Each year, Leadership Fremont, a program of Fremont Chamber of Commerce, takes on a new cohort of individuals who want to develop their professional skills. The program gives those individuals a chance to both learn from local business leaders and put their new knowledge to the test as they collaborate on a project to help an organization in need.
For the 2025 cohort, this organization was Fremont Youth and Family Services (YFS). Funds raised by Leadership Fremont (LF) will help YFS offer programs like summer camps, baseball and soccer teams, dance and music classes, and even driver’s education.
HongVan Tran, a member of the cohort, shared how she also came from a low-income family and benefited from a youth center as a teen, so this cause is close to her heart. The group was determined to meet their goal. “At one point Becky [Ozoa] told me we were on track to be the first cohort in Leadership Fremont history not to meet our fundraising goal. You can imagine the group chat panic. But instead of giving up or making excuses, we pulled together and not only met our goal, we doubled it.”
On Tuesday, May 13, Leadership Fremont held an appreciation night for all the sponsors who donated to help them meet their fundraising goal—organizations such as Haller’s Pharmacy, Republic Services, Bay Area Community Health, Washington Health, Fremont Morning Rotary and many more.
Annie Bailey, the administrator for Fremont’s YFS division, shared that the division was founded almost 50 years ago and currently has 23 employees and eight clinical trainees. They receive funding mostly from county contracts and some city general funds. Children served often come from low-income, immigrant or high-conflict families.
Laurie Linscheid, a clinical supervisor at YFS, said, “Many of our clients have never been given these opportunities…Often these kids’ idea of recreation is a phone or a tablet, so being able to get outside isn’t something they consider except maybe at recess or coming to and from the bus or the car.” Recreational opportunities contribute to a child’s physical, emotional and social wellbeing.
According to data provided by LF, a donation of $150 covers one week of a recreational class for a child, $288 covers a two-month intro to gymnastics course, and $806 provides summer camp enrollment.
The Leadership Fremont cohort presented YFS with a check for $50,000.
Applications are open for the 2026 Leadership Fremont program, which starts in September and runs for nine months.
Those who want to support YFS through Leadership Fremont can go to fremont.gov/government/departments/human-services/donate.
