About

Our Story

Our story began over half a century ago when two dedicated organizations—Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito and Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside—began to support youth and families in their local communities. For decades, each Club provided safe spaces, essential programming, and mentorship, evolving alongside the communities they served. From the establishment of our original facilities in the 1950s and ‘60s to the construction of new centers, Clubhouses, and recreation areas, we’ve been deeply rooted in enriching young lives.

In 2024, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito and Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside joined forces as Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest San Diego. United, our mission remains steadfast: to provide safe, nurturing environments where children and teens from all backgrounds can grow, learn, and succeed. With eight clubhouses and specialized programs, we now offer expanded services, from after-school support to teen leadership initiatives, with a shared commitment to character-building, academic achievement, and personal growth.

Now, our Club is the second largest Boys & Girls Club organization in San Diego County. Our Club is defined as a Major Metro Organization by Boys & Girls Clubs of America due to the size of our annual budget and the number of children we serve.

Today, our organization serves:



6,500

registered members in our After School Program



16,500+

total number of youth served through membership in our after-school programs (8 Clubhouses and 8 specialty programs) and activities held at our sites and in the community for non-member youth

ï’¾

$655,000+

in financial assistance awarded each year

Our Mission

The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest San Diego is to inspire, develop, and enrich young people to reach their fullest potential as confident, responsible, caring members of society.

History of BGC San Dieguito

In 1966, Doug Hall, then executive director of the Carlsbad Boys Club, met with Dr. Charles Clark from Encinitas. Dr. Clark was representing the Encinitas Optimist Club and was interested in starting a Boys Club in the Northwest San Diego communities. The Encinitas Optimist and the San Dieguito Kiwanis service clubs had joined together in an effort to establish a youth program for the seven communities in the Northwest San Diego area: Encinitas, Leucadia, Olivenhain, Cardiff, Solana Beach, Del Mar, and Rancho Santa Fe.

In February 1967, Dr. Clark, President of the Board, asked Doug Hall, who had been acting as a consultant and Executive Director (through an arrangement with the Carlsbad Club), to be the permanent Executive Director of the new San Dieguito Boys Club. After much deliberation and discussion with his family, Doug accepted the position. He would hold this position for the next 25 years, and be instrumental in the success of the Club for over 45 years.

History of BGC Oceanside

Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside has a long legacy of supporting youth in our community, starting back in 1952 as a small facility dedicated to young boys.

Almost 20 years later, the original clubhouse was replaced, and in the early 1970s, the brand-new Townsite facility opened its doors. By the early 1990s, the Club expanded its programs to include all youth, welcoming girls for the first time.

Over the following six years, we launched a Computer Lab, Teen Center, and even a Recording Studio to meet the needs of a growing membership. In 2007, with membership reaching 300, we formed a valuable partnership with the Oceanside Unified School District, further extending our impact.

Today, we continue our mission of nurturing and inspiring Oceanside’s youth. In addition, we offer a unique program for adults with developmental disabilities called ROAD’s (Real Options for Adults with Disabilities).

Our Evolution

Combined timeline of BGC San Dieguito (noted in gray boxes) and BGC Oceanside (noted in blue boxes)

1952

BGC Oceanside begins in 1952 as a small facility serving only male youth

1966

BGC San Dieguito begins in Encinitas in a donated temporary building serving only male youth

1969

Lomas Santa Fe Drive Branch opens in Solana Beach (Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito History)

1970s

Original Club at the current Brooks Street Pool was demolished and reopened on Country Club Lane as the Townsite facility in the 70s (Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside History)

1971

Griset Branch opens in Encinitas. Two years later in 1973, the gymnasium at the Griset Branch opens (Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito History)

1978

Gymnasium at Lomas Branch opens (Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito History)

1985

Del Mar Branch opens (Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito History)

1987

Pool opens at Lomas Branch (Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito History)

1990

Allred Branch opens in Carmel Valley (Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito History)

1990s

The Club expanded its services to include female youth in the 90s (Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside History)

2001

Polster Branch opens in Carmel Valley (Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito History)

2003

Big Eight Middle School Sports program opens (Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito History)

2005

Carmel Valley Montessori School opens in Carmel Valley (Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito History)

2006

Lomas Branch is remodeled and the new Harper Branch and Pardee Aquatics Center opens

Youth Arts Academy opens at the Polster Branch in Carmel Valley (Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito History)

