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BILL WILSON CENTER CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY
Half a century ago, a youth counseling center designed to aid troubled teenagers was launched in Santa Clara. Webster Center for Educational and Growth Counseling was the original name of what was to become Bill Wilson Center.
The origins of Bill Wilson Center go back to 1973 when a prominent Santa Clara citizen, Bill Wilson, Jr., worked with troubled youth in addition to owning Wilson's Jewel Bakery and serving as a Santa Clara City Councilman (1963-1971), with a term as mayor in 1965. Bill collaborated with faculty at Santa Clara University on a proposal for a counseling center, which would combine counseling of students in the local secondary schools with a family therapy program. Wilson's credibility with both the counseling professionals and Santa Clara political and business leaders was an important factor in creating this community-based service.
Bill Wilson continued to be involved as an active member of its Board of Directors. Later, he helped secure a building for our first runaway program, and the building is still in use today. In May 1977, after a brief illness, Bill died at the age of 41. The staff and the Board of Directors chose to change the name of Webster Center to Bill Wilson Center in memory of this very special person and one of the founders of Bill Wilson Center.
Recent reports indicate that nearly 17% of the homeless in Santa Clara County are under the age of 24 and the area continues to have the highest number of unhoused youth per capita in the nation. This statistic alone is a stark reminder that there is still so much more for us to do.
Bill Wilson Center has grown from its two original offerings, family and individual counseling along with school outreach counseling, to a holistic slate of services and programs serving nearly 5,000 children, youth, young adults, and families in Santa Clara County while reaching an additional 30,000 clients through our street outreach, housing referral call center, and crisis line programs.
As a 501(c)(3) community-based non-profit agency headquartered in Santa Clara, Bill Wilson Center continues to support and strengthen the community by serving youth and families through counseling, housing, education, and advocacy. BWC’s vision is to prevent poverty by building connections to education, employment, housing, and emotional well-being for youth and families.
Ongoing programs include: Individual and Family Counseling; Centre for Living with Dying (grief counseling); and Youth and Family Mental Health Services. Residential services include Safety Net Shelter for at-risk, runaway, and homeless youth ages 12-17; a range of Transitional Housing Programs for youth ages 16-25, Rapid Rehousing for youth and families, and permanent housing for young adults. Other programs include our Drop-In Center for at-risk and homeless street youth; our Contact Cares crisis intervention and help-line phone service; and a host of programs geared specifically toward LGBTQ+ youth. BWC employs nearly 200 staff and has more than 100 trained volunteers working throughout the agency.
A Golden Anniversary Celebration will take place on May 19 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. For information about tickets, sponsorships, and event advertising … visit www.billwilsoncenter.org.
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