Montebello Commerce YMCA has provided an opportunity for teens to develop leadership skills. The program where the teens develop these skills is Youth and Government. It is a very unique program that also gets the teens civically engaged. Delegates have the ability to develop communication skills, understand political ideology, and write effective speeches. Delegates collaborate with teens across the state when they attend the conferences to develop leadership skills and train for their assigned positions. The last conference is where the delegates go to Sacramento Capital to apply all their experience in a mock legislature and court setting.
The YMCA is an incredible community partner serving our youth. As the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services for the Montebello Unified School District, I have witnessed firsthand the great services provided to our students and youth in our communities. The YMCA and school district have had a great long standing partnership.
It’s exciting to see the YMCA offering valuable programs such as the Youth & Government where students have an opportunity to travel to Sacramento and participate as delegates in the Model State Legislature Program. Additionally, the YMCA offers a great preschool program on one of our campuses.
As an educator, partnering with and supporting the YMCA just makes sense. It’s a wonderful place for resources and to be part of a family like culture. I am looking forward to continuing the great ongoing partnership with the YMCA and providing our communities with great resources for our families.
Dr. Allison Garland
Our family has been members and involved as volunteers with the Montebello-Commerce YMCA for over 40 years. The facility has constantly grown and expanded to meet the ever changing needs of the Community. One constant is always the relationships that flourish with other members, families and staff. The Y provides programs and services that are welcoming and foster an environment of dignity, respect, fairness and appreciation for all. Opportunities abound to maintain a balanced lifestyle putting Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body. Guided by the core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, the Y is dedicated to giving people of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life the opportunity to reach their full potential. Please come join us as we celebrate the future.
The YMCA is an amazing community partner. As a psychologist at Roybal Family Mental Health Center, we work serving children & families living in the cities of Montebello & Commerce. During the recent state of emergency the YMCA generously donated diapers, baby formula, & toys to our Young Mother & Babies Program. We have also referred our families to their recreational programs. A big THANKS to their executive director Paul Parzik for always looking out for the needs of the community!
My name is Scarlet Peralta, a lifelong resident, current council member for the city of Montebello and volunteer at the Montebello Commerce YMCA. Our community is extremely lucky to have such an amazing and resourceful partner like the YMCA and its executive director Paul Parzik. The YMCA has been a center for growth, education, and support, providing excellent resources for our families and children. This center is where my brother learned how to swim, where he created new friendships and received the support he needed outside of the school and our home setting. During the pandemic, our YMCA played a pivotal role in the survival and support of many families who were facing food insecurity. Their weekly food bank distributions continue to nourish our families as we continue to navigate through the pandemic. Paul Parzik has built an army of a kind and caring volunteers who do their best to make sure our community receives the resources they need. I’m forever grateful for all that they do for our families, children and seniors in Montebello.
How does one describe the YMCA ? To me it’s the community’s one stop for almost all resources! For healthy living and development, join their membership and be apart of their programs and challenge yourself to accomplish your own goals!
They are involved in shaping our leaders of tomorrow by mentoring them today! Youth in Government and Kids Camp, are both excellent ways for our youth to achieve academic, social, and physical success! During the pandemic, many didn’t know how to ask for help and with the Montebello-Commerce YMCA they didn’t have to. I’m not only a member, but a city elected official, who called on the YMCA to help my community members and they did just that and more! Every week to present, they hold two weekly food distributions of healthy food choices. No one should go hungry and they made sure that doesn’t happen in their community.
Not only are you a member, but you’re a member of the YMCA family. Staff checks in on your well-being, physically, emotionally and spiritually, even when closed, they were doing wellness checks. When you think of the YMCA, please don’t think it’s just a gym or after school program , it’s so much more!
Kimberly CC
I've been a member at this YMCA for the last few years in a few capacities: a gym member, a youth advisor, and most recently as an elected official for the City of Monebello. I can say in all capacities I have been profoundly impressed. As a gym goer, the equipment was clean and facilities pristine; as a youth advisor I saw how the Y develops life skills and develops character for kids needing a little direction; and as an elected official the Y is a stalwart non-profit organization ready to collaborate at a moment's notice. It's just wonderful.
My name is Joanne Giang and I have been volunteering with the Y-Montebello for the last couple years. From the community park clean up to the preschool garden project, my most impressive experience was the annual day-trip to the Kids Campsite with Paul and his executive board members. This was when I realized, there was more to the Y-Montebello than what the community sees. The passion, enthusiasm, and heart from the whole Y-team provided kids with opportunities and experiences they may not have otherwise experienced. The level of commitment and willingness from Y-Montebello continues throughout the pandemic, and this is where I have to highlight Paul and his leadership. The pandemic was difficult for everyone, but Paul and Y-team continues to show up and support the families and community. I have a great appreciation for all that they do for the youth, seniors, families, and employees.
My name is Armando Bernal, President of Montebello Golden State Basketball Assoc. , a non-profit youth basketball league. During the pandemic our association worked closely with the Montebello PAAL to provide Grab N Go bags for family members of the association and for those in need in Montebello and the surrounding communities. Paul made the Montebello YMCA facility available for these events and to this day has continued to provide both volunteers and products for those in need.
My name is Salvador Melendez, Councilmember for the City of Montebello. I really got to experience the impact that this organization has on our community last year in the mist of the pandemic. Organizations like the Y in Montebello kept our community afloat during the most difficult times. They are professional and community driven. Paul and staff do a phenomenal job in bringing the community together. I am thankful for everything that they do!
My name is Rosemary Sanchez and I am the Youth Program Coordinator for the Montebello Police Athletic and Activities League(PAAL). Our organization realized that families were facing difficult times financially during the pandemic and wanted to offer some type of relief. I reached out to the Executive Director, Paul Parzik, of the Montebello-Commerce YMCA for assistance in providing Grab N Go dry product bags for our basketball families and the local community. Without hesitation, Paul offered the YMCA facility to assemble and distribute the bags. Thank you to our volunteers and the YMCA , we were able to distribute 600 Grab n Go bags to families in the community. Paul is always willing to assist and bring the community together. The Montebello-Commerce YMCA is a great community partner.
The Montebello-Commerce YMCA is a great community partner. Paul and the team are always looking for ways to best serve the community and provide excellent resources for youth, adults and seniors.
My name is Oliver Jimenez President of Montebello Youth Leadership Club. My team and I have volunteered with the Montebello-Commerce YMCA since 2013. We have been part of many projects with the YMCA from clean ups to food distributions. I have to say that one of my most favorite and memorable volunteer experiences is around Christmas time, in what has become a tradition for my team and I. Every Christmas eve for the past 8 years we volunteer at Christmas at the Cannon passing out toys to those kids that are underserved in our community. It is events like these that the YMCA puts together that makes our residents and volunteers feel like at home and part of our community. I also want to recognize the outstanding job that Paul Parzik is doing as the Executive Director. Under his leadership even during these unprecedented times, he was able to still find a way to serve our community. Paul and the YMCA are not only a resource in our community but they are also a beacon of hope.