Two North San Diego County Boys & Girls Clubs are combining their resources in a merger announced Tuesday, July 9.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside and Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito will join to create the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest San Diego County, the organizations announced in a news release.
“Both Boards of Directors determined that each Club brings an incredibly strong foundation, valuable resources, and innovative programs to the table,” Larry McDonald, chairman of the San Dieguito club’s Board of Directors and Foundation, said in the news release. “I have had the privilege of being a board member for over two decades, and this official merge is a testament to our commitment to the community and will ensure that our impact will continue for generations to come.”
Both organizations have longtime roots in the communities they serve. The San Dieguito club dates back to 1966, when the director of the Carlsbad Boys Club at the time helped the Encinitas Optimist and San Dieguito Kiwanis service groups form what would become the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito, serving the coastal North County communities of Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe.
“We are thrilled to unite our organizations for greater impact, bringing together our resources to enrich the lives of the youth we proudly serve,” Jodi Diamond, president of the new organization’s foundation, said in the news release. “This merger amplifies our ability to foster leadership, academic achievement, and character development among the youth we serve, preparing them for successful futures.”
The combined organization will serve 6,500 youths across a large portion of North County, according the new organization’s news release.
“For many years, Boys & Girls Clubs across the nation have been combining efforts to become more efficient, leverage strengths, diversify and expand programming, and achieve impactful results,” the news release stated. The new organization “recognized this landmark merger as an opportunity to create a collaborative organization that will better serve local youth and the community. The new organization aims to prioritize mental health, inspire academic success, encourage self-discovery, and provide essential skill-building, empowering today’s youth to become tomorrow’s leaders.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito CEO Marineke Vandervort will serve as CEO of the merged Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest San Diego County. Oceanside CEO Jodi Diamond continues as president of the combined foundation.
“Our vision is to become the recognized leader in out-of-school time programming and services in San Diego County,” Robbie Calderon Hass, a 17-year Oceanside club board member and chairman of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, said in the news release. “We are excited to leverage our resources and ensure Club kids have the skills and resilience to safely navigate childhood and prepare for adulthood.”
Vandervort said she looks forward to the partnership with Oceanside.
“I am proud to partner with Jodi, a true champion and innovator in youth development,” Vandervort said in the news release. “Together, we will work diligently with our communities and expand on our shared goals to ensure all children have the opportunity and access they need to thrive.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest San Diego County provides after-school programs at eight clubhouses for children in grades kindergarten through 12 in Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Encinitas, Oceanside and Solana Beach, as well as Camp Pendleton. Specialty programs include the Pardee Aquatics Center & Rancho San Dieguito Swim Team, Athletics & BIG 8 Middle School Sports, Bulldogs Basketball, Carmel Valley Montessori School, Centers for a Healthy Lifestyle & Culinary Arts, Real Options for Adults with Disabilities, Summer Adventure Camps and Youth Arts Academy.
More information is available at the combined organizations’ new website, bgcgreatertogether.org.
