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Tiffany Harris is the executive director of Bay Area Girls Club, which is located in Richmond, California, in West Contra Costa County. “I first participated in the program when I was ten years old,” she says. We’ve been around since 1975 and are celebrating our 50th year.” The organization is one of many Bay Area nonprofits committed to empowering the youth.
Being Among Bay Area Nonprofits Meeting a Need
The Bay Area Girls Club was started by a group of women from Richmond who saw a shared need for the young girls in their community. “They wanted to create a supportive, enriching space for school-age girls in our area, especially since most opportunities back then seemed boy-focused—Boys Club, Boys This, Boys That.”
The Richmond women aimed to create a safe, supportive home-away-from-home for girls. They established the Richmond Girls Club through events like spaghetti dinners and bake sales. This Bay Area nonprofit quickly became respected within the community.
Mrs. Stevanna Herron, one of the founding members, had the innovative idea to buy the building that housed the club, which was formerly a beauty salon. With backing from private and corporate donors, the building was transformed into a versatile center offering social and educational programs and services for girls.
In 1989, the Richmond Girls Club of America became an affiliate of the national organization, Girls Inc., because the Boys Club became the Boys & Girls Club. Girls Club of America sued them.
“Unfortunately, we lost that case,” Harris says. “So, we changed our name to Girls Inc. of West Contra Costa County. During the pandemic, we decided to leave Girls Inc. and return to our roots. Since this was the Girls Club when I was a kid, I renamed it Bay Area Girls Club.”
The organization welcomes any Richmond girls between the ages of 5 and 18, and the main agenda is college and career prep. “We support their mental health, too,” Harris explains. “We have a Take Care of You program (TCY) for elementary students. For middle school, we introduce them to what it’s like to have a job through a program called Girls Eager to Train (GETT To Work). Our center has a multicultural book program, plus lessons in financial literacy, responsibility, and conflict resolution.”
For the older girls, Bay Area Girls Club has a College Bound Girls program (CBG) where participants meet with influential people in their chosen fields, go on college tours, and explore career paths. “We’ve been to Washington, D.C., and we went to New Orleans for an HBCU tour last year. In spring break 2026, we hope to go to Georgia for another HBCU tour, but if not, we’ll tour California.” The Bay Area Girls Club stands out among Bay Area nonprofits for its comprehensive programs tailored to young girls.
Harris notes that traveling outside the Bay Area is a first-time experience for some girls. “My favorite time as executive director is just taking girls on trips. For some, it’s their first time flying or leaving the Bay Area,” she says.
“It’s exciting for them to explore other cities and imagine what it would be like to live there, or sometimes discover they wouldn’t want to. Seeing their reactions and how they adapt to new places is really rewarding.” This experience highlights why organizations like the Bay Area Girls Club are important among Bay Area nonprofits.
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Making a Difference With Men Who Cook
Organizations like the Bay Area Girls Club receive funding from the community, grants, and fundraisers. The organization is hosting their annual fundraiser, Men Who Cook, on Sunday, August 31 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Galileo Club in Richmond.
“The concept is simple,” Harris says. “Each participant signs up to make an appetizer, entrée, or side dish. We’ve had everything from barbecue rib tips to potato salad to chili.” Harris says that some dishes are things she’s never heard of before. “Very fancy recipes that make me say, ‘Wait, what is that?’ It’s been such a fun and delicious way to bring the community together.”
Men Who Cook’s is a food tasting extravaganza featuring dishes from amateur and professional chefs. Local heroes and celebrities will showcase their culinary skills by sharing their signature dishes at this fun-filled community event to raise awareness and funds for the Bay Area Girls Club.
Chef Antwan Newman, a Men Who Cook member, will be one of the handful of chefs working the fundraiser. “I’ve worked at Ruth’s Chris as a prep cook, Applebee’s, BJ’s Brew House, and IHOP. I’ve been in the restaurant business most of my life,” he says.
“I also do my own culinary catering. People hire me for events and special requests. The last event I did was a kid’s birthday party with a taco and nachos bar. I’ve done high-end catering for up to 500 people, so I’ve been on both ends of the scale.”
Three years ago, Chef Newman contacted Men Who Cook, as they were looking for volunteer chefs to work at a Girl Club event. “I’ve always wanted to give back, especially to the youth, since I have kids that age; that’s just important to me.” He’s been with the organization ever since and has enjoyed sharing his hospitality.
“It’s really nice,” he says. “I get to meet a lot of good people, taste a lot of good food, and representatives from the Girl Club also come and speak. It helps raise a lot of money for the Girl Club. I plan on doing it year after year, as long as I can get invited.”
Chef Newman will make chili, chicken, and waffles for the Bay Area nonprofit fundraiser. “My mom’s chili recipe has been in the family for almost 50 years,” he says. “For the chicken and waffles, I like to put my own twist on it. I usually make cinnamon waffles with chicken tenders and sugar-free syrup on top. Since a lot of people are trying to watch their health these days, I keep that in mind.”
Fundraising proceeds will support the Bay Area Girls Club’s vital programs. “This year, our focus is on assisting girls with social-emotional challenges, teaching financial literacy and job skills, and preparing them for college,” Harris says. “The funds will support our core initiatives, including mental health support for our youngest girls, work readiness for middle schoolers, and college and career prep for older girls.”
The Bay Area Girls Club is proud to be among the many Bay Area nonprofits dedicated to empowering youth. Harris expresses gratitude for the Richmond community’s involvement. “We are very thankful to our community and partners like the chefs from Men Who Cook for helping to make these programs a reality.”
She also highlights the organization’s rewarding impact on the girls, saying, “Parents introduce their daughter and say, ‘Oh, she’s so quiet, she won’t talk, she won’t do this or that.’ Then, in the program, when they open up, you can really see them form and blossom. The parents come back and say, ‘What did you do? She really likes this program!’ That’s the kicker for me.”
Want to get involved? Sign up to be a chef, be a sponsor, or be a guest here. Follow the Bay Area Girls Club on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok to support Bay Area nonprofits making a difference.
