Kidworks Community Development Corporation

KidWorks inspires purpose in youth, fuels their growth, and catalyzes their impact in the community

KidWorks believes that all children deserve access to the tools and support to succeed in their education and the opportunity to pursue their God-given potential. Life changing experiences and exposure to new opportunities enable our students to dream about a brighter future.

KidWorks was founded in 1993 by Larry Acosta, a youth pastor, and his wife, Jayme, a school teacher. It began as summer Bible clubs and mentoring groups in under-served neighborhoods of Santa Ana. In 1996, our first community center was opened in a tiny, one-room apartment on Townsend Street as a safe haven for children and youth. From the beginning, KidWorks recruited college students to live and serve in the community. Our Executive Director, David Benavides, was one of the first students to volunteer. His time with KidWorks began with an eight-week program that changed his life, and ours, forever.

Since 1993, KidWorks has grown into a vibrant community development non-profit with a presence in several neighborhoods of central Santa Ana. We serve youth and families through a licensed preschool, after-school programs, tutoring, mentoring, college and career readiness, family services, and leadership development.

Since 1993, KidWorks has been impacting lives in central Santa Ana. Our primary focus is on young people from 3 – 26 years old living in some of the most under-resourced communities in central Santa Ana. Children and youth participate in a preschool and after-school program where they have a safe and positive space to participate in educational activities including tutoring, computer training, character building, reading literacy, financial literacy, art projects, health workshops, fitness activities, mentoring, college preparation, civic engagement, and leadership development. KidWorks believes in partnering with the whole family. Parents have access to classes, conferences and workshops on topics including child development, education, financial literacy, health, and leadership. Family involvement is encouraged; in 2023 we had 89% of our families volunteering at some capacity at KidWorks.

We are proud of the strides we have made during our 30-year history in central Santa Ana. We currently serve 1,000 students and their families through our programs. Our top 2021 accomplishments include:
100% of KidWorks high school seniors graduated on time and continued onto higher education for nearly a decade.
98% of high school students believe they are equipped to solve challenges they face.
96% of high school students feel connected to caring adults who support them.
93% of 4th and 5th graders believe their life matters.
91% of preschool graduates enter Kindergarten with the necessary skills and emotional readiness to thrive.
88% of KidWorks youth view themselves as leaders and serve in meaningful leadership roles.
72% of college students persisted and are on track to graduate since our College and Career Programs launched in 2018.

* Outcomes based on the school year 2023-24.

KidWorks consistently relies on the generosity, skills and expertise of both donors (in-kind and monetary) and volunteers to support our innovative programs and operations. Donations: Kidworks could not exist without the generosity of individuals, corporations, and foundations. We have several ways to directly support KidWorks programs and students. Visit www.kidworksoc.org to donate. We also need on-going donations of classroom items, such as graphing calculators and tablets for students in the classroom. Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to help tutor, mentor, and instruct workshops (arts, sciences, computers, fitness) for children and youth in our preschool and after-school programs. Bilingual volunteers (Spanish, Khmer, and Vietnamese) and those with special skills including fundraising, graphic design and technological experience greatly benefit the organization. We also welcome community and business leaders to serve in a leadership capacity through one of our organizational committees, such as our Fund Development Committee, Finance Committee or our Board of Directors.

KidWorks serves over 1,000 children, youth and families each week in central Santa Ana, California. The average family served by KidWorks earns a household income of $25,000 for a household of 5 members. Only 55% of residents in Santa Ana have graduated from high school. Many of the students in our programs are the first to graduate from high school in their family and the first to enroll in college. KidWorks is truly a safe haven for children and families. In collaboration with our community partners and the Santa Ana Police Department, the areas in which we serve have been designated crime ‘hot spots’ due to high rates of poverty, school dropouts, and significant gang involvement with 100 gangs and 4,500 gang members.

The future shines bright for KidWorks. We recently completed construction on the KidWorks Dan Donahue Center, eliminated our student waiting list, and our Foundation for Success Luncheon was a record-breaking year for both revenue and visibility. Over the next year, we are expanding our commitment to KidWorks students through our College Success Program, engaging new volunteers and corporate partners, and are busy planning our Foundation for Success luncheon plus our Golf Classic, Pickleball and Festival of OC Chefs events. We are truly blessed to serve alongside so many amazing individuals and partners in our community. It is directly because you care and invest your time, talent, and treasure that we are able to have preschool teachers instruct young children so that they are ready for Kindergarten…provide tutoring for students struggling in school…take teenagers to visit their first college campus…develop youth leaders who advocate for safe and healthy community changes…and help parents support their family’s well-being. Thank you for your interest in supporting the children and families living in at-risk neighborhoods of central Santa Ana.

I'm proud to serve as the Board Chair of KidWorks and work alongside an amazing team of staff, volunteers and students to impact the lives of students in central Santa Ana. Education leads to higher income, improved health, lower crime rates and a better future for the next generation.  At KidWorks, students aren’t statistics; they receive personalized attention with their homework, enrichment activities to spark a love of learning, coupled with leadership training and spiritual development all so they will thrive as adults. I invite you to join me in partnering with me in supporting KidWorks.