Our Mission

*Our History**

**Generations of a Family Being the Change They Want to See in Their Community**

Branches of Community Services (501c3) was founded by the late Douglas “Mr. Doug” and Betty “Mrs. Betty” Conner in Downtown Pittsburg in the early 2000s. Mr. Doug and Mrs. Betty started by serving free home-cooked lunches every Saturday to their neighborhood children and the homeless. Despite being on a fixed income, they provided these lunches solely using their retirement funds for years. Every Saturday, children from the community would assist the Conners in serving these lunches. 

During these years, the Conners also began hosting backpack giveaways and an annual toy drive for the Downtown Pittsburg community. Their passion to give back and help those in need kept them going year after year. They had a couple of sponsors who, after reading about the Conners in the newspaper, began assisting with annual donations and extra help at events. The Conners received many community awards, such as “Woman of the Year” in Contra Costa County, and were featured in the local newspaper for their efforts. Betty Conner always said that if God could provide for her, she would provide for others. The Conners hosted all their giveaways from their own home, demonstrating their deep passion and selflessness for their community. Mr. Doug even fought to have the first lighted crosswalks and speed bumps installed on East 9th Street in Downtown Pittsburg. 

In 2009, Douglas passed away. In his honor, the Mayor of Pittsburg and the community placed a cement plaque at the local park across from the Conners' residence.

After his passing, their granddaughter Tanicia Currie, who shares their passion for giving back, stepped in to help continue their great deeds with her grandmother Betty. Tanicia built relationships with local businesses to assist with their efforts. Together, the Conners and Tanicia have hosted many charitable events, from fashion shows to free Saturday lunches for neighborhood kids, backpack giveaways, and annual toy drives. In 2019, Ms. Betty passed and joined her loving husband in heaven. Their amazing organization and spirit live on. 

With the Conners' untimely passing, none of this would continue to be possible without the amazing team Branches has built over the years. Branches has a supportive group of community members serving as board members, who share a passion for giving back. The Branches team currently consists of: Tanicia Currie (President), Danae Braggs (Secretary), Shaun Smith (Board Member), Marcus Wright (Board Member), Tre’nah Currie (Board Member), Paula Tensley-Jett (Board Member), Terrell Lawson (Longtime Volunteer/Team Member), and Teyanah Currie (Longtime Volunteer/Team Member). In 2024, Branches welcomed two new board members, Joetta Basso and Monica Ramos-Estrada, both longtime volunteers with Branches.

The Branches Team brings their experience, passion, and desire to assist those in need within the community and beyond. Since 2010, they have gained support from several local businesses. In late 2014, Betty and Tanicia officially established their efforts as a nonprofit organization, naming it Branches of Community Services. The word “Branches” represents the different services and support their organization offers and plans to offer in the future. By officially establishing the organization, they aim to grow their efforts beyond their local community and gain support from more community members. Year after year, the organization continues to grow and bless more children and families in their community and beyond. Sadly, in March 2019, Betty Conner passed away, but her memory lives on, and the legacy she and her husband founded continues to bless their community. Betty and Douglas Conner truly started something great by spreading a message of love.

Branches now annually provide backpacks, school supplies, Christmas gifts, and much more to over 600 children. The vast majority of our fundraisers and events are hosted within our Pittsburg community, and we believe in providing opportunities for those within our community and beyond.

As an organization, we truly feel blessed to be able to bless so many within the community, and we look forward to continuing to grow. Branches thanks each and every person who contributes to making our efforts a success.

We honor those amazing people who blessed Branches over the years with their love, hard work, selflessness, dedication, skills, and passion for their community. We honor Douglas & Betty Conner (Branches Founders), Miranda O’hare (Board Member), Hank Segrove (Longtime Volunteer/Team Member), Brooke Jeffrey (Longtime Volunteer/Team Member), and Jeremy "Chef Black" Foster (Branches Chef, Longtime Volunteer/Team Member). We miss each of them as they are now our guiding angels.