Volunteering — Double Impact

VillaVoice
Providing Love,
Care and Hope for
Individuals with
Disabilities and their
Families since 1961
Villa Esperanza Services Quarterly Newsletter • Volume 9 • Spring 2010
Volunteering — Double Impact
Written by Alex Paschal, Villa’s Volunteer & Special Events Coordinator
C
ommunity volunteers — those
two words mean quite a lot to
the children, adults, families and
staff at Villa Esperanza Services. We are
always looking for ways to integrate our
children and adults with the community.
“These young volunteers grow up with a better understanding
of people with disabilities and Villa’s students benefit from
interactions with peers serving as models for good behavior.”
Volunteerism is growing in popularity
nationwide; more and more individuals
are looking for rewarding opportunities.
Hundreds of volunteers come to Villa
each year and leave a lasting mark.
Villa has many volunteers working
directly with our children and adults:
high schoolers meeting individuals
with special needs for the first time;
college students determining if this is
their career path; professionals wanting
to give back. Whatever their reason
for being here, Villa volunteers are all
making an impact. Our volunteers often
don’t recognize how important it is to
give our children and adults the chance
to meet a peer from the community.
They get to practice shaking hands,
introducing themselves and talking
about their favorite things with someone
who is ready to give their undivided
attention.
Villa partners with as many as 35
schools, universities and volunteer
organizations to bolster our already
exemplary programs. Our young
volunteers serve as excellent role models.
Loyola High School seniors Christopher Galan, Joseph Kearney, Kevin Merry, Tad Balfour and Michael
Romberger volunteered 85 hours in our classrooms and created the “Good Manner Movie.”
(Continued on page 5)
INSIDE: Message from the CEO, page 2 • Celebrating Villa Staff, page 3 • A Day at the Races, page 6
2009-2010
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wendy Petry, Chairman
Rob Berry
Nancy Cook
Thomas Coston
R-lene Mijares de Lang
Joe W. DeFur
AnnMarie Flaherty
Lauren Frankel
Paulette Geragos
Joe Gorman
Tucker Grant
Sally Irving
John T. Kelly
Bina Lal
LaVonne Lawson
Jim McDermott
Janet Pasker
Marybeth Rehman-Dittu
Damon Sickman
Denise Sparks
Kathryn Trimble
Harlan P. Tripp
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Kelly White, MA, LMFT
ENDOWMENT FUND
AnnMarie Flaherty, Chairman
Message from the CEO
I
am fast approaching my one year anniversary as Villa’s
CEO. It is a pleasure serving you and all of our very
special children, adults and seniors.
We wrapped up 2009 with a variety of festivities. The
Board of Directors held their annual holiday party at Mijares
Mexican Restaurant. The evening was an opportunity to
give thanks and reflect on the year. Our children, adults and
seniors also celebrated with group parties and performances.
We held our staff recognition event in December presenting
awards and recognition to staff for all their hard work. Villa has many long time
employees and we have a low turnover which speaks to Villa’s culture, our staff and
their commitment to serve our clients. We commend all our staff for continuing to do
great work. Our participants continue thriving and their successes keep coming.
2010 is shaping up to be a busy year. Villa’s Board of Directors is creating the
next three-year Strategic Plan with a 10 year vision. The focus for the next three
years is sustainability, growth where feasible, remaining fiscally sound and increasing
efficiencies. In addition, our commitment to advocacy continues with the goal of
HOUSING BOARDS
Richard Hubinger, President
providing more education and increasing our visibility in the community.
SUPPORT GROUPS
Judi Moore
Villa Esperanza Guild
consists of 14 Southern California non profits collaborating on strategy, ideas and ways
Vrajesh Lal
Don Speakman
Tournament of Hope
COMMUNITY COUNCIL FOR
EXCELLENCE
Temo Arjani
Andrea Belz
Claire and Bill Bogaard
Jim Bruno
Yun and Rich Byrd
Ramon Cortines
Nancy Davis
Betty De Santis
Neelam Duggal
Akila Gibbs
Betty Chin Ho
Deborah Jenkins
Jane Kaczmarek
Lena Kennedy
Roza and Aron Kuppermann
Cynthia Kurtz
Vrajesh Lal
Jorge Lambrinos
Maryann McKinley
Sue and William McSweeney
Tracy Nickl
Sarah Smith Orr
Beth and Uzzi Raanan
Tom Selinske
Philip V. Swan
John Taylor
Marlon Wade
William S. Waller
Colleen Williams
Through our leadership, the Coalition of Service Providers continues. This group
to navigate the potential next round of budget cuts. Our sister agencies work together
presenting a united voice in support of individuals with disabilities.
