Los Alamitos Youth Center Inc

The mission of The Youth Center is to transform children's lives one family at a time through collaborative social, educational, and recreational programs.

Since its founding in 1952, The Youth Center has been a cornerstone of the Los Alamitos community, serving over 106,000 local families. Our mission is to transform children's lives one family at a time by offering collaborative social, educational, and recreational programs that foster growth, confidence, and success. Throughout our history, we have built lasting partnerships within the community, ensuring our programs meet the evolving needs of local youth.

The idea for The Youth Center began in 1949 after the passing of Grace Johnson, a longtime volunteer and Chamber of Commerce president. In her honor, William C. Poe, Jr. proposed using funds from a local festival to establish a youth center in her memory. The effort, supported by many community organizations, raised enough money to lay the foundation for the center on a lot donated by Poe himself.

In 1952, The Youth Center was officially founded as the Los Alamitos Youth Center, shifting its name from the original Grace Johnson Youth Center due to state regulations. Over the years, the organization saw rapid growth in the 1960s and 1970s as the population of the surrounding areas grew. The need for larger facilities led to the sale of the original building and the beginning of a new chapter for The Youth Center, including a partnership with the City of Los Alamitos and other local entities to build a multi-use recreation center.

In 1976, The Youth Center officially moved to its current location on Oak Street, where it continued to serve the youth of Los Alamitos and surrounding communities. By the 1980s, the center was offering a variety of programs from gymnastics to teen employment services. The addition of the Teen Center in 1978 further solidified the organization's role in the community. Over time, the Youth Center has remained adaptable, expanding its offerings in response to the changing needs of the community, such as the addition of after-school programs, summer camps, and leadership academies.

In 1997, the Youth Center launched its first Community Support Campaign, raising over $70,000 to support programs, a tradition that has continued with success, helping the organization raise over $1 million over the years.

The organization’s commitment to local youth was further solidified in 2018 when The Youth Center celebrated one million service hours and was recognized as a Top-Rated Nonprofit by Great Nonprofits. In 2019, The Youth Center marked its 30-year collaboration with the Los Alamitos Unified School District in providing instrumental music education to elementary students.

Despite challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, The Youth Center continued to adapt, offering essential childcare for frontline workers and shifting many programs online. In 2021, The Youth Center expanded its programming with the launch of SHARK After School Adventures and the new R.A.S.C.A.L.S. at the Plaza program.

In 2023, The Youth Center achieved a major milestone by relocating to a new, permanent facility. With 100% of funds raised for the construction of the new center, we are now poised to expand our reach and impact. Along with our new home, we’ve introduced additional programs and launched an Endowment Fund to secure the long-term sustainability of the organization. These steps are critical in ensuring we continue to provide transformative opportunities for local youth for many years to come.

Looking ahead, The Youth Center remains committed to its mission of empowering youth through education, mentorship, and community engagement, with the goal of shaping the next generation of leaders.

Accomplishments in 2024:
1. Awarded Top-Rated Nonprofit & Nonprofit of the Month by U.S. Congress
Recognized for outstanding community impact and service to youth, reinforcing our commitment to excellence.

2. Expanded Program Offerings:
Introduced a new STEM program for girls, empowering young women to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.

3. Scholarships & Community Support:
Awarded over $60,000 in scholarships to students and provided 108 pairs of shoes to children and college students in need.

4. Successful Partnerships & Funding:
Secured significant foundation support from organizations such as Boeing, Walmart, and Epson Foundation, ensuring the growth and sustainability of our programs.

5. New Facility and Improved Programs:
Continued leveraging our new permanent home to expand services, including offering Music Academy programs at six local elementary schools and enhancing Camp SHARK staff training through a partnership with Cal State Fullerton.

Goals for 2025:
1. Launch Public Speaking Program – LEVEL UP for Middle School Students
Introduce a new program focused on developing public speaking, communication, and leadership skills to help middle school students build confidence and prepare for future success.

2. Install Solar Panels for Sustainability
Make The Youth Center more eco-friendly and energy-efficient by installing solar panels on our building, reducing utility costs and promoting environmental responsibility.

3. Recruit 5 Interns Across All Areas
Expand our capacity and enrich our programs by recruiting five interns to support staff across various departments, including education, marketing, and operations.

4. Enhance Marketing Strategy
Focus on strategic messaging and visual presentation to improve the way we communicate The Youth Center’s mission, programs, and impact to the community, donors, and supporters.

