This spring, our Executive Director Chad Mayer was honored by the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce as Man of the Year—a recognition of his deep commitment to youth, community, and the city of Wilmington, where Sharefest’s roots first took hold nearly two decades ago.
If you know Chad, you know that he’s not one for the spotlight. But this moment gave us all the opportunity to reflect on just how much impact one person—and one organization—can make when they choose to show up, stay consistent, and serve with heart.
In his acceptance speech, Chad shared how Wilmington first opened its heart to Sharefest back in 2007. After a gang-related tragedy rocked a local neighborhood, Chad was invited to join a task force convened by then–Councilmember Janice Hahn. That summer, LAUSD had canceled summer school due to budget cuts, and hundreds of youth were left with nothing to do—no structure, no support. Chad and a small group of volunteers launched a free summer program at Cal State Dominguez Hills, powered entirely by community members who simply wanted to make a difference.
Chad also made a personal commitment to mentor one student from that first summer cohort. His name was Jose Sanchez. At the time, Jose was in middle school. Today, he’s a UC Santa Barbara graduate with a degree in financial math and statistics and now works as a credit analyst at Pacific Premier Bank. As Chad said in his speech, “That’s what happens when we invest in people.”
By 2009, Sharefest had been invited into Avalon Continuation High School—right in Wilmington—to begin working with students who were often labeled “troubled,” “behind,” or “too far gone.” But Chad and the Sharefest team saw something else: resilience, potential, and strength. Starting with after-school credit recovery, Sharefest helped increase graduation rates by 400% in the first year.
“We didn’t do it because we had a flashy new program,” Chad shared. “We did it because someone showed up and stayed.”
That same spirit carries through our work today—from one school in Wilmington to 19 across Los Angeles County. From beautification projects and summer camps to year-round workforce development, mentoring, and career pathway programming, Sharefest continues to meet students where they are—offering support, belief, and the tools they need to succeed.
This award may bear Chad’s name, but as he made clear in his speech, it belongs to so many. To our staff, who walk alongside students every day. To our board and mentors, who believed in this mission from the start. And to students like Natalie—another Sharefest graduate and Banning High School alum—who once faced enormous challenges but is now thriving as a college student and role model in her community.
We’re proud to work alongside Chad—and proud that the Wilmington community took a moment to recognize the impact he’s made, both personally and through the work of Sharefest. His story is a reminder that change doesn’t always start with a grand gesture. Sometimes, it starts with showing up—and choosing to stay.
Thank you, Chad. And thank you, Wilmington.
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