Happy New Year, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Family!
I am excited and honored to lead our incredible organization and staffinto the new year! As the year begins, we celebrate one of our staff members’ 35th anniversary with us. As a child, she was one of the first female members of our Encinitas Club and now manages the Club she used to attend. In addition to her story, we celebrate 15 full-time leadership staff, all of whom have more than 10 years of service. Personally, I reached my 32nd year here in 2023. As a local high schooler, I started at the Club as a lifeguard and swim instructor, continuing after college to become our Human Resources Director for over a decade. Eight years ago, I became the CEO. My now adult children grew up in this Club, had their first jobs here, and received lifelong lessons and mentorship from our staff. I could not have worked as a single mother without the support of my CLUB, this CLUB. We are a strong team, dedicated to ensuring the health and positive development of the youth we serve. Our MISSION and passion for the cause are what keep us all together and marching on.
Throughout our 56 years of service, we have centered our community’s needs throughout our seven Clubhouses and seven specialty programs. These include everything from our Centers for a Healthy Lifestyle, our farm-to-table initiative, to Big 8 Middle School Sports, which serves eight local middle schools. Our Clubhouses and programs are filled with laughter and learning, staff who are dedicated to the kids and teens they mentor, and evidence-based curricula that creates a positive environment for kids to thrive. From education to athletics to the arts, we have developed programs that best serve youths’ different developmental needs and unique interests.
The more children we serve in our programs, the greater impact we have in our present and future communities. Youth are our future and GREAT FUTURES START HERE. This year we continue to focus on mental health initiatives, safety across all our programs, leveling the playing field for all youth, and equitable access to opportunity. Please contact me if you would like to learn more about our programs, our impact, and/or what it takes to keep the doors open.
With gratitude,
Marineke Vandervort
CEO