5. Strengthen Leadership Programs and Partnerships
Build on our current offerings by adding new workshops in leadership, career development, and mental health support, and continue to foster partnerships with local organizations to enhance opportunities for youth.

As The Youth Center continues its mission to serve local youth and families, we face several critical needs that will help ensure our long-term sustainability and continue providing high-quality programs. Our work is rooted in the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. In order to strengthen our impact and secure our future, we must address these challenges:

1. Building Our Endowment Fund
To ensure that The Youth Center can continue its mission for generations to come, we must build and sustain an endowment fund. This fund will provide a reliable, long-term source of income, reducing dependency on annual fundraising and allowing us to offer more scholarships and expand our programs. A robust endowment will be key in preserving our legacy and securing financial stability for future generations.

2. Paying Off the Mortgage on Our Center
With our new facility, we have the opportunity to expand our services and reach more youth in the community. However, we still have an outstanding mortgage balance of approximately $1 million. Paying off this debt will significantly reduce our financial burden, freeing up resources that can be reinvested directly into our programs and services for local youth.

3. Youth Staff Development & Training
As generational differences continue to shape the workforce, it is vital that we offer comprehensive training to all youth staff members across our programs. This will include development in areas such as leadership, communication, and understanding the unique needs of today’s youth. By investing in our staff, we can enhance the quality of our programs and better support the diverse needs of the children we serve.

4. Increasing Scholarships for Local Families
Many families in our community face financial challenges that prevent their children from accessing quality educational and enrichment opportunities. By expanding our scholarship fund, we can ensure that all children, regardless of income, have access to our programs. We aim to offer scholarships to all local families in need and ensure that this fund is consistently available to those who require it most.

5. Program Evaluation & Continuous Improvement
To stay relevant and effective, we must regularly survey and evaluate the quality of our programs. This will involve gathering feedback from parents, students, and community partners, as well as reviewing curricula to ensure it reflects the latest educational best practices and meets the evolving needs of today’s youth. Ongoing improvement of our programs is essential to providing high-quality services and creating lasting, positive outcomes for the children we serve.

Because Los Alamitos public schools are highly rated, many parents who work in Los Alamitos enroll their children in this school district. This means that we are able to serve children from many ethnically and economically diverse communities including Long Beach, Lakewood, Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Downey, Garden Grove, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Cerritos, Stanton, and others.

At The Youth Center, we believe that every child, regardless of their background or financial situation, deserves the opportunity to succeed and reach their full potential. Our mission is to create a welcoming, supportive environment where children can grow, learn, and develop the confidence they need to thrive in life.

The importance of supporting children from all walks of life cannot be overstated. Whether they come from families facing economic challenges or from diverse cultural backgrounds, every child should have access to the same opportunities to succeed. Our programs are designed to meet the unique needs of each child, helping them build not just academic skills, but also essential life skills such as kindness, respect, and the ability to give back to others.

By opening our doors to children of all circumstances, we aim to instill values that go beyond just learning. We focus on teaching ethics, empathy, and the power of community. Through programs like Leadership Council of Students, mentorship, and opportunities to fundraise for those who are less fortunate, we are shaping the next generation of leaders who will carry these values forward.

To continue making this vital impact, we need your support. In order to keep our doors open and offer these life-changing opportunities, we must ensure that we have the resources to serve all children, regardless of their financial situation. Your generosity allows us to offer scholarships, improve our programs, and expand our reach—ensuring that every child who walks through our doors feels valued, supported, and empowered.

Together, we can continue to provide the opportunities that children need to learn, grow, and become the confident, compassionate leaders of tomorrow. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to The Youth Center and to the youth of our community.

As Board Chair of The Youth Center, I am deeply committed to the mission of creating a safe and supportive environment for children. Our programs are designed to give every child the opportunity to learn, grow, and build the confidence they need to succeed in life.

We recognize that many of the children we serve face unique challenges, and it is our responsibility to ensure they have access to the resources and opportunities they deserve. From providing scholarships to offering mentorship programs, we are dedicated to empowering youth not only with academic skills, but also with values like kindness, respect, and the importance of giving back to their community.

The Youth Center’s impact is only possible through the collective support of our community—board members, staff, donors, and volunteers. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of local youth, helping them realize their full potential and become the leaders of tomorrow.