Fresno County Awards $90,000 in Asset-Forfeiture Funds to Boys and Girls Clubs

Four of Fresno County's top law enforcement leaders gathered Tuesday to present a $90,000 ceremonial check to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County, directing three years of funding toward youth programs ranging from gang prevention education to leadership development and sports programming.

District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp, Sheriff John Zanoni, Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto, and Probation Chief Kirk Haynes jointly presented the grant, which is funded through law enforcement asset-forfeiture accounts under the Fresno County Law Enforcement Grant. The money will be distributed in $30,000 annual installments from 2026 through 2028.

"This investment reflects our shared commitment to prevention and to supporting the next generation," Smittcamp said. "The Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County play a vital role in providing young people with the tools and guidance they need to succeed, and law enforcement is proud to support their work."

The Boys & Girls Clubs plan to direct the funds toward youth programs focused on well-being, including leadership development, sports programming, and gang prevention education. For BGC President and CEO Jason Hannold, the grant carries weight well beyond a single program cycle.

"It is vital to the sustainability of our organization and without it, we simply would not be able to do what we do in our community," Hannold said.

The partnership between Fresno County's law enforcement agencies and the Boys & Girls Clubs reflects a prevention-centered approach to public safety, channeling money seized through criminal asset forfeiture back into programs designed to keep young people out of the justice system in the first place. The three-year commitment gives BGC a stable funding window to build and sustain programming rather than relying on one-time grants.