Sunshine, Pickleball & a Year Well Served!

A year of service deserves a proper send-off. This past weekend, City Year Bay Area AmeriCorps members gathered for an end-of-year celebration hosted by board member Dave Justice and his wife Emma — and the word that comes to mind is: grateful.

The Justice family opened their beautiful home for an afternoon that was equal parts relaxation, friendly competition, and genuine community. Thanks to the incredible spread from Frank's BBQ, corps members refueled like champions. Between bites, the afternoon came alive. Corps members faced off on the pickleball court, went head-to-head in spike ball, and cooled off in the pool. The energy was exactly what you'd expect from a group of people who've spent a year pushing through hard days together — loose, joyful, and a little competitive.

Board members Justin Prettyman of the 49ers Foundation and Sergey Shchemelev of Deloitte were also on hand to celebrate alongside the CYBA staff and corps — a reminder that the support surrounding these young people extends well beyond the school day.

And because no City Year event is complete without a little excitement, corps members entered to win raffle prizes including a cooler, water bottles, and — fittingly — their very own pickleball set.

What makes an afternoon like this more than just a party is what it represents. The work AmeriCorps members do isn't easy. Showing up every day for students, building relationships, and holding the line when things get hard — that creates a bond that's difficult to find anywhere else. Watching that community fill a backyard on a warm afternoon is a reminder of what a year of service actually builds: not just skills, not just a resume line, but people who know each other in the way that only shared challenge can create.

To Dave and Emma Justice — thank you for opening your home and making our corps feel celebrated. They earned every bite, every rally, and every belly flop!