RSD Swimmers Swim the Catalina Channel & Give Back

Seven of our RSD Swimmers set a goal to complete the Catalina Channel Swim, a 22-mile relay starting at Catalina Island and ending at Dana Point. In order to achieve this, the swimmers raised funds to cover their expenses which included a boat and a full support crew to aid them for the duration of the ocean swim. The self-proclaimed Team Catalina Cruisers spent the summer doing whatever they could think of to reach their financial goal, including: picking 800 lemons at a local grove, developing a Go Fund Me page, and baking and selling 200 cake pops at the local mall.

Ultimately, the swimmers raised more than they needed for the swim and decided to give back to Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito, the place that inspired them to set goals and ultimately trained them to achieve a task like Catalina Channel.

The teens donated over $900 to our swim lesson program, including swim lesson barbels, yellow fun mats, an indoor/outdoor dolphin slide, squirty toys, tugboat stacking cups, foam bath toys, and a learn to swim aid- toddler dock.

The swim itself brought about extremely rough waters, with 8-10 foot swells and high winds kicking in just 30 minutes after the beginning of the race. To ensure the safety of all involved, the decision was made by the boat captain and coach to call off the rest of the swim. The team left in good spirits and are already looking forward to doing it again next year!

Swimmers included: Miko Baron, Hannah Wong, Keirlyn Mullica, Kyle Wong, Katherine Steinmeier, Audrey Schafer, Arielle Brotman

Learn More about RSD here

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November 2021

Due to the recent spikes in COVID -19 and with consultation from various donors, Board Members and health officials, we have made the decision to postpone our Youth of the Year In-Person event to November 2021. More details to come in the coming weeks.

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Congrats to our 2021 Youth of the Year Nominees!

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Aquatics Candidate

Miko Baron

Age 15

Ever since she was 10 years old, Miko has been a great teammate and an exceptional athlete on our Rancho San Dieguito (RSD) Swim Team. Our entire coaching staff has recognized that Miko is a positive young lady at the pool, which in turn draws other staff/kids on the swim team to want to be around her. Miko is eager to learn and appreciative of any feedback. Miko is always striving for better in practice and at meets. You can always tell she is listening to feedback as the next time she leaves the wall she is already making corrections. She is a hard worker, and a national level competitor, and she is balanced with many other activities outside of RSD.

She swims in open water competitions, most recently Jr. Nationals where she had a very high placing. The open water swims she has competed in has helped in her development as a swimmer. Miko also has a desire to give back to her sport through teaching lessons at The Club as well as working towards her beach lifeguarding
certifications. She is also a great surfer.

The drive she has to reach her goals is very impressive, especially at such a young age. Miko constantly exemplifies RSD’s team values of: Respect, integrity, leadership,
quality, teamwork and excellence.

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Athletics Candidate

Jesse Snider

Age 17

Jesse has had a tremendous impact on Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito throughout his years of participation. Volunteering over 200 hours, Jesse has given back to the community by coaching elementary teams, speaking on behalf of the Club, providing basketball clinics to younger members, and initiating fundraising ideas. Without Jesse’s dedication to the Club, there are many members that would not have the funds to access these programs.

Jesse stands head and shoulders over most youth athletes, not only in demonstrated initiative, intelligence and creativity, but also in his ability to function as a productive member of a team. His intellect is matched by his ability to communicate clearly, and to project an open, friendly persona to others, regardless of their level of expertise.

Jesse’s excellent communication skills, positive outlook and pleasing personality enhance his natural leadership qualities. His willingness to accept challenges and listen to input enable him to contribute thoughtful, well-reasoned approaches to helping others solve
difficult problems.

During this past year, Jesse stepped up to assist in our virtual programming for our Elementary Hoops basketball players, helping with our zoom practices. Even during a pandemic, Jesse managed to think of younger club members. He is a great role model, a natural leader among his peers and a fantastic ambassador of Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Athletics’ Department.

