Menlo Park Center Teaches Fitness, Arts, And Service

MENLO PARK (KPIX 5) He wanted to be a pro football player and a rock star. But then a debilitating injury sparked a new life of community service.

People often come to Gary Riekes wanting to learn one thing -- but they end up pursuing many skills.

"What we want to have is the best opportunity for someone to accomplish their goals," Riekes explained.

Five thousand people a month come to the nonprofit Riekes Center for Human Enhancement in Menlo Park.  Riekes originally started the center in his home in 1974. The former Stanford wide receiver spent years recovering from a football injury and athletes would show up at his house. He'd coach them on injury prevention, and since he was also a professional musician, he would teach music!

"It was very much of a wild west show," he remembered with a smile.

More than 20 later, Riekes moved the center to a 40,000-square-foot warehouse. At first, the giant rental space didn't quite feel right.

"When the kids started coming, it was too intimidating," Riekes said.

So bring that sense of warmth and joy from his home, Riekes actually ripped out the front of his house and installed it at the center.

Today, students aged 2 to 92, come to the Riekes Center with a variety of abilities and disabilities, from Olympic athletes to musicians.
They pay a fee to participate; a third receive scholarships. They learn creative arts, athletics, nature, and perform community service projects.

"There isn't a judgment on a person." Riekes said. "It's what you want to do. And it doesn't matter if you're good or bad or whatever. It's what do you want and what brings you joy."

A staff of 50 teaches classes six days a week. Students like Mark Wolohan also become mentors. Wolohan says Riekes teaches him to reach his potential.

"Even if they are really, really difficult goals that few people achieve respectively, I actually believe they are attainable," Wolohan said.

Director Lex Ebbink-Allemania says the key is Riekes' atmosphere of acceptance.

"Gary really embodies that feeling of love and home," said Ebbink-Allemania.

So for creating a supportive place to learn and grow for more than 40 years, this week's Jefferson Award in the Bay Area goes to Gary Riekes.