Press & Archives

The Journey Behind the Mission

Founder Marcus Byrd-Ray Sr.’s commitment to youth and families grew from his own journey toward education, encouragement and community service. Alive & Free / Omega Boys Club is part of that story.

2015 — A New Direction

KTVU featured Marcus Byrd of Richmond as he prepared to attend Laney College. He described the value of a supportive, nonjudgmental space and learning to resist peer pressure. Alive & Free’s 2015 annual report also includes testimony under Marcus Byrd Ray’s name about his future and education.

Read KTVU’s July 31, 2015 feature · Read Alive & Free’s 2015 Annual Report

2017 — Giving Back

Coverage of the University of San Francisco’s California Prize for Alive & Free and Dr. Joseph E. Marshall Jr. included Marcus’s reflections on the program’s impact. Change for FiveHundred was founded in 2017 to help turn care into practical support for youth and families.

Read Oakland Post / USF coverage from March 9, 2017 · Watch the archived KRON 4 first-giveaway coverage

2019 — Community in Action

Alive & Free shared a video of Marcus’s third annual backpack giveaway in Richmond. Richmond Confidential also reported on the event and the community collaboration behind it.

Watch Alive & Free’s original giveaway recap · Read Richmond The Journey Behind the Mission

Founder Marcus Byrd-Ray Sr.’s commitment to youth and families grew from his own journey toward education, encouragement and community service. Alive & Free / Omega Boys Club is part of that story.

2015 — A New Direction

KTVU featured Marcus Byrd of Richmond as he prepared to attend Laney College. He described the value of a supportive, nonjudgmental space and learning to resist peer pressure. Alive & Free’s 2015 annual report also includes testimony under Marcus Byrd Ray’s name about his future and education.

Read KTVU’s July 31, 2015 feature · Read Alive & Free’s 2015 Annual Report

2017 — Giving Back

Coverage of the University of San Francisco’s California Prize for Alive & Free and Dr. Joseph E. Marshall Jr. included Marcus’s reflections on the program’s impact. Change for FiveHundred was founded in 2017 to help turn care into practical support for youth and families.

Read Oakland Post / USF coverage from March 9, 2017 · Watch the archived KRON 4 first-giveaway coverage

2019 — Community in Action

Alive & Free shared a video of Marcus’s third annual backpack giveaway in Richmond. Richmond Confidential also reported on the event and the community collaboration behind it.

Watch Alive & Free’s original giveaway recap · Read Richmond Confidential’s September 26, 2019 feature

Nick Cannon Mornings

Explore the archived Power Players Club feature and community recognition through the original posts.

Open the January 2020 feature post · Open the recognition post

Serving Families During COVID-19

Fourth Annual Drive-Through Backpack Giveaway — January 9, 2021

Change for FiveHundred and Ya-NEEMA organized a contactless drive-through giveaway at Shields-Reid Community Center in North Richmond. Event materials listed backpacks, school supplies, face masks and COVID safety items, with families asked to stay in their vehicles. The original flyer credits Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Contra Costa Alumnae Chapter, and Chevron as sponsors.

View the original COVID giveaway flyer and announcement

Explore Our Community Archives

Find historical event photos, early backpack giveaways, Operation Feed the Homeless and community updates through our original social pages and the Photos & Videos subtab.

Open our Facebook community archives · Explore our Instagram history · Read our community impact timeline

September 26, 2019 feature