(left to right) Andy Wright , Risa Littman and Jim Carper are new board members of the Southeast Ventura County YMCA. YMCA branches are: Simi Valley Family YMCA, Conejo Valley YMCA (serving Moorpark), Miller Family YMCA and the Triunfo YMCA.

The Southeast Ventura County YMCA has added three new members to its board of directors. Members serve three-year terms.

New board member Andrew Wright, vice president, senior private banker with Wells Fargo Bank in Westlake Village, grew up on the East Coast and his family was active in the Y. "The YMCA is a great place for families to bond," says Wright. "I wanted to get involved in the community and joining the Y board was on top of my list." Wright hopes to see the Y expand so it becomes the center of family life in the communities it serves.

Jim Carper is no stranger to the Y. He served in almost every capacity at the Simi Valley Family YMCA--from cardio kick boxing instructor to interim executive director. Carper missed his involvement in the Y when he began as the capital campaign and development manager at St. Monica Catholic Community in Santa Monica earlier this year. "The YMCA is a tremendous community organization," says Carper. "It reaches out to everyone--regardless of who they are. As a board member, I'd like to raise the awareness of the YMCA and for people to recognize its diversity."

Risa Littman, associate vice president for corporate giving at Countrywide in Westlake Village, manages grants, matching gifts and employee volunteer programs. With her experience on the corporate giving side, Littman feels she brings a unique viewpoint to the board when it comes to grant seeking and making the organization its most effective.

"The YMCA is the cornerstone that provides resources and services to community members. I was looking for a way to volunteer locally and the YMCA felt like the perfect fit," says Littman. "I grew up in Agoura Hills. I would definitely like to see the Triunfo YMCA have its own physical facility."

I am thrilled with the opportunity to work with these great individuals," says Rick Politte, president and CEO of the Southeast Ventura County YMCA. "Their diverse background will bring new perspectives and strengths to the YMCA board.

The Southeast Ventura County YMCA serves the communities of Agoura Hills, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Oak Park, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village. It includes three YMCA facilities (Conejo Valley YMCA, Simi Valley Family YMCA and the Miller Family YMCA in Newbury Park) and one community-based branch (Triunfo YMCA), two preschools childcare centers, 18 before and after school childcare sites and several summer camp programs.

For more information, go to www.sevymca.org.