reduce stigma and expand access to meaningful education, work and mentorship opportunities. The full order can be found here.
The executive order helps address this crisis, directing state agencies to create a new focus on this issue and creating new pathways to help reconnect men and boys with the support, assistance and help they need.
The crisis of loneliness
Young men are more disconnected from school, work and relationships than ever before, with nearly one in four men under 30 years old reporting that they have no close friends, a five-fold increase since 1990, with higher rates of disconnection for young Black men. A lack of social connection is associated with increased risk of poor health, including mental health disorders, poverty and even premature death.
This disconnection has pulled men out of the workplace. Labor force participation among men without a college degree is currently at historic lows, with about one in nine men aged 25-54 neither working nor looking for work. The unemployment rate for men in California is also higher than the rate for women, and college enrollment and completion rates for men have dropped significantly over the past decade.
How we got here
Since taking office in 2019, Governor Newsom has been focused on building a California for All, investing in efforts to make government work for everyone by reaching underserved communities and demographic groups, expanding access to services that meet people’s basic needs so they can focus on pursuing opportunities and advancement and actively assessing disparities in opportunity and outcomes to more effectively deliver governmental services to all intended beneficiaries.
RELATED FOOTAGE:
GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday Interview
INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH: GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday. Christina Cano, Christina.Cano@cv.ca.gov, (279) 224-2907
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About California Volunteers, Office of the Governor
California Volunteers, under GO-Serve, empowers Californians to take action to improve their communities. California Volunteers is the state office tasked with recruiting Californians to engage in public service.
