About Us
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The West Contra Costa YMCA has been serving local communities since 1918. We started out as the Richmond YMCA and were part of the Berkeley YMCA. We gained our independence in 1931 and took the name West Contra Costa YMCA. In 1990, we merged with the YMCA of Alameda County to create the YMCA of the East Bay Association.
From our humble beginnings in a small building on MacDonald Avenue, West Contra Costa YMCA is today the largest and most diverse branch in the East Bay Association. Our $13 million dollar operation offers child and youth development centers, citywide youth sports programs, school-based mental health counseling services, community services and much more.
The number of communities we serve has grown, too. It includes the families, youth and adults who make up the diverse communities of Richmond, North Richmond, Hercules,
Pinole, El Cerrito, San Pablo, Tara Hills, Montalvin, El Sobrante and Rodeo.
Goals and Plans
Looking ahead, we plan to:
- Grow child development programs
- Increase program offerings utilizing funding from the California Department of Education – Child Development Division
- Partner with public and private agencies to provide child care for residents and/or employees
- Increase after-school programming:
- Expand partnerships with West Contra Costa and John Swett Unified School Districts in the delivery of after-school programs
- Diversify funding for school-based mental health services
- Enhance services to include non-Medi-Cal eligible students
- Increase funding for and continue with implementation of the Building Blocks for Kids (BBK) Collaborative, which consists of 26 agencies, including government, philanthropic, community, and nonprofit agencies, as well as invested individuals:
- Advance the mission and goals of the collaborative, which are to improve the educational success of children living in the Iron Triangle area of Richmond through the creation of a well integrated network of services
- Implement additional citywide sports collaborations and leagues
- Expand offerings to include soccer, baseball and flag football
Who We Serve
In 2007 we served:
- Children ages 1-5 24%
- Youth ages 6-11 31%
- Youth ages 12-17 7%
- Young Adults ages 18-29 15%
- Adults ages 30-54 20%
- Adults ages 55-64 2%
- Adults ages 65 and older 1%
Community Partners
We are proud of our long list of community partners:
- Asian Pacific Psychological Services
- Bay Area Community Resources
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area
- Brookside Community Clinic
- California State Department of Education
- City of Richmond
- Contra Costa Child Care Council
- Contra Costa College
- Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services
- Contra Costa Health Services, Mental Health Division
- Contra Costa Health Services, Maternal & Child Health
- Coronado Neighborhood Council
- Early Childhood Mental Health Program
- East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
- East Bay Community Foundation
- The Ed Fund
- First 5 Contra Costa
- Housing Authority of Contra Costa
- John Swett Unified School District
- Local Law Enforcement Agencies
- North Richmond Neighborhood House
- Oakland Community Housing, Inc.
- Opportunity West
- Richmond Chamber of Commerce
- Richmond Children’s Foundation
- Richmond Police Activities League (PAL)
- Rotary Club, Richmond
- WCC Youth Services Bureau
- West Contra Costa Unified School District
Funding Sources
In addition to child care and program income, our funding comes from contributions
foundation and non-government grants:
- Armed Services YMCA
- East Bay Community Foundation
- The Ed Fund
- Kaiser Foundation
- Koret Foundation
- Oakland Community Housing, Inc.
- The San Francisco Foundation
- Government Grants
- California Department of Education
- Contra Costa County
- Health Services
- Employment and Human Services
- Community Services
- Housing Authority of Contra Costa County
- First 5 Contra Costa
- West Contra Costa Unified School District
- John Swett Unified School District
LEADERSHIP
“I love to hear people say that they were looking for support for their families, and that they found it at the YMCA.”
Don Lau, executive director
In his 23-year career with the YMCA of the East Bay, Don held many different roles (director of Educational Services, associate executive director, and district executive director) before becoming executive director of the West Contra Costa Branch and vice president of the Association. Don has been essential in diversifying Y programming and creating strong community collaborations in order to meet the unique and diverse needs of the West Contra Costa County community. He holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan, School of Social Work.
Senior Staff
Anita Retzinger, administrative director
Daryl Hanson, associate executive director
Carla Cooper, program director
Regina Felder, program director
Kathy Hardy, associate program director
Tariq Norris, program director
Kate Gillooly, program director
Candy Souza, executive assistant
Board of Managers
Officers
Darrell Jay Tucker, Ralph Larsen & Son, Inc. (chair)
Judy Morgan, Richmond Chamber of Commerce (chair-elect)
Douglas Pena, The Mechanics Bank (treasurer)
Michele Bauer, M.A. Hays Inc. (secretary)
Carol Frank, Early Childhood Mental Health (development committee chair)
Donald Honigman, Kenneth and Markowitz, L.L.P. (facilities committee chair)
Gay Adams, University of California Treasury Office (strategic plan chair)
Hasani Ashbury, John Swett High School (youth member)
Kaiya Greenwood, El Cerrito High School (youth member)
Members
Irma Anderson
Vickie Blomquist
Steve Barlow
Oscar Erickson
Sylvester Greenwood
Harlan Grossman
Bette Hunter
Angela Jenkins
Everett Jenkins
Pamela Jones
Ken Kille
Shirley Kille
Jonathan Lawlis
Cheryl Maier
Susan McCloskey
Aminta Mickles
Joann Moczulski
Robert Neptune
Roberta Quan
Katrinka Ruk
Alex Sample
Douglas Swager
Daniel Tanita
Tony Thurmond
John Tysell
Kay Yamagata
Trevor Evans Young