YMARI stands for, Youth Mentoring and At Risk Intervention. The organization was founded in 2002 by Willie Gary who has a long standing commitment of working with youth, families and outreach organizations in various communities, spanning over 10 years. Pastor Willie, as he is affectionately known, is also the founder and senior pastor of the Kingdom Community Fellowship Church and has served in years past, as the youth pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church and The Word Church of the Greater Cleveland, Ohio area, guiding children and youth along the great path of discovering their potentials. Other credentials include: memberships in American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), National Network of Youth Ministries, and the Greater Cleveland Youth Leaders Network and formal education through Liberty University School of Life Long Learning, and Liberty & Moody Bible Institutes.

During the years of his ministry he discovered that many inner city youth were facing educational, social, and economic adversities due to the lack of positive adult models. In addition, exposure to advancement opportunities was limited. This discovery led Pastor Willie to expand his outreach efforts through the programs and initiatives of YMARI. Established to build mentoring relationships with youth along with creating opportunities of career awareness, YMARI’s ultimate goal is to instill a sense of worth, dignity, and pride in each youth being served so that they may function as viable and productive citizens of society.

YMARI is a non-profit 501c3 faith-based corporation also offering year-round community programs and services to students who have been referred from area schools, parents, and social service agencies. At present, designated session sites include,  various local churches, schools, libraries and community centers. The organization's board of directors is comprised of over 50 combined years of experience working with youth, families and communities and staff as well as volunteers are all trained regularly according to the guidelines of the National Mentoring Partnership.

In 2008, YMARI became a network partner with the Community Care Network’s Northeast Ohio Mentoring Center, through which mentor training and certification is provided for prospective mentors and staff volunteers. In addition, YMARI is also a partner with Cuyahoga Tapestry System of Care Provider Service Network, offering an expanded range of wraparound services to youth, families as well as those who serve them.