The Riekes Rundown

APRIL 2023

Welcome to the Riekes Newsletter!

We are so excited to share what’s going on around the Center with you in our new monthly newsletter. Learn about events coming up, important dates to know, program highlights, community updates and more! We are so grateful to have such a wonderful community, and are even more grateful we get to share more of it with you!

UP NEXT

Mindfulness for Athletes - Free Session at the Riekes Center!

Attention all middle and high school athletes: Adding mindfulness to your fitness practice will increase resilience, improve overall focus, and elevate your game-time performance! Join mindfulness educators Andy Kitt and Mark Newton on Tuesday, April 18th from 6-7PM, at the Riekes Center, for a FREE Mindfulness for Athletes session.

Sign up for 2023 Summer Camps Today!

Summer is just around the corner, and the Riekes Center has something for everyone! Our summer programs offer an exciting range of activities for ages 3-18, from art and music camps to nature and documentary film programs. For the adventurous, we even have a backpacking trip! With several locations in Cupertino, Woodside, and Menlo Park, there's a program near you. Don't wait - register today and give your child a summer they'll never forget at the Riekes Center!

Browse Camps

Reach Your Goals Anywhere with Riekes Edge Online!

Did you move in the last few years but wish you could still workout at the Riekes Center? Well now you can! Our Riekes Online platform, Riekes Edge Online, offers you access to our innovative programming wherever you are! Whether you’ve moved away, are off to college, or on a long vacation, Riekes Edge Online offers you the convenience of a customized fitness plan, access to one of our amazing Riekes coaches, and 1-on-1 virtual training wherever you are in the world. Contact coach Juan Pablo to learn more:

Contact Juan Pablo

Sign up for a free consultation with Modern Wellness Nutrition Studio

The Riekes Center has partnered with Modern Wellness Nutrition Studio, a group of mindful, certified nutritionists who believe in elevating individuals' health through education and knowledge based on the latest scientific-evidence based research! Sign up today for a free consultation by emailing tiffanyhelene@gmail.com!

Learn More

Join Us to Celebrate National Gardening Day!

On Friday, April 14th (National Gardening Day) the Riekes Center will be meeting up at the Friendship Garden in Redwood City from 1:00–3:00PM to do some spring cleaning of our community garden! We welcome anyone who would like to join us for a wonderful day in the sun, and benefitting our local community! To join, please contact Aaron Alvarez if you'd like to join!

290 Huntington Ave, Redwood City, CA 94063

Contact Aaron

Dine at Amici's on April 18th to Benefit the Riekes Center!

Menlo Park's Amici's East Coast Pizzeria is having a wonderful promotion to benefit the Riekes Center! On April 18th, mention Riekes while dining at Amici’s and 25% of your bill will be donated to the Riekes Center!

880 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park, CA 94025

View Flyer

IN THE KNOW

Introducing Woodside Forest School!

Looking for a fun and captivating nature-based program for your 3 to 5-year-old? Look no further than Riekes Forest School in Woodside! At Forest School, children learn through play, exploration, and discovery in an entirely outdoor setting. With Mother Nature as their teacher, children develop a deeper respect and sense of wonder for the environment while cultivating social-emotional skills that form a foundation for learning. The outdoor classroom offers engaging learning experiences that develop all of our senses. Give your child the gift of connection, creativity, and exploration at The Woodside Forest School.

Learn More

Summer Documentary Program!

The Riekes Center Summer Documentary Program is an intensive, collaborative, and exciting film program designed to teach students filmmaking techniques necessary to create documentaries about issues that affect their everyday lives. The program covers all aspects of documentary film production from concept to final edit. The program will run for 3 weeks in the summer of 2023. Students will meet for 5 hours/day for the first two weeks. The third week is dedicated to shooting projects and editing. We will offer two sessions over the summer and students can and are encouraged to apply for both sessions. Ages 13-17!

