An Oakland plumbing startup now has the kind of equipment that can turn a side hustle into a real business: a work van packed with professional tools. Dana Gaines, 25, received the surprise from the OK Program of Oakland at the group’s annual luncheon last Saturday. The gift came as Gaines was building his own plumbing company and stepping into a mentoring role himself.
According to KTVU FOX 2, the van and tools were provided to help Gaines overcome one of the biggest obstacles facing new tradespeople: the cost of getting started. The Oakland nonprofit has supported Black boys and young men for years, and its national organization is celebrating its 35th anniversary this month.
A Surprise Built Around A Second Chance
The OK Program describes its Oakland model as a mentorship and leadership effort that brings together police officers, schools and the faith community, according to the OK Program of Oakland. Its stated goals include developing leadership and critical-thinking skills, supporting academic success and improving relationships between law enforcement and Oakland’s Black community.
Gaines joined the program while he was in 10th grade at Castlemont High School, a period that later included a gunshot wound at age 17 and a difficult return to school. He told KTVU FOX 2 that he was “overjoyed with happiness” when the van and tools were revealed. After sports were no longer an option, he eventually found a new direction in plumbing and began building a business around working with his hands.
Tools For A Business, Not Just A Photo Op
For a new plumber, a vehicle and professional tools are operating infrastructure, not decorative extras. They can make it possible to carry equipment, reach customers and accept jobs that would otherwise be out of reach for someone still assembling a business from scratch.
Gaines is now also an OK Program mentor, hoping to give younger Oakland boys the kind of visible example he once needed. He has said he wants to share future business opportunities with people in his community, turning the gift into more than a one-day celebration and making it part of a longer path from mentorship to work.
The July 25 surprise, therefore, landed as a practical investment in a young entrepreneur, but also as a statement about what sustained support can look like. Gaines now has the keys, the tools and a community expecting him to put both to work—and eventually help someone else get started, too.