2007

Entered the Oceanside Unified School District in 2009 (Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside History)

2007

La Colonia Branch in Eden Gardens opens (Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito History)

2008

Carmel Valley Montessori School opens at the the Polster Clubhouse (Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito History)

2009

Entered the Vista Unified School District in 2009 (Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside History)

2009

Center for a Healthy Lifestyle opens at the Harper Branch in Solana Beach (Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito History)

2012

A new clubhouse is added at the La Colonia Branch to expand the program for youth and teens (Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito History)

2011

ROADs Program (Real Options for Adults with Disabilities) is launched in Oceanside

2013

Townsite Clubhouse underwent a major renovation (Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside History)

2014

Bulldogs Basketlball program opens (Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito History)

2018

The Center for Innovation opened (Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside History)

2019

Harper Clubhouse becomes Harper Teen Center (Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito History)

2024

Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito merges with Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside to become Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest San Diego

Alumni

Welcome Home Alumni! Whether you belonged to Boys Club of Northwest San Diego back in the 60’s, or more recently, COME ON HOME!

Some of our well known Alums include: Shaun White, professional snowboarder & skateboarder and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist; Luke Walton, two-time NBA Champion with the Los Angeles Lakers; Dan Layus, lead singer of Augustana; Jared Dudley, Los Angeles Clippers; and Jud Buechler, former Chicago Bulls forward and three-time NBA Champion.

What can I do as an Alumnus?

From Club Kids to Club Staff

Numerous current staff members are also Club alums and include: Chris Ann Sarver, Griset Clubhouse Manager attended the Griset and Harper Clubhouses for 11 years before starting her career at the Club in 1987; Ally Hanlon, Donor Relationship Manager, attended the Griset Clubhouse for 9 years and has worked for the Club since 1997. Ally was also the Club’s Youth of the Year in 1996. Marineke Vandervort swam on the swim team before college and worked during high school and college as a swim instructor and lifeguard at the Pardee Aquatics Center. She then returned after college to become the aquatics department manager, and in 2007 became the HR Director for the Club, later becoming the Club’s CEO in 2014.

Management Team

    Club Operations

    Chief Executive Officer Marineke Vandervort
    Chief Operating Officer Joe McLeod
    Chief Impact Officer Hillary Wheeler
    Chief Financial Officer Debi Cox
    Chief HR Officer Mark Edington
    Executive Assistant & Board Liaison Ally Hanlon
    Director of Elementary Club Services Candace Gerlach
    Director of Teen Club Services Tabatha Valencia
    Director of Teen Engagement Mike Hollins
    Facilities Director Bryan Moomjean
    Manager of Information Systems Vianka Mendez
    Online Software Manager Melissa Brown
    HR / Payroll Assistant Anita Munguia
    HR Generalist Molly McFall
    Volunteer Coordinator Pam Curtis

    Foundation Leadership

    President Jodi Diamond
    Chief Strategy Officer Tammy Walz
    Vice President of Grants Rhonda Guaderrama
    Director of Marketing Ash Poirier
    Marketing Manager Bianca Dupree
    Grant Manager Claire King
    Grant Coordinator Lauren Williams

    Branch & Program Leadership

    Allred Clubhouse Supervisor Lizbeth Espinoza
    Del Mar Clubhouse Manager Laurel Clark
    Griset Clubhouse Manager Chris Ann Rosillo
    Griset Teen Center Supervisor Celina Gonzalez
    Harper Clubhouse Teen Center Supervisor Bosque Leanio
    La Colonia Clubhouse Manager Gloria Castellanos
    Ocean Knoll Clubhouse Site Supervisor Brittney Rosillo
    Oceanside Clubhouse Manager Holly Johnson
    Polster Clubhouse Manager Emma Lemus
    Aquatics Director/Rancho San Dieguito Swim Team Head Coach Joe Benjamin
    Aquatics Coordinator Patty Mariscal
    Athletics Director Davion Sarver
    Athletics Administrative Coordinator Emily Froelich
    Athletics Program Coordinator Trish Figueroa
    Bulldogs Operations Manager Leo Elegado
    Bulldogs Program Manager Jenna Wolfe
    Youth Arts Academy Director Darby Schnoebelen
    Carmel Valley Montessori School Director Holly Rosa
    Culinary Arts Director Sheryl Cohen
    R.O.A.D Director (Real Options for Adults with Disabilities) Annie Kesselhaut