This July Villa begins our 50th year as a provider of services for individuals with
developmental disabilities. We are all extremely proud of this accomplishment and
look forward to the next 50 years. We are planning a year of celebrations with our big
50th Birthday Bash in July 2011. We hope you will all join us!
We once again wish to thank all our donors, families, partners, clients and staff.
The Villa team remains strong because of all of your support.
Best wishes and thank you!
Kelly White, MA, LMFT, Chief Executive Officer
Check out Villa on You Tube
“Samantha — Finding Her Voice”
Log on to www.VillaEsperanzaServices.org to view.
Villa Voice Spring 2010
2
www.VillaEsperanzaServices.org
40 UNDER 40
CELEBRATING VILLA STAFF!
V
illa’s Board of Directors hosted a recognition dinner giving thanks to the 265
amazing employees that keep Villa Excellent! Special recognition was given
to those with 3, 5 and 10 years of service.
Villa’s very own CFO, Vicky Castillo,
was honored as one of the 40 under 40
by Pasadena Magazine.
EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR
Danny Alvarez (left photo)
Thomas Corona (right photo)
10 YEARS
Carol Cruz
Cynthia Donnerson
Barbara Martin
Leonida Segundo
Montrey Taylor
5 YEARS
Clyde Acabal
Jeannette Arellano
Leticia Bonilla
Lobita Brewer
Michelle Cox
Antonio Del Rosario
Andy Garcia
Cheyenne Gonzalez
Kelly Gregory
Genny Guadalquivir
David Miller
Anita Paredes
Sherna Pinnock
Maria Ramos
Katherine Rojas
Mary Rusin
Sandra Valenzuela
Gabriela Villanueva
LEADERSHIP AWARD
Casey Gregg
Award presented by CEO Kelly White
and Board Chairman Wendy Petry
3 YEARS
Roy Amezcua
Alicia Angel
Janet Birkmeyer
Milagros Carpio
Robert Cimorelli
Loretta Colwell
Saul De La Rosa
Victor De La Torre
Priscilla Garcia
Olivia Gibson
Angela Gilbert
Padrica Graves
Teresa Green
Ricardo Johnson
Tywan Jones
Christopher Lelong
Gloria Lozano
Ushaben Martin
Enrique Martinez
Lisa McIntire
Rachael Moreno
Elizabeth Mungai
Fabian Ojeda
Alex Paschal
Ana Perez
Rodrigo Perezolague
Maria Ramierz
Laura Ruelas
Frances Sands
Annabelle Santos
Mahesh Seneviratne
Elizabeth Sepulveda
Susan Snowden
Dora Stephens
Marvin Untalan
Daniel Vicent
Judity Valmonte
RISING STARS
AWARDS
Linda Bustos
Monica Corona
Lucy Gezalyan
Lisa McIntire
David Nowlen
Kathy Rojas
Montrey Taylor
“ABOVE AND
BEYOND” AWARDS
Clyde Acabal
Libni Ambrose
Marites Beltran
Janet Birkmeyer
Jasmine Bravo
Karen Cayaba
Denise Duarte
Rebecca Gonzalez
Brandy Jean
Stella Magaña
Lennie Moore
Maria Ramirez
Michael Rivas
Martina Ruiz
Mahesh Seneviratne
Annette Sepanian
Elizabeth Sepulveda
Juan Tario
Vanessa Voors
Marietta Warren
Owen Woodard
Congratulations
to all and
Thank you!
Villa Voice Spring 2010
3
Ryan Rose, Villa Employment
Services Participant, was also
nominated for the San Fernando Valley
Business Journal’s 40 under 40 for his
accomplishments as a Manager at
PetSmart.
Congratulations to both of you!
LEADERSHIP NEWS
We are pleased to announce the
promotion of Gwendolyn Meier,
M.A., CCC-SLP, MT-BC to the position
of Director of the Hjelte-Phillips Speech
& Language Center.
We congratulate Terri Reed on her
promotion to Interim Director of our
Care Management Outreach Program.
