President Katie Christensen then introduced the new Board Members and spoke of her vision for the upcoming year.

Top L-to-R:  Rebecca Wade (June Luncheon Chair), Sue Kalish (Grants Co-Chair), Jeanette Wright (Parliamentarian/Proofreader), Lauren Gable (VP Publicity), Katie Christensen (President), Janice Farnow (Mother’s & Father’s Day Fundraising Chair), Kelly Delmore (VP Programs), Donna Fitzsimmons (VP Programs), Kris Benham (Corresponding Secretary).

Bottom L-to-R:  Ashley Nagashima (Social Media), Andrea Anderson (VP Philanthropy), Taylor Won (Secretary), Amanda Vincent (VP Data), Cathy Boychuk (Grants Co-Chair), Kathryn Munoz (VP Membership).

Board Members not shown: April Winograd (VP Underwriting), Melissa Circello (Treasurer), Cari Massaad (VP Membership), Lauren Willis (Graphic Designer).

Assistance League of Greater San Diego

Assistance League of greater San Diego is an all-volunteer organization that has been serving the community since 1965 with multiple philanthropic programs.  Their Operation Loaner Hearing Aids program for children launched in 2015, is the only one of its kind in San Diego.  This much needed program helps hearing-impaired children hear, understand, and improve their speech preventing the abuse and isolation many of these children endure.  With our grant, the hearing aid bank will be sustained with the purchase of new equipment to expand the program to a greater number of qualified children.

Casa Cornelia Law Center

Casa Cornelia Law Center responds to the humanitarian crisis at the San Diego border by providing crucial legal programs and services for illegal immigrants seeking asylum, including undocumented minors.

Chadwick Center

Chadwick Center promotes the health and well-being of abused and traumatized children and their families.  The agency accomplishes this through excellence and leadership in evaluation, treatment, prevention, education, advocacy, and research.

Children’s Initiative

The Children’s Initiative works to ensure that San Diego’s low-income and under-served children and families reach their full potential by promoting services, programs and policies that respond to family and community needs in the fields of health, education, safety and economic security.

Crisis House

Established in 1970, Crisis House helps families experiencing domestic violence and homelessness.  The Journey On Program provides temporary shelter for women or men, and their minor children fleeing violence in the home.  The agency works with survivor to provide food, clothing, transportation, case management, and counseling.  They also assist in finding other housing options and supportive services in the community to help resolve the crisis.  Our grant will help fund their temporary housing vouchers.

Friends of Vista Hill

Founded in 1957, Friends of Vista Hill focuses on creating stronger families in San Diego County.  The ParentCare Family Recovery Services was developed to support chemically-dependent women and their families who are at high risk for child abuse, domestic violence, and homelessness.  Their Therapeutic Learning Center is an on-site specialized, trauma-informed childcare for young children of ParentCare clients.  The program provides emotional behavioral and developmental support to children that may have experienced abuse or traumatic events, stemming from their parents’ substance abuse.

Kids’ Turn San Diego

Kids’ Turn San Diego was created in 1996 to bring peace to families who could no longer communicate without conflict.  With their mission of promoting, supporting, and securing the well-being of children who are experiencing family separation, the agency changes family relationships in positive ways in which the affected children can feel safe and secure to express their thoughts and feelings.  When kids feel empowered to speak up, parents gain insight to learn new skills and strategies to improve their communication.

Restoration225

The Restoration225 mission is to partner with Christian volunteers, churches, and other like-minded organizations to make an immediate and eternal impact in the lives of kids and families who are caught in the foster care continuum.

San Diego Police Foundation

San Diego Police Foundation exists to create a safer San Diego through programs such as SafeyNet: Smart Cyber Choices — an outreach program that helps keep children safe online.  The program address the critical issues of online victimization of children by child abusers and online predators, which has been made easier by the increasing use of digital devices now in the hands of even very young children.  The agency provides Internet safety school assemblies in San Diego County.  The Program is presented in 30 to 60-minute sessions through age-appropriate presentations for 3rd – 12th grade students.  The training has been shown by third-party evaluation to instill knowledge and behaviors that help kids become less vulnerable to abusers and predators.

Youth Assistance Coalition

Youth Assistance Coalition is an agency whose mission is to positively impact the lives of youth experiencing homelessness in San Diego County through empowerment, mentorship, and community collaboration in order to provide transformative opportunities.  With 33,000 homeless youths in San Diego and no government funding, Youth Assistance Coalition is providing secure, safe, long-term care and support to as many homeless youths that they can find.  Current intake progress tracks services with the youth they engage.  Services include clothing and personal supplies, housing, public assistance applications, educational services, mental health services and medical attention.

Walden Family Services

The mission of Walden Family Services is to support the lives of children and families through lasting relationships.  The agency services 1,400 children, youth, and families each year.  It ensures that every child has a loving family and the ability to realize their greatest potential toward becoming a self-sufficient and productive members of their community.  Treatment-level foster care enables children with serious levels of emotional or behavioral difficulties, development, disabilities, and special healthcare needs to live with a foster family to help them heal from their past abuse and establish connections for them to function well in society.  Walden Family Services work to provide stable family environments for all in their care, ensuring that children especially those who need specialized care, have the opportunity to grow up knowing the security, love, and sense of community that family life provides.