Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast

To ensure every child has mentors and champions in life.

Since 1941, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast has brought quality mentoring and innovative education programs to more than 100,000 youth across Orange County (OC). Our Club serves youth in the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Irvine, Newport Beach, Orange, and Santa Ana. In addition to our Club locations, we run partner sites at more than 60 schools and service sites in Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Orange, and Santa Ana. Through services provided at all these sites, we've reached more than 15,000 children this year. Engaged, passionate, well-trained Mentor Professionals (our staff) at each site provide academic support, organized and engaging physical activities, and STEM-based enrichment programs for each child.

Throughout our history, our Club has spearheaded new initiatives and greater access to programs for children and families, keeping our eye on reducing community challenges and empowering those we serve. Our programs are intentional about ensuring that all Club members are on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, living a healthy lifestyle, and equipped with skills that will help them pursue greatness. Unlike Clubs utilizing open-ended drop-in models, our structured, holistic IMPACT Model is an intentional approach to youth development, and we continue to enhance our programs and services through the integration of cutting-edge technology for every member at our Clubs and the scaling of innovative programs, like Early Literacy Intervention, College Bound and YES Work Force Development, across numerous school sites.

Who we are can be defined by what we believe. For 85 years, we have proudly served those who need us most. To the core of our DNA, we believe in potential and invest in opportunity. Every child and teen we serve has the potential to do great things, and it is our privilege to help them unlock that potential.

Our footprint throughout Orange County continues to grow, allowing us to serve more youth and teens with mentors and the 21st century programs they need to help them achieve greatness. We serve 5,000 youth ages 6-18 every day with a holistic approach to keeping them on track developmentally. Our impact model provides every child access to an hour of academic assistance and homework help, physical fitness and health education, and more than 20 different enrichment programs.

During the 2025–2026 school year, our YES Workforce Development program equipped more than 2,000 teens with the skills and confidence needed to secure and maintain meaningful employment through hands-on training in résumé writing, elevator pitches, and interview preparation.

College Bound program has increased impact to over 5,000 students served at 24 locations with 254 graduating seniors--100% of them having a plan for their future.

Our Family Strengthening Program works to educate, empower, and equip parents of our Club members so they can better provide for their families. Our goal is to expand this program to multiple sites and cities and grow our community partnerships with it.

BGC Central OC is constantly working to change outcomes for our kids, from improving academic performance and graduation rates to increasing confidence, leadership skills, and the desire to pursue higher education.
BGC Central OC continues to serve primarily at-risk, low-income youth—the population that can benefit most from our programming. As our footprint continues to grow, so does the need for enriching programs that help young people develop the skills, knowledge, and support systems necessary for long-term success.
One area of growing need is career readiness. According to Career Exploration at the Middle School Level: Barriers and Opportunities, only 31% of states provide funding for full- or part-time staff dedicated to middle school career development. To help fill this gap, the Club's Future Ready Lab reaches students before high school, providing equitable access to structured career exploration through a hands-on curriculum at a time when these opportunities are often unavailable. As a result, participants enter high school with greater confidence, a clearer sense of purpose, and a stronger foundation for college and career success.
Similarly, California students continue to face significant challenges in STEM education, highlighting the need for expanded access to engaging, high-quality STEM learning opportunities. Statewide results from the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) show that only 35.5% of elementary and middle school students met or exceeded grade-level standards in mathematics, while just 30.7% met or exceeded standards in science on the California Science Test. These outcomes indicate that the majority of students are not yet performing at grade level in critical STEM subjects.
To address this need, our mobile Spark Space brings immersive, hands-on STEM experiences directly to youth. Through engaging activities and real-world applications, students strengthen problem-solving, critical thinking, and technical skills while building confidence and interest in STEM fields. These experiences help close achievement gaps and better prepare young people for future academic and career opportunities.
In addition to academic and career preparedness, supporting youth mental health has become increasingly important. As the needs of young people continue to evolve, growing levels of stress, anxiety, and social pressures can impact their well-being, relationships, and ability to succeed in school and life.
To meet this need, BGC Mindful was created as a comprehensive mental health and wellness initiative that supports both youth and their families. Guided by the Mindful Moments Playbook and strengthened through community partnerships, the program provides a continuum of care that includes social-emotional learning, mentorship, targeted interventions, and connections to licensed mental health professionals. By creating safe, supportive environments where young people feel seen, heard, and valued, BGC Mindful helps build resilience, strengthen family and community connections, and equip youth with the tools they need to navigate challenges and thrive.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast (BGC Central OC) was formed under a new name and expanded footprint in 2016 as a result of the merger between the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Harbor Area. This merger allowed us to not only serve more youth, families, and cities, but did so with stronger programs and leadership. Today, we serve more than 15,000 youth across 8 cities: Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Irvine, Newport Beach, Santa Ana, and Orange.

I choose to be a leader and an optimist. I choose to believe we inspire hope and live in a world of potential. And I choose to see the challenges we face today as opportunities.
These challenges are not easy to solve. But, to make a significant impact—whether providing equitable access to opportunities to break the cycle of poverty or providing a support system for families so all kids in our communities have access to world-class mentoring—long-term commitments are essential. It will take a community of people coming together with an unwavering commitment to inspire hope and make this a better world for our kids.
As we look at the impact we have across all our sites, we continue to focus on each and every relationship we build. We value and appreciate every child and family we have the privilege of serving. We are incredibly grateful for our volunteers, donors, and community partners for helping us strengthen our collective impact.
Together, we leverage our expertise and resources to serve the whole child and the whole family. As we look to the future, we are defined by our collective impact, all of us doing our part to support our kids. As leader and an optimist, I ask you to join me in seeing the greatness in our kids and imagine how much better this world will be when we inspire hope. Each of us has the power to change the world, and I ask you to join us, in whatever capacity you can, to reach those kids and families who need us most.

Robert Santana
Chief Executive Officer
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast

Every day, I am amazed by the wonderful work being done by our staff, Board of Directors, and volunteers at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast. Each time I step through the Clubs' doors, it is obvious to me youth are being mentored and guided in a positive and safe environment. When I think of the challenges facing our community, I can’t help but think of the life changing, even life saving programs that our Club offers. Every afternoon of the school year and every day of the summer the Club provides programs like our IMPACT Model, College Bound, and Early Literacy program, each of which is targeted to improving the prospects of youth in our community and empowering them to develop into the successful leaders of tomorrow. What more could we want for our children, particularly those who need us most?
With a commitment to nurturing the potential of our youth, promoting healthy living, and fostering a sense of social responsibility, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast ensures that every individual has access to the essentials needed to learn, grow and thrive.
Throughout the years, the Boys & Girls Club has evolved to meet the needs of the community. With our focus on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, we continue to provide relevant and impactful programs each and every day. From addressing academics, to physical fitness, to life skills, we provide a safe and nurturing environment for children, and we are responding to important community needs.
Though the world may be unpredictable, one thing remains certain: Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast is and always will be dedicated to building healthy, confident, connected, and secure children, adults, families, and communities. We appreciate the relationships we have made and support we have received in the community and enthusiastically look forward to your ongoing support in the years ahead.