LETTER FROM THE CEO

Welcome to the Roy Maas' Youth Alternatives, Inc. (RMYA) website.  I write this letter to you today with great anticipation, excitement, and optimism.  We are truly hopeful that this site will educate our visitors about the services we offer, the children we serve and ways that you can help us make a difference in the lives of our less fortunate children.

In November 2007, I celebrated my 25th year at RMYA.  Celebrating my twenty fifth anniversary has helped me reflect on how things were when I started compared to how things are today.  Needless to say, we have grown in every aspect of the word.  In 1982, I was hired as the Business Manager.  I worked with Roy Maas and handled all the finances of the agency.  At that time, we didn’t have computers and everything was done with a pencil and a legal pad.  The Internet was unheard of and my Rolodex was a rubber band tied around a pack of business cards.  Today as Chief Executive Officer, my responsibilities consist of the entire agency, each and every child, staff, and volunteer.  I truly enjoy my work with children.  I take pride in the services we offer and the manner in which we deliver them with love, trust, and hope.  Below are a few statistics of how things were and how they are today.  Personally, to say that we’ve grown would be a modest understatement, but I will let you be the judge.

In 1982, RMYA employed 52 staff.  Today, RMYA employs 140.

In 1982, RMYA served 980.  During fiscal year 2007, we served  over 3,000 children and their families.

In 1982, I was a naïve, soft-spoken person.  Today, I speak my mind when it comes to issues pertaining to the safety and well being of children and of our agency.

In 1982, RMYA’s total annual budget was $400,000.  Today, RMYA’s budget is over $5,000,000.

These numbers are impressive.  However, to me, the reason RMYA has been so successful is because of the dedication of our staff and the results we see in the children and families we serve.  Today, 41 of our staff have been employed for at least 5 years.  Twenty-eight staff have been here for 10 years, and 7 have been here for at least 20 years.  These numbers are unheard of in the social work field.  Agencies that provide services like ours report a high turnover rate because of the ‘burn-out’ factor.  This field can be very draining, both physically and emotionally.  Our statistics are rare and high because RMYA works together as a family.  We work very hard to make sure that our staff feel they are supported.  If any one of us feels that we need help in any area, project, event, there is always someone to lend a hand.  We depend on each other just as much as our children depend on us.  Our work environment is a “Family Environment”.  Yes, we are “co-workers”, but what keeps us striving for the best is that we are also family and we never feel alone.  Which brings me to the “results”.  We couldn’t continue working here as long as we have, nor can RMYA have the positive/professional reputation we have today if we didn’t see results in the children and families we serve.  One of the greatest rewards of our work is the satisfaction that we made a positive impact on the life of a child, and in our case, in the lives of over 60,000 children in the last 31 years.  The biggest ‘pay off’ is when the children we once worked with return as adults to say thank you, and to bring us up to date on their lives.  Today, many of our past residents have become chefs, probation officers, firefighters, a lawyer, and many other types of professionals.  These successful adults give RMYA credit for their success.  Although, not every child who comes through our doors may become a ‘white collar professional’, we take pride in knowing that RMYA has been part of the reason they have become productive citizens of our community.  It doesn’t take much more than that to remind us that we are doing a great job and the impact we have on our abused and neglected children will live in their hearts forever.

I would like to thank you for being part of the Roy Maas' Youth Alternatives, Inc. Family.  To all our volunteers, staff, supporters, and especially our children, we are family; brought together with love and commitment to improving the lives of others.

With respect & love,
Gloria Berumen Kelly