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Youth Arts Academy Candidate

Maya Rosenbaum

Age 16

Maya began at YAA as a young high-schooler in 2014 in our Rock Band Program. She completed two seasons of Rock Band with YAA as well as taking group guitar lessons and private lessons in our studios over the next couple of years. After her time as a student with YAA she found us again in 2019 in a new role of volunteer and mentor.

Maya has served the youth, instructors, and staff at YAA in many capacities. She has assisted as a mentor to students and assistant to instructors in several of our rock bands and camps by attending rehearsals to help with set up, printing and distributing music, tuning instruments, assisting students in their technique, and jamming with the bands. She has also assisted at Youth Arts Academy events by helping out with front-of-house and backstage logistics. And she was instrumental (no pun intended) in helping inventory and organize all the music equipment and materials at YAA in Fall of 2019. During the pandemic and our brief closure, Maya took it upon herself to reach out to help YAA students by creating videos of herself playing and practicing the guitar and violin to serve as tutorials and inspirations to our students who were stuck at home: becoming a true beacon of light and fun during a bleak time in our world.

Still just a teenager herself, she has shown such maturity in her role of serving and mentoring other youth in our programs. She fully embodies YAA’s mission to stimulate personal growth, self-expression, and creativity in our students through the arts.

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Haper Teen Center Candidate

Jesus Yacir Romero Ocampo

Having attended The Club since he was in second grade, this freshman at Mira Costa College has grown from a giggly little boy, always at his twin brother’s side, to a kind, helpful, independent leader within our La Colonia Club and Harper Teen Center.

Everybody knows Yacir and Yacir knows everybody! You can usually find him in the computer lab, where he will not hesitate to help anyone with technical issues or questions.Yacir has been an active volunteer within our Clubs, helping with countless easter events, Halloween activities, movie nights, and any other type of community service and fundraisers. He is always the first one there in the morning and the last one to leave.

Yacir is a very kind, sweet, young individual, who is truly himself and we are honored to award him the title of Harper Teen Center Youth of the Year.

“Without the Club, I feel like I would have been more anxious, stressed, and I would have constantly second-guessed my education….The supplies and resources the Club provided me growing up were extremely important to my success today.” – Yacir

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Dear Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Family,

Despite the recent tragic events and deep unrest occurring across the nation, I write this letter with hope. Each year at this time I write a letter to our members, supporters and community to express my gratitude for being able to serve this incredible organization as CEO since 2015. The challenges of this year have been unlike any other, and if anything, I am even more proud and grateful because of all we have been able to accomplish and overcome as an organization and as a community. Together, we have kept the doors to Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito open, and together, we have created a community of support for our youth.

It has been almost 30 years since I began my career with Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito as a lifeguard and swim instructor. Starting here as a teenager has shown me the value of growing up inside an organization like ours. I have experienced firsthand the incredibly positive impact our programs have on our members and their families. This is true now more than ever. My daughters, now 15 and 18 years old, are in the midst of coping with challenges affecting our youth: isolation, negative social media influence, virtual learning, and much more. Many of our Club members are feeling the effects of heightened racial and economic inequalities that this past year has brought. What keeps me motivated are my daughters, along with our 6,700 members who remain committed to equity for the youth that we serve, and to creating a safe and inclusive space for young people to express themselves and find equal opportunity for a great future.

While we cannot fully anticipate what 2021 will bring, we do know that our commitment to providing the very best for our youth will remain unchanged. We will continue to prioritize the health and safety of our members, provide a positive place where kids can grow and learn through distance learning, expand our use of national Boys & Girls Club programming and activities, and support our incredibly dedicated staff.

We have received countless emails from parents sharing their appreciation for the tremendous efforts we are putting into safely remaining open. Our organization is meeting every challenge, and rising above every obstacle, and the outpouring of support we have received from all of you tells me that it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Thank you for your support and acknowledgment.

All of us have made this new year of programming possible. All of our members, staff, volunteers, Board of Directors, Junior Board, Foundation Board, and our donors are doing whatever it takes. We are in this together, and it wouldn’t be possible without all of you.

While I recognize the gravity of the continuing pandemic, I am truly hopeful for a better year, and it is my promise to you that we will continue to do whatever it takes to serve our community.

