Special Announcement

Date: July 14, 2026

To: The Kids’ Breakfast Club Family: 

From: 

President of The Kids’ Breakfast Club Edgar Esquivez

Vice President Omar Hashwi

Secretary Winny Knowles

Treasurer Lucy Hernandez

Executive Director Mark Salinas

Subject: The Kids’ Breakfast Club Closes

After thirty-four unforgettable years, it is time for The Kids’ Breakfast Club to close its doors.

Writing these words is far more difficult than I ever imagined. For more than three decades, this organization has been one of the greatest joys of my life. While I know this chapter is coming to an end, I also know our mission lives on through the thousands of children, families, volunteers, and community partners who made The Kids’ Breakfast Club what it became.

Before we close this chapter, I want to recognize our founder, Dr. Marlena Uhrik, whose vision made The Kids' Breakfast Club possible.  Dr. Uhrik established this organization to meet a simple but important need: ensuring that neighborhood children had access to nutritious meals and meaningful educational activities when school was not in session.  It has been a true privilege to carry her vision forward in Hayward for more than two decades following her retirement and to honor the foundation she built.

To every child who walked through our doors, thank you.  You gave us purpose.  We hope you remember more than just the breakfast.  We hope you remember feeling welcomed, encouraged, and cared for.  Our goal was always to create a place where every child knew they mattered.  Every smile, every conversation, and every pancake served was our way of saying, "a whole city supports you."

To the parents and families who trusted us with your children, thank you. Your confidence in our mission inspired us to give our very best every single day.

To our volunteers, there are simply no words that fully express my gratitude. You woke up before sunrise, gave up your vacation mornings, and spent countless hours cooking, cleaning, mentoring, laughing, and building friendships with children you often had just met. You didn't volunteer because you had to. You volunteered because you believed every child deserved a good meal and a great start to the day. You are the heart and soul of The Kids’ Breakfast Club.

I also want to thank every individual, family, business, and organization that supported us financially over the years. Every contribution, large or small, was an investment in children.  Because of your generosity, thousands of young people started their mornings with a nutritious breakfast and caring adults surrounding them.  Thank you for believing in our mission.

There is one partner whose generosity deserves special recognition.  For thirty-four years, CITIBANKprovided The Kids’ Breakfast Club with office space at no cost.  That extraordinary commitment gave us stability, allowed us to grow, and made it possible to continue serving families through good times and difficult ones including the challenges of COVID.  Their kindness was never about a building. It was about believing in children and investing in our community.  Thank you, CITIBANK, for standing beside us for more than three decades.

The Kids’ Breakfast Club began in 1992.  I joined as a volunteer in 1994 while I was a college student.  I came for what I thought would be a volunteer opportunity, but I found a family and a purpose that would shape the rest of my life.

Over the next thirty-two years, I had the privilege of serving in many roles, including the past twenty years as Executive Director.  Along the way, I worked beside some of the most incredible Board Members. They were compassionate, talented, and dedicated educators, nurses, nutritionists, and community leaders anyone could hope to know. We all came together for one simple reason: to make sure children had breakfast when school wasn't in session.

Every program morning began the same way.  Before the sun came up, volunteers gathered in school cafeterias to crack eggs, flip pancakes, pour milk, and prepare for another morning filled with laughter.  Those early mornings became lifelong memories.  We celebrated Easter and Christmas, we watched children grow into young adults, and we built friendships that extended far beyond the breakfast table.

I want to especially thank the Puente Project, whose students and leaders volunteered alongside us for more than fifteen years.  Thank you to Mr. Dan Guerrero and Mr. Amaral for believing in our mission and for teaching generations of students the importance of serving others.

Today, I see former Kids’ Breakfast Club participants everywhere.  They are teachers, police officers, firefighters, parents, and community leaders.  Every once in a while, someone will stop me and say, "I used to go to The Kids’ Breakfast Club."  It never gets old. Those words remind me that what we built together mattered.

Looking back, I realize The Kids’ Breakfast Club was never just about serving breakfast.  It was about building community.  It was about giving children a safe place to start their day.  It was about showing up, being consistent, and reminding young people that there were adults who cared about them.

As Executive Director, I leave with a full heart. I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished together and deeply grateful to everyone who walked this journey with me.

Thank you for thirty-four years of service, friendship, laughter, unforgettable mornings, and yes...more pancakes than I could ever count.

It has truly been the honor of a lifetime.

With my deepest gratitude,

Mark Salinas
Executive Director
The Kids’ Breakfast Club