Welcome, Foster Gomonda, Villa’s
new Director of Integrated Adult Day
Program.
www.VillaEsperanzaServices.org
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT ADP!
SCHOOL NEWS
GREAT JOB! FANTASTIC! WELL DONE! — These are expressions of praise for
some of the hard-working staff at Villa’s School. The staff is invited to nominate
a peer from each class who goes above and beyond.
Congratulations to the following persons honored in January.
Room 1 – Alicia Angel
Room 7 – Anet Sepanian
Room 2 – Priscilla Garcia
Room 8 – Stephanie Balderama
The past months were busy at ADP.
Room 3 – Cheyenne Gonzales
Room 9 – Raquel Garcia
The group celebrated Black History
Room 5 – Jeff Dunton
Room 10 – Rosa Galifi
Month in a variety of ways. They
Room 6 – Solida Nguon
prepared quilts with pictures of
prominent African Americans. The
Congratulations to all. You have worked hard to epitomize excellence.
participants on “Film Fridays” enjoyed
films written, directed, and/or starring
African Americans. They also enjoyed
participating in a Drum Circle. Trips
included the African American History
Museum in Los Angeles and Santa
Anita Park for horse racing!
CIVITAN OF PASADENA
Jeff Dunton, Priscilla Garcia, Stephanie Balderama, Rosa Galifi, Anet Sepanian, Cheyenne Gonzales,
Solida Nguon.
END OF SCHOOL — Join us for our School’s annual Awards Ceremony on
Thank you Civitan for hosting the
Friday, June 18 from 10:00 – 12:00 a.m. in Villa’s Braun Center. Each classroom
annual Pizza Party for our Dimensions
will perform and each student will receive recognition for their accomplishments.
and Employment Services programs. It’s
Everyone is welcome!
always slices of fun!
SPEECH & LANGUAGE —
Our speech and language
center is providing local area
Head Start organizations with
professional development in
the areas of Early Literacy
Development, strategies for
teaching English Language
Learners, and using music to
stimulate development and
learning in the preschool
setting.
Villa Voice Spring 2010
4
www.VillaEsperanzaServices.org
Volunteering — Double Impact
(Continued from page 1)
VILLA SERVES IT UP BEST
FOR THE MARATHON
PARTICIPANTS
Each year, Villa is fortunate to
have five or six Loyola High
School Seniors volunteer with
us for three weeks in January.
This year, the Loyola Seniors
wrote, filmed, starred in and
The first group of volunteers arrived
edited “The Good Manner
at 5:30 a.m. eager to get things set up
Movie.” They model how to
at Water Station 14 - Villa Esperanza
help a friend who has fallen
Services! Rain or shine, the day was
off a bicycle, they hold doors
filled with cheers for the runners,
open for one another, they wash
walkers and cyclists.
their hands using “a sufficient
A total of 122 volunteers between
amount of soap.” They are high
5:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. made Villa’s Mile
school boys using their manners.
24 Water Station the most memorable
And, they are far more fun to
watch than hearing your teacher
remind you to say “please” and
and the one serving it up best for all the
Villa volunteer Tad Balfour and Villa student Tony taking a
break from editing one of Tony’s movies.
marathon participants. With two miles
to go, marathoners were delighted to
“thank you.” Our school is using the movie to capture our students’ attention and
see the signs and smiles and hear all the
help them improve their social skills.
cheering at Villa’s water station. Some of
As Casey Gregg, Vice President of Children and Youth Programs points out
the most enthusiastic cheerleaders were
“student volunteers at Villa result in a positive impact on the volunteers as well as our
Villa’s clients who came out and shared
students. These young volunteers grow up with a better understanding of people with
in the fun.
disabilities and Villa’s students benefit from interactions with peers serving as models
for good behavior.” A fourth grade Mayfield student was so touched by what he
learned when he volunteered with our students it stuck with him and he came back
ON THE HOME FRONT
to complete his Eagle Scout project here. Needless to say, he is sure to be an adult
who has more compassion for individuals with disabilities.
Villa also has volunteers working behind the scenes doing all kinds of tasks. Some
serve as mock interviewers for our adults practicing their skills before going out to
get a job of their own, while others perform projects like cutting out St. Patrick’s Day
shamrocks for our children to use in their occupational therapy sessions to helping
our administrative offices with filing. They are giving their time and talents to help
our staff focus on their priorities — our clients.
