Nonprofit KidWorks Celebrates Reopening of Bishop Manor Spoke Center in Santa Ana

With the snip of a colorful ribbon, the Bishop Manor Spoke Center operated by Santa Ana-based nonprofit KidWorks was reopened on Oct. 31. On hand to share in the joy were local residents, Santa Ana officials, including Mayor Pro Tem Benjamín Vazquez, along with Santa Ana United School Board members, and representatives from KidWorks and construction companies involved in the project.

The Spoke Center is located in the 164-townhouse Bishop Manor community in Central Santa Ana where it had been closed for years because of water damage and the impact of the pandemic.

The Spoke Center rejoins the Townsend Street and Cedar Evergreen Spoke Centers operated by KidWorks in addition to its main Dan Donahue Center. Up to 60 students in kindergarten through 12th grade will enroll at the reopened Bishop Manor site.

KidWorks serves youth and families through a licensed preschool, after-school programs, tutoring, mentoring, college and career readiness, family services, and leadership development.

“The reopening of the Bishop Manor Spoke Center is a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to serve even more students and families since we first opened our doors in a small, one bedroom apartment 32 years ago,” says KidWorks’ CEO and Executive Director David Benavides.

“This is the perfect time to reopen the Bishop Manor Spoke Center as the needs of this underserved, but vibrant community are clear. We are confident we will make a meaningful and sustained positive impact. While the Dan Donahue Center is a strong presence in the community, our goal is to serve more youth and expand by opening new spoke centers in additional neighborhoods. The reopening of the Bishop Manor site supports that intent.”

The launce of the renovated site follows the July reopening of the renovated Bishop Manor playground that was made possible through the donation of materials and labor by contractor members of the Orange County Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (CAI-OC). The community swimming pool was also repaired and reopened.

Benavides shared the thinking behind the Spoke Center program. He said KidWorks wants to be deeply rooted in the life and culture of neighborhoods and to create trusted relationships, resulting in sustainable impact and generational change. The goal is also to provide a safe haven for students that will also serve as a gathering space for community partners to collaborate on neighborhood change.

KidWorks is grateful to Emily Mandrup, founder of ECM Management, a Santa Ana-based land development and construction management services company, for shepherding the project through the redevelopment process including recruiting local companies that together donated more than $200,000 in services and materials to renovate the facility She is KidWorks’ Board chair.

"Being part of the Bishop Manor Spoke Center renovation is deeply meaningful to me,” she said. “For more than 14 years, KidWorks has been close to my heart; I’m honored to use my experience and network in construction to create a space where students can learn, lead and thrive. By bringing together trusted contractors and partners to volunteer their time and donate materials, we’re building more than a center—we’re building opportunities for these incredible young leaders. Seeing the transformation and knowing the impact it will have on students’ futures is why I serve."

Other companies donating significant in-kind materials and labor include ADEP Precision Contracting, Air Control Systems, Castlerock Environmental, Inc., Gregg Electric,

Inland Commercial Flooring, J .C. French and Company, Inc., Johnson Plumbing JP Prime Inc., Oltmans Construction Co., Omega Environmental Services, Inc., PREMIER Design + Build Group. Roy E. Whitehead, Inc., S and J Interiors, Inc., Saddleback Roofing Inc., SERVPRO, Sierra Insulation, and SoCal Environmental Solutions.

KidWorks is devoted to providing students in under-resourced neighborhoods in central Santa Ana with holistic programs and experiences to become leaders both in and out of the classroom. Personalized guidance and caring mentors combined with academic achievement, leadership training, and personal development provide the building blocks for student success.

“Since its founding, KidWorks has remained rooted in faith and the belief that a child’s zip code should not determine their future,” said Benavides.

For over 10 years, 100% of KidWorks seniors have graduated high school on time and continued to higher education.

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About KidWorks

Since 1993, KidWorks has helped children, youth and families living in under-resourced neighborhoods in central Santa Ana, California. As a 501(C) (3) nonprofit, KidWorks makes an 18-year commitment to its students walking with students from “Pre-K through B.A.”

KidWorks Develops Students Who Are:

• Life Ready: Developing the whole person so they can make wise decisions and thrive

• Learners: Educating students so they have a brighter future

• Leaders: Preparing young leaders who make a difference

The outcome is self-reliant young adults who are equipped to succeed in life and are motivated to give back.

For over 10 years, 100% of KidWorks seniors have graduated high school on time and continued to higher education. We are also proud to report that 75% of our college students returned to school this fall. In addition to our traditional after school programs, we added supplemental support to better meet the needs of our students and families.

To learn more about KidWorks and to read its success stories, please visit www.kidworksoc.org.