By Debbie L. Sklar • Times of San Diego,Executive Director Lisa
Copyright timesofsandiego
A program that helps teens take charge of their future is getting a big boost from one of San Diego’s biggest sporting events. Project Next has been selected as the newest nonprofit partner in the Century Club of San Diego’s 2025-26 Champions for Youth program, the charitable arm of the Farmers Insurance Open.
Each year, Champions for Youth rallies the community around local nonprofits with a fundraising campaign that culminates at the close of the PGA TOUR event at Torrey Pines. Thanks to Farmers Insurance, every dollar raised comes with a partial match through the Farmers Cares Bonus Pool, rewarding both the funds collected and the number of donors engaged.
For Project Next, the partnership means more students in North County will gain access to mentorship, resources, and opportunities that help them navigate the leap from high school into college, trade, military service, or the workforce. Since 2006, the program has been embedded directly into schools through “Future Centers,” guiding students with clarity and confidence through one of life’s biggest transitions, according to a news release.
“Champions for Youth has always been about empowering organizations that transform young lives,” said Marty Gorsich, CEO of the Century Club of San Diego. “Project Next fills a critical gap for students who are eager to take their next step but may not feel prepared. We’re honored to launch this new chapter of Champions for Youth alongside them.”
The model works. Students like Jaely, a first-generation college student, say Project Next changed their outlook.
“I wasn’t exactly thinking about career prep in high school — I thought that was something for much later in life,” she said. “But Project Next opened doors I didn’t even know existed. A single networking event in our school’s Future Center led to my first paid internship in IT security and business operations.”
Currently operating at San Marcos, Mission Hills, Twin Oaks, Escondido, and Escondido Charter high schools, Project Next is poised for growth. The program’s foundation was laid by Executive Director Lisa Stout, who spent 20 years as a high school counselor and envisioned a scalable way to help students graduate with direction, belief in themselves, and a community of support.
Through Champions for Youth, nonprofits like Project Next not only gain fundraising support but also access to resources that build long-term sustainability. The program provides capacity-building, strategy development, volunteer support, donation software, and marketing tools — all designed to leave organizations stronger than when they started, the news release added.
The 2026 Farmers Insurance Open will spotlight Project Next alongside fellow Champions for Youth partners Support the Enlisted Project, Barrio Logan College Institute, Words Alive! and Reality Changers. The campaign officially kicks off on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, and leads into tournament week at Torrey Pines, Jan. 29–Feb. 1.
Tickets for the Farmers Insurance Open are available now. Fans can support Champions for Youth while enjoying San Diego’s premier golf tradition at www.farmersinsuranceopen.com