Marineke Vandervort

CEO
Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito

The post 2021 Message From The CEO appeared first on Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest San Diego.

2020 Staff of the Year!

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Specialty Program Staff of the Year:

Keegan Ruckdaschel

All three of Keegan’s children swim on our RSD swim team. After seeing how meaningful the program has been to their lives, she was inspired to apply for a position. Since 2019 Keegan has been working for our Aquatics department as a Lifeguard and Administrator.

“I love working at The Club and for an organization whose main goal is to support our youth and our community at large.”

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Leadership Staff of the Year:

Ally Hanlon

Ally began her BGC journey in 1989 as a member of our Griset Clubhouse after school programs in Encinitas. Her role quickly transitioned to volunteer and teen mentor, to Youth of the Year, to a full time employee. Over the last 24 years Ally’s team attitude and passion for our kids and this community has led her to do every job and learn every trade within our organization. From Program Leader and Front Desk Reception to Clubhouse Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, Special Events Manager to her current role as Donor Relationship Manager, Ally’s knowledge of, and loyalty to our organization are crucial to the success of our Leadership Team.

“This organization is my family. Some of the staff here at BGC San Dieguito literally helped shaped the person I am today. Twenty years ago, I never imagined I would still be here, but now, I can’t imagine ever being anywhere else.”

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After School Program Staff of the Year:

Karla Contillo

Karla began her journey with The Club 3 years ago when her child enrolled as a member in our after school programs. Since then, Karla has served our organization in whatever capacity was needed. Her positive attitude and love of youth has taken her from Program Leader at our Allred Clubhouse to Teaching Assistant in our Carmel Valley Montessori School, to the current Site Lead for our Polster Clubhouse in Carmel Valley.

“I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work within an organization whose members and staff are like family to me and to have the privilege to really make a difference in the lives of our youth.”

The post Staff of the Year 2020 appeared first on Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest San Diego.

While the holidays are often thought of as a happy time, the reality for some of our members is quite different, with feelings of sadness, frustration and uncertainty due to financial unrest and food insecurity. Our Sponsor A Child Program this holiday season helped relieve some of those emotions for over 60 families throughout Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Encinitas & Solana Beach. Donations of presents, food and gift cards were abound from individuals as well as organizations throughout our community.

“The response this year has been overwhelming” commented Ally Hanlon, Donor Relations Coordinator and administrator of the Sponsor A Child Program. Hanlon went on to say “We had PTA’s and companies who weren’t even able to gather in the same room, mobilize their parents and employees instantaneously in order to help make sure ALL our kids were taken care of. I was so proud and touched to see the community’s response.”

The post 2020 Holiday Recaps appeared first on Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest San Diego.

“I nominated Quinn because she has courage, and she’s committed,”
– Courtney Clements, Quinn’s Bulldogs coach

In a virtual ceremony held for the nominees on Tuesday, November 17th, Bulldogs Basketball member Quinn O’Donnell was awarded Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito’s 2020 Overall Youth of the Year. Quinn was chosen from a field of seven nominees from three of our Clubhouses and four of our specialty programs. Her poise, style of communication, and leadership both on and off our courts make her an ideal representative of our organization in the Countywide competition. O’Donnell is a sophomore at San Dieguito Academy, has a 4.0 GPA and is taking several honors classes. She also plays guitar and piano and sings.

Other nominees included John Aste, Maribel Hernandez, Sean Joyce, Riley Riggs, Drew Schafer and Jessie Snider, all exemplary youths.

Youth of the Year is Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier recognition program and is also the most nationally revered youth leadership award acknowledging teens ages 14-18 for their achievements in leadership, service, academic excellence and healthy lifestyles. They exemplify the critical impact that Boys & Girls Clubs have on the lives of young people.

The post 2020 Overall Youth of the Year Winner appeared first on Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest San Diego.

(Page will be updated monthly as we spotlight the other nominees.)

