2015.Year - Grail Family Services

Grail Family Services
Empowering San Jose Families
GFS Board of Directors
Zulma Maciel, President
Sharon DeAngelo, Vice President
Manuel Martinez IV, Treasurer
Sonia Avitia
Lori Burns
Diana Gilbert
Kim Guptill
Duanne Welsch
Danielle Wenzel
Dear Friends,
In this season of thanksgiving, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to work
with this community, and to serve the families who live here. We at GFS are especially grateful
this year for the support from funders, volunteers, donors, and the community-at-large that has
helped us expand our reach and impact. See highlights of our accomplishments on Page 2.
I am also so grateful for our talented and dedicated Staff, which has grown this year! Dr. Nereyda
Hurtado joined us as Manager, Family Resource Center & Evaluation, Stephanie Loera as Family
Services Coordinator, and Carolina Trenado as Family Engagement Manager. Martín Huici, who
joined GFS last year, was promoted to Director of Programs. I am also thankful for the ongoing
support of our Board of Directors.
Executive Director
This year marks my 16th year as Executive Director of GFS. It is truly inspiring to see how much we
have been able to accomplish. This year we strengthened our internal capacity and strategically
sought opportunities to broaden our impact. We are implementing systems to track outcomes
and increase our ability to demonstrate clear results. I am excited about the many opportunities
that lay ahead. As we grow, your financial support is critical. Please consider making a donation in
support of GFS. Click the Donate Now button on our website to make a one-time donation or to
become a Literacy Champion sustaining donor.
Jessica Cruz
With gratitude,
GFS Staff Members
Veronica Goei
Office Manager
Martín Huici
Director of Programs
Carolina Trenado
Family Engagement Manager
Gabriela Alvarado
Family Literacy Coordinator
Jorge Garcia
Family Services Specialist
Cynthia Leyva
Parent Services Manager
Stephanie Loera
Parent Services Coordinator
Nereyda Hurtado, Ph.D
Manager, FRC & Evaluation
Leslie Flowers
Development/Communications
Coordinator
Brenda Arenas
Child Enrichment Coordinator
Maria Frias
Child Enrichment Staff
Martha Frias
Child Enrichment Staff
Maria Medina
Child Enrichment Staff
Maria Serna
Child Enrichment Staff
November, 2015
Veronica Goei, GFS Executive Director
GFS - Our Year in Pictures
2015 - A Year of Collaboration, Expansion, and Impact
This year GFS deepened our relationships with other providers and established new alliances to
broaden our services to the community. Here are some highlights:
Thank you to our
Supporters!
Alum Rock Union Elementary
School District
Bella Vista Foundation
Castellano Family Foundation
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
Gordon and Betty Moore
Foundation
Heising-Simons Foundation
Junior League of San Jose
Leo M. Shortino Family
Foundation
Manufacturers Bank
Morgan Family Foundation
SanDisk
Santa Clara County Dept. of
Mental Health
Santa Clara County Social
Services Agency
Silicon Valley Community
Foundation (SVCF)
Silicon Valley Venture Fund
(SV2)
Sharks Foundation
SAVE THE DATE
May 19, 2016
GFS Annual Luncheon
Family Engagement Impact Project (FEIP)
With input from our FEIP partners and
the families in our community, we developed The Building Blocks of Parenting, simple strategies that parents
can use to support their children’s
learning and development. We’ve distributed these messages and strategies
to more than 2000 households.
FIRST 5 Family Resource Center
In collaboration with Somos Mayfair,
GFS was selected by FIRST 5 Santa Clara
County to join their network of Family
Resource Centers. We are excited to be
Nearly 300 parents and children attended the FEIP Spring
part of FIRST 5’s effort to ensure that
Carnival at Dorsa Elementary School
families in Santa Clara County with
young children 0-5 have easy access to the resources they need. In addition to our FRC services,
GFS will be providing professional development for child care providers.
Sí, Se Puede Collective
We have also strengthened our broader network through our partnership in the Sí, Se Puede
Collective, which includes GFS, Somos Mayfair, Amigos de Guadalupe, and the School of Arts &
Culture. Together, we leverage our services, advocacy, operations, and fundraising efforts to help
Mayfair families with children bridge the gaps in basic needs, education, arts and culture and
community.
PEI (Prevention & Early Intervention)
GFS is in 7 elementary schools in the Alum Rock Union School District through our PEI program.
Implemented in partnership with the Alum Rock Counseling Center and funded by the Santa
Clara County Department of Mental Health, PEI includes Case Management, family workshops
(Strengthening Families) and positive parenting instruction (Triple P).
GFS Changes Lives - Maria Vargas’s Story
The most gratifying part of our work is seeing firsthand how we impact the lives of those we
serve. Maria Vargas and her family are an example. Maria came to us 13 years ago when the two
eldest of her four children, Sergio and Francisco, were 6 and 1. She and her children attended all
of our programs. GFS became the family’s “home away from home.” In fact, Francisco learned to
walk here. Here’s what Maria says about her experience at GFS:
 I learned the importance of building individual relationships with my children, and being
“present” every day for them.
 I learned my role in supporting my children’s
learning. I’m now learning math so I can help
my daughter with her homework.
 I learned how to be an advocate for my children at school and in the community.
 I built long-lasting friendships with other
women in the community.
Please follow us!
/GrailFamilyServices
@GrailFS
Grail Family Services
2003 E. San Antonio Street
San Jose, CA 95116
408.347.7892
www.gfsfamilyservices.org
GFS Women’s Support Group, 2003