The executive director of Santa Anita Family Service (SAFS), Dr. Fred Loya, is retiring after thirty years of service to the agency and the City of Monrovia. While employed by SAFS to improve family stability and overall mental health of the community, Dr. Loya was also engaged in other community outreach programs.
In the mid-1980s the City of Monrovia was experiencing high levels of crime and drug use. While the city worked to address these issues, Dr. Loya co-chaired the 1987 Drug Abuse Task Force with former Monrovian Councilwoman Mary Wilcox. Their work led to the Boys and Girls Club and the Mary Wilcox Youth Center in Recreation Park. The intent was to establish venues where children could play under the supervision of adults.
When he served as the Board President of a fledgling Foothill Unity Center, Dr. Loya advocated building the agency into a bigger and better organized agency to provide food and social services to the community. He also oversaw the growth of Santa Anita Family Service from the one office in Monrovia, to additional offices in the cities of Covina, San Gabriel, and Pomona. SAFS now provides services to nineteen area cities.