Kidworks Community Development Corporation   

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.