OCEANSIDE — The Oceanside and San Dieguito chapters of the Boys and Girls Clubs have recently merged to form the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest San Diego County.
The merger, which leaders of the newly formed larger club describe as historic, will now serve as many as 6,500 youth across six North County communities, including Oceanside, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar and Carmel Valley.
The move follows a national trend of Boys and Girls Clubs merging to combine their efforts to improve services, diversify and expand programming, reduce costs, serve more youth and operate more efficiently.
According to the merger’s announcement released July 9, the new organization will “prioritize mental health, inspire academic success, encourage self-discovery, and provide essential skill building” to empower the future leaders of tomorrow.
Jodi Diamond, former CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oceanside, will now assume the role of president for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest San Diego County Foundation.
Diamond said the clubs will be “greater together” through the merger.
“We are thrilled to unite our organizations for greater impact, bringing together our resources to enrich the lives of the youth we proudly serve,” Diamond said. “This merger amplifies our ability to foster leadership, academic achievement, and character development among the youth we serve, preparing them for successful futures.”
Marineke Vandervort, the former CEO of the Solana Beach-based Boys and Girls Clubs of San Dieguito, who has now assumed the same role as the newly merged club, plans to build on both of the former clubs’ legacies.
“I am proud to partner with Jodi, a true champion and innovator in youth development,” Vandervort said. “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.”
Robbie Calderon Hass, a 17-year board member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oceanside, said the new club intends to become the “recognized leader in out-of-school time services” in the region.
“We are excited to leverage our resources and ensure club kids have the skills and resilience to safely navigate childhood and prepare for adulthood,” Hass said.
The new club will provide after-school programming at eight clubhouses for youth students between kindergarten and twelfth grade across the six communities.
The organization will also offer eight specialty programs, including Pardee Aquatics Center and the Rancho San Dieguito Swim Team, Athletics and BIG 8 Middle School Sports, Bulldogs Basketball, Carmel Valley Montessori School, Centers for a Healthy Lifestyle and Culinary Arts, R.O.A.D.’s (Real Options for Adults with Disabilities), Summer Adventure Camps and a Youth Arts Academy.
For more information about the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest San Diego County, visit www.bgcgreatertogether.org.
