Timeline
2021
RMYA celebrates it’s 45th Anniversary.
September – Blair Thompson is named as new Chief Executive Officer; the 4th in RMYA history.
2020
February – RMYA partners with the City of San Antonio’s NXT Level program to serve homeless youth up to 24 years of age.
October – RMYA receives a HUD grant through the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH) and partners with Bexar County to expand street outreach services with a mobile outreach vehicle.
November – RMYA Administrative Staff offices return to the 3103 West Avenue campus.2019
January – Through an Impact San Antonio grant, RMYA begins renovations to the commercial kitchen servicing all residential and drop-in programs at the San Antonio Campus. Renovations are completed in April of 2019.
June – RMYA receives the Steve Wick Innovative Program Award from the Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) for the RMYA Centro Seguro Drop-In Center.
December – RMYA contract with DFPS to serve 18-24 years old youth in extended foster care at TurningPoint Transitional Living Program, through the Texas Dept. of Family & Protective Services’ Supervised Independent Living Program.2018
August – RMYA’s Meadowland Charter District opens another school – Stepping Stones Academy – at RMYA’s San Antonio Campus.
October – RMYA becomes the sole licensed Safe Place agency for Bexar County with the National Safe Place Network.2017
RMYA contracts with the Office of the Governor to provide emergency care services to children in need of Temporary Emergency Placement.
RMYA’s expands educational services, creating the Meadowland Charter District.
The newly renovated Bridge Emergency Shelter facility opens over Labor Day Weekend at West Avenue Campus.
2016
RMYA marks its 40th Anniversary. Bids and permits finalized, RMYA breaks ground on the new Bridge Emergency Shelter.
In collaboration with the Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS), RMYA co-hosts a Youth Safety Summit on trafficking of children and youth in our community.
2015
RMYA receives funding from Charity Ball Association and Valero Energy Foundation of San Antonio to build a new Bridge Emergency Shelter.
Through a United Way New Programs Funding Grant, the RMYA Family Counseling & Resource Center opens a Community Psychiatric Clinic, offering adolescent services by UT Health.
2014
William F. “Bill” Wilkinson, III named new Chief Executive Officer, the third in RMYA’s history.
The Texas Education Agency renews the charter for Meadowland Charter School through 2023.
2013
Meadowland Charter School expands to 1st through 12th grades.
2012
The RMYA Arthur & Barbara Burdick Community Center opens on the Meadowland Campus.
2011
RMYA receives reaccreditation from the Council on Accreditation (COA).
2009
Meadowland charter school adds 7th and 8th grades.
2008
Meadowland Charter School opens for grades 9-12.
2007
RMYA receives Council on Accreditation (COA) certification.
RMYA Awarded Charter School license for the Meadowland Charter School.
1999
The TurningPoint Transitional Living Program opened it’s first house for homeless youth and has since expanded to six houses for youth from 18-24 years of age.
1994
Founding Executive Director Roy Maas passed away.
Gloria Berumen Kelly was named as Chief Executive Officer.
1993
The Board changed the agency name to Roy Maas’ Youth Alternatives, Inc. (RMYA) to honor the work of the Founding Executive Director, Roy Maas.
1987
Programs were relocated to Meadowland (1987-1992).
1986
42-acre Meadowland Campus (ML) in Boerne purchased with the help from the original 900 Club, key supporters and donors.
1984
The RMYA Family Counseling & Resource Center opened.
1978
RMYA and United Way begin a decades-long partnership.
Agency Renamed – Girlsville & the Bridge merge to become Youth Alternatives, Inc. and the “umbrella concept” now operating as Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA) was born. The Optimist Club of San Antonio was a major funder.
The Board voted to open a Thrift Shop on West Ave. to support programs.
1977
The Bridge begins serving both boys & girls.
The Bridge incorporated, separating from founding agencies.
1976 – Agency Opens
Through the efforts of Catholic Family & Children’s Services & the SA Urban Council, the Bridge Emergency Shelter opened and hired Roy Maas as Executive Director.
Founding History of RMYA
Roy Maas Becomes Executive Director
The Bridge Emergency Shelter
In August of 1976, Roy was hired as Executive Director of a new agency called The Bridge. The Bridge was established through an ecumenical effort of Catholic Family and Children’s Services, the San Antonio Urban Council and a grant from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare under the Runaway Homeless Youth Act. On September 15, 1976, The Bridge began operation as an emergency shelter for 16 boys, ages 11 – 17. By February 1977, the need to provide services for girls became clear and the Bridge was relicensed to provide care for 20 children (boys and girls), ages 11-17. In May 1977, The Bridge became incorporated as The Bridge Emergency Shelter and Catholic Family and Children’s Services turned the control over to the new agency. Mrs. Olivia Garza, a Catholic Family and Children’s Service representative, was elected as the first Chairperson of the Board of Directors of The Bridge Emergency Shelter.
Girlsville Merges with the Bridge
During the mid-1950’s, the Girls Council of San Antonio purchased a large two story home, at 1023 Aganier, for the purpose of providing a home (Aganier Hall) for dependent, neglected children. Many of these children merely needed a home because their parents were unable to afford their care. By the early 1970’s, the need to provide a service for children with more serious behavioral problems became obvious. The Girls Council of San Antonio looked for a group to help them make some necessary changes. The Optimist Club of San Antonio, which had been involved, with Boysville for many years agreed to join with the Girls Council in formulating a new program named Girlsville, Inc. In November 1977, the Optimist Club requested that Roy become involved with Girlsville, and he gave assistance on a volunteer consulting basis in its daily operations. Through this initial contact and a growing dialogue between members of the respective boards, plans began moving forward for a merger.
The Beginning of Youth Alternatives
The merger between The Bridge and Girlsville was completed in August 1978, and the new corporate agency was named Youth Alternatives, Inc. The Bridge and Girlsville retained their names as programs of the larger agency. As the agency grew and additional programs were added, Roy Maas began to search for a large piece of property to merge all of the residential programs in one facility. The dream became a reality with the purchase of Meadowland in Boerne in 1986, where up to 80 children live and attend school at the Meadowland Charter School or Boerne Independent School District. All of this growth was designed to meet the changing needs of the children of our community. None of this would have been possible had it not been for the vision and hard work of Roy Maas.
Agency is Renamed Roy Maas Youth Alternatives
In August 1993, the Board of Directors voted to change the name of the agency to Roy Maas’ Youth Alternatives, Inc. (RMYA) to honor the dedication and work of the agency’s first Executive Director, Roy Maas. Roy passed away on October 30, 1994 after a courageous 2 1/2 year battle with cancer.
In 1976, Youth Alternatives operated 16 beds for runaway and abused children and had an annual budget of about $100,000.
Today, RMYA serves up to 150 children every day, 24/7 in the residential programs and a drop-in center for youth, in addition to providing counseling to children and community families with children in crisis. Nearly 84,000 children and families have received services since 1976.
About RMYA
RMYA History & Timeline