Apply Today

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Friday, April 14

Friendship Gardening Day

at the Friendship Garden

1:00 - 3:00PM

Tuesday, April 18

Mindfulness for Athletes

at the Riekes Center

6:00 - 7:00PM

Tuesday, April 18

Amici's x Riekes Benefit

at Amici's Menlo Park

11:30AM - 9:00PM

Thursday, April 20

Creative Arts Recital

at the Riekes Center

6:00 - 8:00 PM

Saturday, April 22

Love Our Earth Festival

at Menlo-Atherton

11:00AM - 4:00PM

A NOTE FROM MARK

April 2023

Thank you so much for your support of the Rally for Riekes last month. It’s heartwarming and inspiring to feel the love from our huge Riekes extended family.

April is a special month for us because we get to celebrate Gary’s birthday! It takes all of us to carry on his legacy and to make sure that the programs and people of the Riekes Center “Leave it better than we found it!”

We hope that you enjoy seeing our monthly newsletter celebrating our wonderful staff, students, and the impact of our programs. We want to make sure you stay up to date on all of the amazing things going on at the Center.

We couldn’t do it without you!

Mark Newton

Executive Director

GET THE SCOOP

MA-Chronicle - Got Goals? The Riekes Center Can Help You Achieve Them by Megan Lam

Menlo-Atherton student writer Megan Lam for the MA-Chronicle writes an illuminating article on the Riekes Center! Check it out:

Read Here

Riekes Film Receives California Arts Council Grant

The California Arts Council has announced a grant award to The Riekes Center for Human Enhancement in support of its Riekes Center Summer Documentary Film Production Program!

Learn More

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

Come Visit Riekes at the Love Our Earth Festival, April 22nd!

The Town of Atherton and the Atherton Environmental Programs Committee are partnering with cities, schools, and community-based organizations, including Riekes, from across the peninsula for an Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 22nd at Menlo Atherton High School from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

View Flyer

Windrider Bay Area 2023

Windrider Bay Area is celebrating 14 years of independent films, compelling conversations, and unexpected journeys. We have a discount code for up to 20 individuals who would like to attend. Message Natalie at nocchipinti@riekes.org if you are interested!

Learn More

SHOUT OUTS

Sione Ma'ufualu is our 2023 Goosebumps Award Recipient

In honor of Riekes supporter, friend, and positive influence Dave Dove, the Riekes Center implemented the Goosebumps Award in 2018 to be given to a member of our community who exemplifies treating each participant at the center like they are the most important person in the world. This year, we awarded the 2023 Goosebumps Award to Sione Ma’ufualu, who is a crucial part of the Riekes community, from the moment you walk through our front doors. He knows the names of every individual who comes into the Center and will always strike up friendly conversation or offer a helping hand. Congratulations Sione!

Congratulations Geoff on your Grammy!

Our very own Geoff McCann, Riekes music teacher, won a Grammy Award for his production work on 2023's Best Children's Album, "The Movement" by the Alphabet Rockers! Congratulations Geoff, we are so proud of you!

RETRO RIEKES

In each newsletter, we're sharing Riekes throwback photos throughout the decades!

The people who started it all–Gary Riekes' parents, Max and Dorothy Riekes. Gary named the Riekes Center in their honor.

GIVING BACK

SPIRIT, COMMUNITY, GROWTH, FAMILY, BELONGING, JOY, TRANSFORMATION, HUMAN ENHANCEMENT, LOVE, NON-JUDGMENT, TRUST, INCLUSIVITY, NO BOUNDARIES, COMPANIONSHIP–these are just a few of the words our participants use to describe the magic that is The Riekes Center!

Through our intentional personalized training and experiences, we provide all of our students–no matter age or ability to pay or perform–the opportunity to define and accomplish their goals in a diverse and inclusive -environment. Our ability to provide these life-changing experiences is made possible through the generosity of our donors and private grants.

Our hope is you will consider giving a gift of any amount that is comfortable for you in support of our unique and transformative mission. What a gift!

To donate online please visit

https://www.riekes.org/donate

Or send a check to

The Riekes Center

3455 Edison Way

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Donate

Come to the Riekes Center!

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