Meet the seven BGC San Dieguito teens (age 14-18) who have been nominated as a candidate for our 2020 Youth of the Year Award. These seven teens exemplify the positive impact that BGC SanDieguito has on our youth.

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Quinn O’Donnell

Bulldogs Basketball Program

For the past nine years, Quinn’s evolution from BGC San Dieguito’s Snuffy Basketball to Bulldogs Basketball has resulted in a depth of character, strength and resilience far beyond her age.

Her teammates and coaches know her as a confident and reliable leader who has demonstrated her strength and resilience first hand. Her ability to overcome getting cut from her 6th grade youth team to becoming a leader on and off the floor the past few years has been impressive. In most cases when a young girl is cut from a team, she quits and finds a new sport to play. In some cases young girls quit sports all together when having to face failure within a sport. Girls drop out of sports at 1.5 times the rate that boys do by age 14.

Not only did Quinn come back the next season and make a team, but she has also committed to getting better with each season that passes. Her commitment, confidence and courage has earned her the respect of her peers.

To quote Quinn’s own words, “I believe perseverance requires some element of courage and I’m learning that perseverance is not just the act of pushing through despite obstacles. It also requires staying positive, motivated, and maintaining your passion for the things you are doing in order to find success. Just because something might seem overwhelmingly difficult, it doesn’t mean you can’t do it or that it’s not worth doing. Perseverance is also putting yourself out there despite the fear of failure and despite the knowledge of how hard the challenge is before you.”

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Sean Joyce

Polster Clubhouse, Carmel Valley 

Sean has always been one to stand out due to his leadership, initiative and excellent work ethic. For the last 6 years Sean’s participation in our After School Programs, Summer Adventure Camps as both a camper and volunteer, and Youth Arts Academy private music lessons, has given Sean an understanding of the various ways The Club impacts young people. As a high schooler, Sean continues to attend The Club when so many of our youth fall off. As an older member of the program, Sean’s ability to relate to members of all ages is astonishing. He considers all the Club Kids friends despite their ages. His desire to engage in activities and converse with everyone encourages those around him to be more active and present.

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Maribel Hernandez

Harper/La Colonia Teen Center Solana Beach

Maribel is a truly inspiring individual. She is an honest, dependable, and an incredibly hard-working member of Boys & Girls Club San Dieguito. Maribel has always stepped up when The Club needed her. For the past ten years, her volunteer work with countless fundraisers and events, along with anything the staff may need help with has been invaluable.

“Just being around her makes you want to do better!” says Bosque Leanio, Harper Clubhouse Manager.

“Maribel has always been an absolute joy in our Clubs. As our members get older we often see their involvement with the club decline and/or their willingness to participate drop. This is certainly not the case for Maribel. Her consistent involvement and keen curiosity fosters positive discussions and bring the best out of BGC employees and members.”

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Riley Riggs

Griset Clubhouse

Riley Riggs is a two year veteran of our Griset Clubhouse in Encinitas and an integral member of our teen volunteer program, Keystone Club. Riley’s quiet and observant nature tempered with his wit, optimism and respect for his peers and our BGG Staff makes him a leader in so many ways.

Riley finds himself making a difference within and outside our Club walls through Keystone (a Boys & Girls Club Teen Service Program). He understands the importance of serving others and volunteering in our community. Riley credits BGC San Dieguito for allowing him to open up and become more social and outgoing. As a chaperone at our sixth-grade dances, you may even catch Riley bustin’ a move when he thinks no is watching!

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Drew Schafer

Rancho San Dieguito Swim Team

Drew Schafer is a senior at Canyon Crest Academy and nine-year veteran of our Rancho San Dieguito Swim Team. Drew was nominated by Coach Armani from our Aquatics program for the meaningful impact he has both inside and outside of the team.

 “Drew is the ultimate athlete when it comes to what coaches look for. He’s a leader, a hard worker, is goal-oriented, and can be counted on to lead by example. Even more so, what makes Drew stand out is his ability to communicate those values and standards to not only teammates his age but younger swimmers throughout our organization.” Armani Kobik, Rancho San Dieguito Lead Coach & Team Administrator

On top of being a full-time student-athlete, and involved in several Canyon Crest Academy organizations, like the drug prevention club, Drew spends his time on the weekends teaching swim lessons for our Club’s Aquatics Program to kids of all ages.

