Parents the Unsung Heroes of our Youth Organizations – Part IV
By Susan Sperry Excerpt from Newsletter 2026 Q4
Part IV of “Volunteerism in the Town of Moraga” focuses on organizations dedicated to making youth activities available to all individuals regardless of talent or disposition. Starting with kindergarten age children these organizations are called “recreational”, meaning they are open to anybody who wants to join, as opposed to “traveling league” style organizations into which the more talented or motivated individuals graduate. The core principle behind “recreational” youth organizations such as LMYA, OMPA, MBA and Scouts is that the individual is competing against him or herself, not others, with the goal being personal development and self-improvement. None of this is possible without the active contributions of parents, which is why we call these almost invisible volunteers “unsung heroes”. The youth activity system of Lamorinda not only feeds the most talented individuals into more competitive commercial organizations from which remarkable achievements have emerged, but it builds the character and community spirit of future generations.
These volunteer supported groups serve Moraga’s youth:
Orinda Moraga Pools Association
The Orinda Moraga Pools Association (OMPA) is a non-profit corporation established in 1956 and comprised of nine recreational swimming teams all located within Contra Costa County, California. (Campolindo Cabana Club, Meadow Swim and Tennis, Moraga Country Club, Moraga Ranch Swim Club, Moraga Valley Pool, Orinda Country Club, Orinda Moraga Swim Club, Orinda Park Pool, and Sleepy Hollow Swim and Tennis).
The mission of the OMPA is to conduct a summer recreational swim league to benefit the member pools’ children, of all abilities, aged 3-18. Through weekly competitive dual meets, and an annual Championship Meet, the spirit of sportsmanship, integrity, and high ethical standards is promoted for all participating athletes, coaches, and parents, and ensure fairness through rules and regulations. The goal of OMPA is to use sports experience to help the swimmers develop positive character traits and values that will help them succeed the rest of their lives.
We are proud of our rich OMPA history and the Olympians who graced our ranks:
• Barbara Stark – OCC – Swimming – 1952 Helsinki
• Warren Blanchard – Water Polo – 1956 Melbourne
• George Harrison – OPP – Swimming – 1956 Melbourne, 1960 Rome
• Carolyn Schüler – Swimming – 1960 Rome
• Karen Moe – OCC – Swimming – 1972 Munich, 1976 Montreal
• Peter Rocca – Meadow – Swimming – 1976 Montreal, 1980 Moscow
• Peter Schnugg – OCC – Water Polo – 1980 Moscow
• Drew McDonald – MVP – Water Polo – 1980 Moscow, 1984 Los Angeles
• Jon Svendsen – Meadow – Water Polo – 1980 Moscow, 1984 Los Angeles
• Matt Biondi – MVP – Swimming – 1984 Los Angeles, 1988 Seoul, 1992 Barcelona
• Kirk Everist – OCC – Water Polo – 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta
• Rick McNair – OPP – Water Polo – 1996 Atlanta
• Artemis Daphnis – Sleepy Hollow – Swimming – 2000 Sydney (representing Greece)
• Kathy Sheehy – Campolindo – Water Polo – 2000 Sydney
• Heather Petri – MVP – Water Polo – 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing, 2012 London
• Kim Vandenberg – Moraga Tennis and Swim – Swimming – 2008 Beijing
• Peter Varellas – Moraga Tennis and Swim – Water Polo – 2008 Beijing, 2012 London
• Drew Holland – Orinda Country Club – Water Polo – 2020 Tokyo (held 2021) & 2024 Paris
Moraga Baseball Association
Founded in 1977, the Moraga Baseball Association (MBA) is a not-for-profit youth baseball organization affiliated with PONY Baseball Inc., a nationwide youth baseball/softball organization that emphasizes sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership, and discipline. Moraga Baseball Association is a volunteer-run organization that is made possible by its sponsors and participation fees within the Moraga community. MBA’s program is divided into four divisions based on the players’ ages – Pinto, Mustang, Bronco, and Pony.
The primary mission is to provide a quality competitive baseball program for the children of our community that focuses on developing their skills and abilities to play baseball, while providing a positive, fun, supportive atmosphere that encourages all players to challenge themselves on the field, while teaching them sportsmanship, leadership and fair play. MBA is committed to providing a quality instructional program that teaches fundamental skills, tactics, and strategies for the game of baseball, promoting sportsmanship, competitiveness, and continuous improvement regardless of skill level, developing managers, coaches, and umpires that model good sportsmanship and uphold the mission of the league.
Lafayette Moraga Youth Association
The largest athletic organization in Lafayette and Moraga, founded in 1954, LMYA’s mission is to build self-esteem, sportsmanship, well-rounded players, and community by providing year-round sports opportunities to school-age youth in Lafayette and Moraga by partnering with parents, residents, local sport teams, and organizations.
Charlie Toll, then the Superintendent of the Moraga School District, was instrumental in bringing athletic programs to Moraga. He had first developed a youth program in Lafayette where he lived. Moraga students began asking him if they could also have a team. Thus began the newly formed Lafayette Moraga Youth Association committed to having fun and engaging in positive, healthy competition, exposing children to a variety of sports developing muscles and skills. With a comprehensive approach to sports, health, and wellness rather than being a path to high school sports, LMYA offers equal game time and positive opportunities. Developing skills and teaching the fundamentals of strategy, fostering camaraderie and reliability through team play, teaching life lessons in a safe, constructive environment, educating coaches, trainers and parents to support their athletes as they grow, providing older youth work opportunities in which they serve as role models in leadership roles, and building our community through local games, inclusive events and team camaraderie remain LMYA’s goals.
Scout Organizations
Scouting America, the new name for the Boy Scouts of America since 2025 following acceptance of women into what was long exclusively a male organization, has a mission to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Gender participation, as well as religious affiliation, can still be defined by a troop’s sponsor. The Girl Scouts of Northern California continues to be for women only and supports local troops through Orinda/Moraga Service Unit 327.
The oldest Moraga troop is Troop 212 which “Pop” Clarke revived in 1961 and whose home became the “Scout Hut” on the Moraga Ranch property. Troop 249 sponsored by the Moraga Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded in 1960 but has withdrawn from Scouting America. Troop 234 was chartered in 1984 through the St. Monica Catholic Church Men’s Club and became self-chartered in 2025 to allow more diversity. Troop 246 whose origins are a well kept secret also meets in the Scout Hut. Cub Scout Packs for grades K-5 are run through local schools and churches with “Family” as the new designation indicating openness to boys and girls. All of these “scouting” organizations are run by adult volunteers that may be parents or individuals who just care a lot.