We celebrate all our volunteers — Board Members, committee members, program
Rain or Shine our residents love
and office volunteers and support group members. We are grateful for each and every
attending the Rose Parade! Thank you
volunteer who comes to Villa, your impact is lasting.
________________________________________________________________________
Sharp Seating for the tickets. Villa
To learn more about volunteering at Villa, please contact
during their game against Portland
Alex Paschal, Volunteer Coordinator at 626-449-2919 ext. 162
or apaschal@VillaEsperanzaServices.org
residents also cheered the Clippers on
Trailblazers in January.
Longtime Villa residents, Michael
Conkey and James Hubinger
Become a Fan of Villa Esperanza Services on Facebook!
celebrated the BIG 40 with a party
inviting all Villa residents. Happy
Birthday guys!
Villa Voice Spring 2010
5
www.VillaEsperanzaServices.org
A Day at the Races
V
illa Esperanza Guild held their 12th Annual “A Day of Thoroughbred Racing” on Saturday, February 27th. Though the weather
stalled the live racing, guests still enjoyed lunch, raffle and off-site betting. The Guild raised $68,000 to support Villa’s Hjelte-
Phillips Speech and Language Center and Residential and Independent Living programs.
A special thank you to Tom and Mary Bristow of the UPS Store for donating the postage for the event. Thank you to the Guild
for their hard work and to everyone who donated and attended.
Ann Petersen and Guild President Judi
Moore
Guild Benefit Chairs Debbie Hart and
Anne Letton
CEO Kelly White, Rachel Peterson,
Emily Tellez and Board Member
Nancy Cook
Leslie Pam and MC, Bob Moore
Marty Digges, Georgene Neely and
Claire Reese Burrill
Board member Sally Irving with her
husband Bill
Villa student Toby Dort with his Mom
Nancy Pierson
Tom Bristow, Tamy Dumias, Greg
Bristow
Young
Professionals
T
hank you for joining Villa’s Young
Professionals (VYP’s) at Party Pasadena
hosted by Pasadena Magazine. Over 250 guests
enjoyed great food, drinks, desserts and music.
Joe Haleakala, Erika Anderson, Brian Parsons and
Jose Chavarin
Thank you to our sponsors: Pasadena Magazine,
CCFE Member Cynthia Kurtz and CEO Kelly White
with Board Members Jim McDermott and Rob
Berry
Langham Huntington Hotel, Town & Country
and Thorson GMC Motor Center for a
wonderful evening!
We welcome the VYP’s Executive Committee:
Ellen Carlon, John Fletcher, Kris Jones, Kate
Lawrence, Hilarie Link and Alison Voors.
To join contact Vanessa at VVoors@
VillaEsperanzaServices.com
VYP’s Executive Committee John Fletcher, Alison
Voors, Hilarie Link & Kate Lawrence
Villa Voice Spring 2010
6
Party goers at the event.
www.VillaEsperanzaServices.org
Thank You, Danke Schön, Grazie,
Saluté — We can’t say it enough!
PASADENA COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION (PCF)
PCF awarded Villa with a $50,000 grant
to upgrade the technological capacity
of the agency’s financial operations.
This upgrade allows Villa to maximize
productivity and efficiency thereby
ensuring that the Finance Department
can meet the needs of the organization
and its fiscal responsibilities.
AYRSHIRE
FOUNDATION
A $40,000 grant
from the Ayrshire
Foundation has
been awarded to
our school to help
fund the start-up and implementation of
an adaptive P.E. program.
PASADENA FOOTHILL ASSOCIATION
OF REALTORS (PFAR)
PFAR granted
$7,000 to
Villa’s Speech
and Language
Center. The
gift supports
services for
our students.
SAN MARINO COMMUNITY CHURCH
FOUNDATION (SMCCF)
The SMCCF granted $2,500 to the
Speech and Language Center.
ROWE AND
GAYLE GIESEN
TRUST
In support of
our therapeutic
art program, the
Rowe and Gayle
Giesen Trust has
awarded $1,500 to
Villa’s School.
WELLS FARGO
Linda Russell, Regional
Vice President Greater San
Gabriel Division, Jonathan
Weedman, Regional Vice
President and Robert Pastrana, Store
Manager of Wells Fargo North Allen
Branch, presented a check for $1,000 to
Villa at the Greater San Gabriel Division
annual Community Support Breakfast.
