On April 16, Enterprise for Youth held their 9th annual Heroes at Work fundraising gala. Bringing together community members, business leaders, and supporters to invest in San Francisco’s young people. The evening highlighted youth participating in our paid internships and career development programs. A key part of the event is youth storytelling, where speakers share how early work experiences have helped them build confidence, explore career pathways, and shape their future goals. The gala creates space for connection between youth and the broader community, reinforcing access to meaningful work opportunities and economic mobility.
Heroes at Work 2026
Heroes at Work is centered around creating space for our young people to share their stories in their own words. The goal of the event was to design an experience where youth voices were not just included, but were the heart of the evening, allowing guests to connect directly with their journeys and growth. The event aimed to raise critical funding to support Enterprise for Youth’s programs, with a target of $98,000.
The Goal
Pre-event
☑ coordinated vendor & venue logistics
☑ designed table seating & guest flow
☑ coordinated speaker prep workshops
☑ developed run-of-show timeline
☑ supported event branding & visual materials
☑ managed ticketing & registration tracking system
Event Day
☑ led on-site event coordination & real-time operations
☑ managed guest, donor, & speaker check-in flow
☑ oversaw AV setup & live program transitions
☑ managed program timing & adjusted run-of-show as needed
☑ served as primary on-site point of contact for staff & vendors
☑ acted as main point of contact on-site
The event raised over $319,000, exceeding the original goal by more than $60,000, and brought together 210 attendees. Beyond the numbers, the night allowed for meaningful connections and relationships to grow within the Enterprise for Youth community.
The Results
Key Takeaways
Fundraising starts before the event
Securing $152,000 in corporate sponsorships ahead of the gala reinforced the importance of building relationships and creating opportunities for partners to invest before event day.
The guest experience is part of the fundraising strategy.
A well-paced program, strong youth storytelling, and intentional opportunities for connection helped create an experience that encouraged guests to stay engaged and give.
Preparation creates flexibility.
With more than 200 guests, multiple vendors, youth speakers, and a live program, detailed preparation made it possible to adapt to last-minute changes while keeping the event running smoothly.
Guest feedback consistently highlighted the youth speeches and student-centered program as some of the most meaningful parts of the evening. Future events should continue simplifying the program and creating more opportunities for guests to connect directly with youth.
Keep the focus on the mission.
Feedback from our guests
“What a great event last night - you and your team are real pros! That was the best paddle raise I’ve seen, and just a great overall program. The youth speeches were great, and the young man at our table did a fantastic job.”
— CMO at Parnassus Investments & EFY Alumni Board Member
“Last night was one of the most meaningful and, honestly, one of the best nights of the year. I'm incredibly grateful I got to be part of it. I want to sincerely thank you for allowing me to share my story with donors at Heroes At Work. It meant a lot to be able to represent Enterprise for Youth and speak about my experience with you guys.
— Youth Table Speaker & EFY Alumni
“Thursday night was exceptional. I've sat through a lot of these dinners over the years, and honestly, this one was different. You just nailed all the things that actually matter. The program stayed where it should: on the students. Right length, right message. The venue felt like a room, not an arena. The auction was short, sharp, done — exactly how it should be. And the food was delicious and well executed. There's a version of these events that's all noise and no substance. This was the opposite. You quietly showed everyone how it's done.”
— President at Deloitte & EFY Board Member