2025 Update from BGF & Proud Ultimate
Hello and Happy 2025!
As we reflect on a herstoric 2024 – BGF’s 10th anniversary year! – we are grateful for all we’ve accomplished together. Here are some of the major milestones and updates from the past year:
2024 in Review
BGF Spring & Fall ‘24 Seasons
242 athletes in the Spring, 249 athletes in the Fall
14 teams, led by 28 captains each season
~2% non-cisgender or non male-identifying athletes
~25% athletes playing with BGF for the first time
~45% athletes of color
While we celebrate some of the progress we’ve made on the DEI front, we acknowledge that there’s still more work to be done. Our goal is to ensure that non-white, non-cisgendered, non-male-identifying athletes all feel as included and supported in our community as our white, cisgendered players.
Tournaments in 2024
Sin City (Jan 2024): 90 athletes from 8 metro areas made up six teams. The tournament was led by Quinn Jonas and Doug Frisbie. Six BGF athletes received travel scholarships thanks to our league’s generous donors.
Folsom Invitational (Sep 2024): 60 athletes, across four teams, led by Ty Bernardini and Ricky Shafer.
Fundraising Highlights
2024 was another banner year for BGF fundraising, with about $18,000 raised. These funds ensure that pickup games and skills clinics stay free, help support our athletes at tournaments like the Kaimana Klassik in Honolulu and the Sin City Classic in Las Vegas, and support the organization’s ongoing DEI efforts. Thanks to all our donors for their generosity!
More than $4,000 raised at fundraisers, including the 2024 Mx. BGF Drag Pageant, beer busts at Hi Tops, and the jockstrap fundraiser at the Lookout.
Nearly $2,000 raised during our November 2024 Giving Week with a focus on corporate matching. Thanks to our frisbaes at Apple, Google, Gilead, and Cisco!
Nearly $1,500 raised from BGF swag sales, including reversible jerseys, 10-year anniversary discs, and screen prints. Thanks to our designers, Pierre Souloumiac, Isaac Roman, and Zack Jafek!
More than $11,000 raised from individual gifts – including an incredible $10,000 gift from an anonymous donor!
New brokerage account for stock gifts! If you have appreciated stock, ETFs, or mutual funds, gifting these can have significant tax benefits for you and Proud Ultimate. Contact Charles.Kerl@MS.com for more details.
If you want to host a fundraiser, or just want to support our mission with a donation of your time, resources, or money, you can email info@proudultimate.org or reach out to Proud Ultimate Treasurer Aaron Smyth.
Board & Leadership Changes
We’d like to acknowledge the following leadership transitions:
Charles Kerl assumed the role of Proud Ultimate President (Thank you, Michael “Juicy” Nguyen!)
James Wang assumed the role of Proud Ultimate Secretary (Thank you, Charles Kerl!)
Quinn Jonas assumed the role of BGF Commissioner (Thank you, Mark Shapero!)
James Saliba assumed the role of Head of Communications
Callum Rutherford assumed the role of Head of Events (Thank you, Alfred Gruber!)
Will Smythe assumed the role of Head of Pickups (Thank you, James Saliba!)
Steve Adler stepped up to lead planning for the 2025 Sin City Classic tournament in Las Vegas.
Keith Yamashita organized our bid to compete in the 2025 Kaimana Klassik tournament in Honolulu (Feb 2025). BGF will be sending its second ever team to a competitive tournament!
Other Updates
We held four BIPOC-focused events, primarily organized by Michael “Juicy” Nguyen, Keith Yamashita, and Alex La Padula. Thanks to the whole BIPOC Party Planners Committee for a great year.
More on Proud Ultimate and BGF
If you’re curious for more detail on our organization, monthly leadership meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Meetings are both in-person and virtual. More details are available on our public Google Calendar.
You can also access this drive, which has records including:
Past season survey results
Our Nonprofit incorporation documents
Leadership meeting minutes
Our code of conduct and waiver documents
Our annual budget reports from 2022-2024, and working fiscal year budget for 2024-2025.
Call for Program Ideas
If you have an idea for an event, gathering, initiative or leadership role you’d like to see realized (or personally make happen) within BGF or Proud Ultimate, we’d love to hear about it!
Looking Ahead: 2025
Here are a few of the things happening in the first three months of 2025:
Sin City Classic (Jan ‘25): Led by tournament director Steve Adler, the 2025 Sin City Classic saw 99 registrants from 7 metro areas (SF, NY, LA, San Diego, Chicago, Toronto, and Denver) on six competitive teams. Keep up with future Sin City ultimate events on Instagram (@sincityultimate)!
Kaimana Klassik (Feb ‘25): A team of athletes led by Aaron Colverson, Dylan Englund, and Keith Yamashita will travel to Honolulu, Hawaii to compete at a higher level with dozens of other teams from the US and internationally.
BGF Beginners’ Day (Feb ‘25): Do you know someone who’s maybe a bit disc-curious? Introduce them to the spirit of BGF at our upcoming Spring Beginner’s Day. Follow us on Instagram (@bgf_sf) for all the details when they’re announced.
Spring BGF League (Mar ‘25): Led by our new commissioner, Quinn Jonas, the Spring league season kicks off March 9th and goes through May 18th. Sign-up information is available on Ultimate Central.
A Call to Volunteer
BGF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, entirely run by volunteers. If our organization has made a positive impact on you, we’d love to invite you to volunteer with us. Whether it’s planning events, organizing leagues, or supporting our community in other ways, your involvement can help us grow and continue to make a difference.
To get involved, please reach out via DM on Instagram (@bgf_sf) or email us at info@proudultimate.org.