Our mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. We seek to provide our members with:
Since 1949, The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Santa Rosa has provided boys and girls with a place to learn, play, develop academic skills, and engage in physical activity. We satisfy the age-old desire of young people to have a "club" of their own. Our club is staffed by full-time and part-time Youth Development Professionals. Additionally, this team of professionals are supplemented by passionate and caring volunteers.
At the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Santa Rosa, we value diversity. We are a place for boys and girls of all races, religions, and cultures. Our programs and activities are conducted in the warm, friendly atmosphere of facilities especially designed for youth programs. The Club is open to all members at any time during hours of operation, and we have an open-door policy. We offer varied and diversified programs that recognize and respond to the collective and individual needs of girls and boys. Our Club is guidance-oriented and emphasizes values inherent in the relationships between young people, their peers, and adults. We help boys and girls make appropriate and satisfying choices.
Amber Heidtke joined the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Santa Rosa in April 2016. As the Executive Director, Amber brings vision and leadership to an organization with over 70 years of impact on youth in our community. She is passionate about creating a culture of positivity, learning, physical activity, creativity, and providing the best club for our members, staff and donors. Amber brings over 18 years’ experience in development and management with non-profit organizations in Sonoma County. Amber has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, a board member of the Leadership Santa Rosa Alumni Association, board member of the Cotati Chamber of Commerce, a member of Impact 100 Redwood Circle, a member of the Violence Prevention Policy Team and is also a graduate of Leadership Santa Rosa’s Class of XXXIII.
John Valdovinos joined the Boys and Girls Club in April of 2019. As Operations Director, John oversees the development of internal programming for the club as well as bringing new and engaging, educational and fun activities. John moved back to Sonoma County in 2018 after he decided to finish up his career as an airline pilot and he returned to school. He is currently in his last semester at the SRJC and he will be transferring to Sonoma State to pursue a degree in Economics. John believes in paying it forward, as when he was a kid on an airline flight, one of the pilots let him sit in the flight deck and answered all his questions, this led him to start taking flight lessons. During his time in the airlines, he met many kids and always took the time to answer any questions they had and as John says, “You never know when who and how you will impact a child’s life."
Mary is an accomplished sales and events professional with over 25 years’ experience in both fields. She has worked in Sonoma County in the wine and hospitality industry for the last 10 years. Mary joined the non-profit sector in 2018, as the Development Manager with Community Matters. She has a degree in business and studied marketing and design. She is part of Leadership Santa Rosa, with Class 36. She is a member of CANVAS, ISES, and Sonoma County Professional Women’s Group. Mary lives in Rohnert Park with her husband and has four children.
Daniel Theobald - Athletic Coordinator
Joshua Smith - Youth Coordinator
Iris Yuliana Cuevas - Youth Coordinator
Maddy Holloway - Youth Coordinator
Holly Michalek, Board President- OptiRev
Michael Henry, Treasurer - United Business Bank
Karen Rasmussen, Secretary - Monte Vista Elementary School
Casey Williams, Board Member - Recology
Joe Henderson, Board Member- Heritage Realty/Santa Rosa Junior College
John Ghigliazza, Board Member - PG&E
Rosanna Hayden, Board Member - Artizen Staffing
Leigh Wren, Board Member - Luther Burbank Savings
History
1949 – Founded July 8, 1949 as Santa Rosa Boys Club
1949 – Opened first Clubhouse in 1949 at 707 Hahman Drive
1952 – Hugh Codding donated the land and built the current main clubhouse at 1011 Hahman Drive
1989 – The first girl became a member of the Santa Rosa Boys Club
2002 – Changed name to Boys & Girls Club of Greater Santa Rosa.
2005 – Adopted a strategic expansion plan to open Clubs in all affordable housing complexes.
2010 – Evert B. Person and Finley Foundation provides endowment to Boys & Girls Club of Greater Santa Rosa to ensure Club’s future for years to come