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John Aste

Youth Arts Academy

John is a current student of Monday Night Jazz Band and has been studying music at our Youth Arts Academy for the last 8 years.

When John was young, he wouldn’t get too frustrated by musical challenges. He would usually smile, laugh it off, and practice until he had the skill mastered. He still brings that same great attitude and sense of humor to jazz band each week. Now that he is one of the older students in the class, he has shown to be an amazing leader. He sets a great example with his musicianship, his positive attitude and great sense of humor. He is always ready and available to help whenever needed. He is smart, responsible, and polite, and will no doubt continue to inspire others through his example in the future.

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Jesse Snider

Athletics Department

Jesse has had a tremendous impact on Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito throughout his years of participation and his ongoing commitment to mentoring younger athletes. Volunteering over 200 hours, Jesse has given back to the community by coaching elementary teams, speaking on behalf of the Club, providing basketball clinics to younger members, and initiating fundraising ideas.

Jesse stands head and shoulders over most, not only in demonstrated initiative, intelligence and creativity, but also in his ability to function as a productive member of a team. His excellent communication skills, positive outlook and pleasing personality enhance his natural leadership qualities. His willingness to accept challenges and listen to input enable him to contribute thoughtful, well-reasoned approaches to helping others solve difficult problems.

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Learn more about our Youth of the Year Celebration here.

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The post Message From the CEO 2019 appeared first on Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest San Diego.

Our second annual Big Blue Breakfast, benefiting Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito’s Athletics Department, was held on Friday, November 15th. Community members from around San Diego county gathered in our Griset Clubhouse Gym in Encinitas to celebrate and raise funds for our youth sports programs.

Guest Speaker Coach John Kentera spoke on the importance of mentoring our youth and the personal impact Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito had on his own life, athletics and career trajectory. Speaking specifically on the impact of his former mentors like Greg Nelson and Doug Hall, as well as his time as Youth of the Year, on his success.

Youth of the Year Cole Snider also provided testimony to the importance of Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito’s athletics programs on his life and the lives of his peers.

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2019 Youth of the Year
Athletics Department
Sponsored by Stratford Square

Congratulations to Cole Snider, 2019 Overall Youth of the Year

Growing up I spent so much time at Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito in various basketball programs, but I never stopped to think about how The Club was shaping those years. I had never realized that the basketball leagues I had played in, the playgrounds I played at, and the courts that I perfected my jump shot at were all shaped and funded by The Club. I had seen the symbol of the two hands clasped together and I had never really appreciated how much those hands shaped my childhood and my basketball career. Now that I am older, I realize that not only did BGC San Dieguito influence my childhood, the programs that I participated in taught me valuable life lessons and character traits. I learned how much The Club really changes and influences our community in a positive way, especially by providing a safe place for children and youth who are not as fortunate in their living circumstances. The Club is a place of hope, opportunity, and learning. It represents all of the character traits I have come to value: family, support, generosity, responsibility, honesty, and gratitude.

One day, my brother and I talked about how much of our lives BGC San Dieguito affected. Almost nothing about our lives would be the same without it. We realized that we both had a similar idea; we wanted to be a part of The Club as mentors, and to help out our community. So, we formed our own basketball skills program that we called “Access Basketball”. Davion Sarver, the Athletics Director for BGC San Dieguito loved the idea and we began holding our clinics every Friday after school. The program has been successful because we try to help kids appreciate the sport and learn to love basketball the same way we do. Eventually, we were offered an opportunity to coach the boys basketball team at Capri Elementary. Our answer was an emphatic yes! I absolutely loved the idea of being able to give back to the community and being able to instill the love for basketball into the hearts and minds of those kids.

BGC San Dieguito represents, to me, the best parts of myself, and I know that I wil never forget everything that The Club has taught me, and that as I grow older those life lessons will only become more valuable.

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