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
Villa Esperanza Services, providing
Love, Care & Hope for individuals with
disabilities in Los Angeles and Ventura
Counties.
MAIN OFFICE
Villa Esperanza Services
2060 East Villa Street
Pasadena, CA 91107
Tel 626-449-2919
Fax 626-449-2850
info@VillaEsperanzaServices.org
www.VillaEsperanzaServices.org
ADDITIONAL PROGRAM SITES:
Adult Day Program (ADP) & Care
Management Outreach Collaboration
(CMOC) Main Office
Westminster Presbyterian Church
1757 North Lake Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91104
Tel 626-398-4435
Fax 626-398-4707
Care Management Outreach
Collaboration (CMOC) Satellite Office
& Independent Living Skills (ILS)
Under One Roof Human Services Center
80 East Hillcrest Drive, Suite 103
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Tel 877-446-4900
Tel 805-446-4500
Dimensions Adult Day Program
2031 East Villa Street
Pasadena, CA 91107
Tel 626-449-2919
Fax 626-449-2850
Employment Services & Integrated
Work Program
756 Lakefield Road, Suite F
Westlake Village, CA 91361
Tel 805-446-1939
Fax 805-446-1959
Mentor Network
Villa’s Employment Services Program has
been awarded $5,000 from the Mentor
Network. The grant supports training
and job placement for our adults.
City of Westlake Village
A $3,800 grant has been given to the
West Region Employment Services
Program from the City of Westlake
Village to purchase equipment and
increase job training.
City of Calabasas
A $950 grant from the City of Calabasas
has been awarded to Villa’s West Region
Employment Services program to
purchase gardening equipment.
Villa Voice Spring 2010
7
Hjelte-Phillips Speech & Language
Center
435 North Craig Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91107
Tel 626-795-8355
Fax 626-792-1455
School Campus & Occupational
Therapy Clinic
2116 East Villa Street
Pasadena, CA 91107
Tel 626-449-2919
Fax 626-395-0174
Adult Residential Homes:
In Pasadena...
Allen House
Brown House
Chester House
Dominion/Morehart House
Murphy House
Stahl House
Villa Apartments
Wagner House
Wynn House
In Thousand Oaks...
Norgaard House
www.VillaEsperanzaServices.org
Providing Love, Care and Hope for Individuals with Disabilities and their Families since 1961
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
2060 East Villa Street
U.S. POSTAGE
Pasadena, CA 91107
PAID
www.VillaEsperanzaServices.org
PASADENA, CA
PERMIT NO. 1924
Thank you Licher Printing and Mailing for generously donating the full-color printing of our Villa Voice.
Calendar of Events
April is Autism Awareness Month • National Volunteer Week , April 18 – 24
CAN (Cure Autism Now) Walk
Saturday, April 24, 9:00 – 12 Noon, Rosebowl
Angel Frames Art Collection
May 31 – July 10
24 Hour Gallery, 80 North Raymond
Jane Kaczmarek
Brij Lal
Annie Potts
Blue & White
Jazzin’ It Up — New Orleans Style
Sunday, May 16, 2010, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Private Home of Mary & Bill Urquhart in South Pasadena
Honoring Jane Kaczmarek and Brij Lal
Mistress of Ceremonies Annie Potts
For more information about our events, contact Vanessa Voors
at (626)449-2919, ext. 168 or VVoors@VillaEsperanzaServices.org.
Villa’s going green — if you wish to receive the newsletter
via email let us know at info@VillaEsperanzaServices.org
P.S.
School Awards Ceremony
Friday, June 18, 10:00 – 12:00 a.m.
Villa’s Braun Center
Villa is turning 50!
Celebrate with us July 2010 – July 2011
23rd Annual Tournament of Hope
Monday, September 27
Angeles National Golf Course, Sunland
Monthly Tour of Villa
2nd Friday of Every Month
Call today to reserve a space (626) 449-2919, ext. 128
School Parent Association Monthly Meeting
3rd Monday of Every Month
Call Casey Gregg, School Principal
(626) 449-2919, ext. 117
“When I was first introduced to Villa I was inexperienced with the needs and resources related to developmental
disabilities. But I came through the door and saw the mission living and breathing amongst our clients and incredibly
dedicated and talented staff. In joining the board, I find myself volunteering for a family that is exemplary in their
commitment, values and business practices.” —Tom Coston, Villa Esperanza Services Board Member