The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, which operates a clubhouse at 2555 Vista Del Oro in Newport Beach, has promoted Keegan Bell to Chief Philanthropy Officer as the nonprofit scales up fundraising after two mergers last year expanded its reach from five to eight Orange County cities.

Bell, a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) with more than 20 years of nonprofit fundraising experience, joined the organization in December 2025 as Executive Director of Philanthropy. His promotion, announced July 20 in the Orange County Business Journal, was part of a planned leadership transition, according to the organization's announcement.

Travis Whitten, who held the Chief Philanthropy Officer title for 14 years, moves to a new role: Executive Director of Leadership Giving, where he will focus on major gifts and legacy giving. When Bell was hired in December 2025, Whitten called him "one of Orange County's most respected fundraising professionals."

Before joining the Club, Bell served as Executive Vice President of the Irvine Public Schools Foundation. He also led fundraising at The Wooden Floor and MemorialCare, and served as board president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals' Orange County chapter.

CEO Robert Santana said the leadership shift reflects the organization's growing ambitions after its 2025 mergers brought in new communities.

"Together, this expanded team reflects the Club's increased commitment to a robust philanthropic foundation across our footprint," Santana said.

Three additional staff members round out the enlarged philanthropy team: Ma Nerriza dela Cerna, Farah Manneh, and Michael Willis.

The Club now serves nearly 15,000 youth annually across Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Irvine, Newport Beach, Orange, and Santa Ana. During the 2025–2026 school year, its College Bound program served more than 5,000 students at 24 locations. The program has awarded more than $1.6 million in scholarships to 572 recipients to date.

The organization's Be Great Gala is scheduled for late July 2026. Details are available at boysandgirlsclub.com/gala.