empowering our community through volunteer service

Welcome to the San Ysidro Women's Club, where we are dedicated to making a positive impact in our community through volunteer service. Join us in our mission to create a better future for all.

A beacon of hope and support in the heart of San Ysidro since 1915.

The San Ysidro Women’s Club is dedicated to enhancing the lives of students and the broader community. As a proud member of the California Federation of Women’s Clubs, our vibrant team of professionals and retirees is united in a shared mission: to foster community improvement through unwavering volunteer service.

The San Ysidro Women's Club has three basics signature projects that impact the welfare and educational needs of the students in the San Ysidro Community: San Ysidro High School Scholarships; Eighth Grade Incentive Awards and Teddy Bears for Kids.

We are proud to state that through Grace A. Kojima's leadership, dedication and a passion, as the founding chair and driving force of our signature projects, we have made the commitment to raise $500,000 to establish a"San Ysidro Women's Club Grace A. Kojima Endowment" which will guarantee Incentive Awards and Scholarships in perpetuity for students in San Ysidro.

Leadership

Executive Board Members:

Maritza G-Chavarin

President

Alice De la Torre

1st. Vice President/Dean

Velia Rico-Ornelas

2nd. Vice President/Membership

Maria Maytorena

3rd. Vice President/Programs

Maria Carriedo-Ceniceros

Treasurer

Gaby Gregory

Secretary

Honorary Members

Grace Kojima

Former Superintendent San Ysidro School District

David Alvarez

California Assemblymember, District 80

Nora Vargas

SD County Board of Supervisor, District 1

Vivian Moreno

Councilmember City of San Diego, District 8

Denise Ducheny

Former California State Senator

Our Vision

To ensure every student in San Ysidro has the opportunity and support to pursue higher education and achieve their dreams.

Our Mission

Promoting the welfare and educational needs of San Ysidro students through scholarships, incentives awards, and community projects.

Our Impact

Over 24 Years of Support: Providing scholarships to over 600 college-aspiring students from San Ysidro High School and Incentive Awards encouraging middle school students to dream big. Distributed over 19,000 Teddy Bears, blankets and books. Raised $300,000 towards a $500,000 Endowment goal.

A Legacy of Leadership: Inspired by the visionary Grace A. Kojima, we strive to ensure our Scholarship and Incentive Award projects benefit future generations through the "San Ysidro Women's Club Grace A. Kojima Endowment" with the San Diego Foundation.

Your contribution can light the path for a student’s future.

We invite you to join us in this noble cause by considering a one-time or recurring donation. Every bit helps us reach our goal of creating an enduring legacy of education and opportunity.

Endowment

General Donations

Or mail your check to San Ysidro Women's Club:
P.O. Box 431385 San Ysidro, CA 92173

Words From our Past Recipients

“I was very honored to have received the Incentive Award in 2008. The award allowed me to buy my first laptop, which contributed to my academic success. Receiving the award motivated me to find more opportunities to put towards my education and future.”

Angel Marquez

He was the recipient of the 2008 Incentive Award. He graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2016. He currently works as a Field Representative for U.S. Senator Alex Padilla.

"I want to thank the San Ysidro Women’s Club for the generous scholarship that provide me the courage and financial support to accomplish my educational goals."

Dania Alvarez

My name is Dania Alvarez, I am graduated with honors in the class 2021 at San Ysidro High School, and I was always involved in school extracurriculars like sports and clubs. I am a senior at Cornell University. I am majoring in Human Developent with a concentration in gereontology and minoring in education.

“I am very grateful to have received this scholarship when I was a senior in high school because it allowed me to finally buy my first computer. It has been a key element in my success because it not only encouraged me but also winning the San Ysidro Women’s Club scholarship made me feel that there were others interested in seeing me succeed and now being able to graduate is something that feels surreal.”

Angel Zepeda

My name is Angel Zepeda and I will be graduating as an Economics Major from the University of California, Los Angeles.

“I am extremely grateful to the San Ysidro Women’s Club for awarding me a scholarship in 2021.”

Cristian Fuentes

I am a 4th-year Political Science and Latin American Studies Major at UC San Diego. I currently intern at the office of Council Member Vivian Moreno. Some of my other experience includes being a researcher for UCSD, labor organizer for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, and a student staff at the Raza Resource Centro. I want to go to law school and uplift my community, San Ysidro. I am extremely grateful to the San Ysidro Women’s Club for awarding me a scholarship in 2021.