The King of Kings Community Center is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that was incorporated in 1969. The Community Center was originally named the King of Kings Lutheran Center, Inc. The Community Center was founded through a small subsidy from the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, as a non-sectarian, social service agency to assist disadvantaged and disenfranchised residents of the West Fresno Community. Beginning with one employee, the organization has grown to become a well-known and well-respected agency in the community.

The earliest efforts of the Community Center in meeting the needs of the community were directed at addressing the needs of youth in West Fresno. These early efforts involved the establishment of tutorial programs, parenting classes, a food and nutrition program and addressing the problems of crime, violence, and gang activity in the community. In 1980, King of Kings was successful in obtaining a grant from United Way of Fresno County to fund a family counseling/motivation project and tutorial programs for the area residents. The project concentrated on counseling disadvantaged families with a wide variety of problems such as substance use and/or abuse, child neglect, marital problems, legal and financial difficulties, educational achievement, etc.

In 1981, King of Kings was successful in obtaining a small grant through the Fresno County Health Department to establish an alcohol recovery facility in West Fresno. This facility has now grown to be a highly successful and effective ten (10) bed residential alcohol and other drugs recovery home for individuals in need of treatment. The facility also provides outpatient/aftercare services to those persons completing the residential phase of treatment.

In addition to the programs listed above, King of Kings has also successfully operated programs that provided outreach to Senior Citizens and Veterans in need of assistance - a number of community service projects, which assisted seniors and disabled persons in the repair and maintenance of their homes and several summer youth employment programs intended to enhance the environment of the West Fresno Community. The Center worked actively with the Fresno Police and Sheriff Departments to reduce crime and youth gang activity in the community.

As the King of Kings organization has grown and expanded the scope of its services, it has nurtured and enjoyed a very positive working relationship with residents of West Fresno. King of Kings has become a well known, well respected and most of all, is trusted by area residents as an efficient and effective provider of services in the community. Our Board of Directors and staffs possess a positive and progressive view toward meeting the challenges and problems of our community in the 1990's. The area is typical of many designated poverty locales. There is a high degree of unemployment, underemployment, substandard housing, welfare recipients and all of the problems and conditions tend to contribute to alcohol and/or other drug use in our community. Adequate health and social services, with preventive and educational health services is almost nonexistent. There is a high homeless population and an ever-increasing number of former mental patients who have been released from state and county institutions with referrals to services and facilities totally inadequate to meet their needs.

According to statistics, the area can be characterized as a stable community with a substantial number of elderly persons and children living below the poverty level and the highest concentration of smokers in the City of Fresno. King of Kings represents a unique, mutual endeavor by consumers and traditional providers who work together to improve social services to the community. The policymaking Board consists of six (6) Directors; a mix of consumer, community and agency representatives.  Leadership is in the hands of the Chairperson, who is also a representative of the community. The Board is totally committed to the welfare of the neighborhood, as evidenced by the sponsorship of the programs targeted at pregnant and post-partum women, substance abusers, and ex-offenders to name a few.