Honoring Youth, Volunteers, and Donors

The donor and volunteer community for Hillsides came together at our annual Circle of Excellence dinner to honor philanthropists for giving their time, resources, and special talent to serve vulnerable children, youth, and families living in Southern California. On behalf of Hillsides, I am so fortunate to have generous individuals, corporations, and foundations like yourselves because it is with your effort our agency can sustain this great mission. 

The evening program began with two Youth Moving On residents speaking about their background, experience as youths transitioning to adulthood, and the impact that the YMO program has made in their lives. These youth testimonies were truly inspiring to hear and demonstrated how critical our support of former foster youth is to ensuring they are on a successful path to adulthood.

Our dedicated staff can provide programs such as YMO because of the ongoing generous support we receive from the community. The Circle of Excellence dinner, hosted at Pandora on Green, brought together 148 guests to pay tribute to our honorees. Receiving the Hillsides Community Angel Award was Starbucks, who was represented by Jennifer Vanderpool, Pasadena District Manager for the coffee company. Becky Garnett and Connie Endter, accepted the Hillsides Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of Margaret Campbell, who is no longer with us, but lives in our hearts. Longtime supporter, Dee Fisher, received the Hillsides Angel Award. Our Special Recognition Award recipients were Cathy Brennan, Glenn Keller, and Victoria Mordecai. Each individual demonstrates a social conscience to create lasting changes in the lives of the most vulnerable that we serve. Through their resources, coordination of activities, and advocacy, Hillsides is able to provide the necessary programs and serves for children, youth, and families.

Just as exciting as it was to pay tribute to the tireless work of our honorees, I was delighted to announce that Wells Fargo selected Hillsides as the charity to be featured on the iconic Wells Fargo stagecoach during the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day. What a wonderful way to ring in the New Year and kickoff our centennial celebration! Especially significant is the opportunity of a lifetime that a few children and youth will get by riding on the stagecoach.

The Circle of Excellence was the beginning of other gatherings held during the holidays. This week we held an H100 Member Social so new members of this volunteer support group could meet one another and learn more about YMO and our holiday giving.

We rely on your continued support as we get ready for the holiday season. And as you are attending holiday gatherings, serving a cherished family meal, and unwrapping gifts, please think of us and know we are certainly thinking of you for giving our children, youth, and families restored hope and a brighter future in the upcoming year.

What's in a Budget?

As many of you know, Hillsides has a fiscal year that starts on October 1. As a result, the summer months are busy with budget preparations in order to have a proposed budget presented to Hillsides Board of Directors in early September. In spite of the financial woes in California, we anticipate the same level of public funding we received this past year. Given some of those funds are inadequate to meet our needs and staff costs and other expenses continue to rise, preparing a budget during these months can make for a long, hot summer in more ways than one.

In the midst of the preliminary budget drafts, setting priorities, examining efficiencies and making difficult decisions, I usually take a break from the budget exercise to walk the campus to remind myself why we make this effort. Inevitably, I come back energized and committed to somehow stretching the dollars to allow us to continue to serve some of the most vulnerable children and families in Los Angeles County.

One evening after a Finance Committee meeting as I was leaving the meeting room, one of our clinicians was waiting with a resident and her family to use the room for a counseling session. I know the challenges of this young girl, who one day recently was so despondent that she could barely contain herself in any one place and wandered restlessly around the campus with staff in tow walking off her anxiety. As they entered the room, I asked her how she was doing and had the opportunity to meet her parents and speak with them about her treatment. As always, they spoke of how appreciative they are for all we do for them and how in spite of some setbacks, were pleased with her progress and hopeful about her return home at some point.

It is not easy to provide such intensive treatment; it is expensive to have a child accompanied all day with a staff member. Reaching out to parents and providing them with counsel and support is essential. These efforts may be expensive and certainly are labor intensive, but the end result is all worthwhile. Though this young girl will continue in our care for the immediate future, she and her family are able to see a path that will lead her home with hope for a good life together.

Is it worth the effort? Absolutely. Is it worth the sacrifice? No question about it. And so in spite of the short fall in public funding, our efforts to successfully raise $2.5 million each year to augment our public funding sources is essential if we hope to continue to help these vulnerable children, youth and their families find their way to a fuller life.

As we have in the past, we build into our budget the continued capacity to raise  private dollars to maintain our mission. Please consider supporting this effort by contributing to our annual fund. Know that your generous support makes a big difference in the lives of all we serve. Thank you!

“Road to Emerald City” Raises $380,000

This past Saturday Hillsides hosted its annual benefit, “Road to Emerald City,” where guests followed the yellow brick road to raise $380,000 for programs and services serving vulnerable children and families living in Los Angeles County. As I looked around The California Club in downtown Los Angeles, I saw how the Benefit Committee had transformed it into the Land of Oz where Dorothy and the Wicked Witch also made a special appearance. With generous donors like Jacob Maarse Florists who  donated the floral designs for the evening’s theme, I was amazed at just how much time, talent and energy is put forth to make such a spectacular event.

Kudos goes to Benefit chair Cathy Brennan, who set the stage for an unforgettable evening. We are also fortunate that Hillsides has many board members, supporters and volunteers that work with us behind the scenes to acquire amazing displays and items like the replica Ruby Slippers worn by Judy Garland in the “Wizard of Oz” previously on loan to The Smithsonian Museum from the Collection of David A. Pacheco that were displayed at the event. Other items were the candy bar that was a hit with the guests as were the hundred auction packages available for bid, and 1.5 carat natural Colombian Emerald opportunity drawing, donated by SN Queens. The Riboli Family of San Antonio Winery and Roger and Michele Engemann generously donated the wine for the evening.

Our emcee and celebrity auctioneer Fritz Coleman of KNBC reminded us that he has been supporting Hillsides a quarter of a century as he mentioned the centennial that we will be celebrating next year. Dr. Drew Pinsky, time and time again, continues to speak about the important work we do and emphasizes the value we give individuals to help them through troubling times. Hillsides is lucky to have such a committed emcee and celebrity auctioneer along with Cathy Brennan, who with her committee, worked tirelessly to present this evening. Most of all, without the sponsorships, we could not host such an elaborate evening. I want to thank our major sponsors who demonstrate a significant commitment through their generous contribution. Publicly, I would like to say, again, we could not do all we do for the children and families in our care, without your dedication to our mission.

Thank you to Susan and Bill Noce, Bolton & Company Insurance Brokers, Marge and Sherm Telleen, Don and Sally Clark, Linda and Stephen Gill, Clara Maarse and Hank Maarse-Jacob Maarse Florists, Ben and Judy Reiling, Paul Rusnak-Rusnak Auto Group, Swanton Family Foundation, The Walt Disney Company, Western Asset Management and many more who shared in our vision of the “Road to Emerald City.”

The weekend was filled with momentous occasions, not just for Hillsides guests as they reached the Emerald City, but for others who also partook in the viewing of the Oscar Academy Awards. And as I sat there also participating, I couldn’t help but think how grateful I was for the extraordinary performance by so many at Hillsides that we had our own awards to give.

Best Picture: Road to Emerald City

Producer: Susan and Bill Noce

Actor in Leading Role: Fritz Coleman

Actress in Leading Role: Cathy Brennan

Best Director: Development Department

Costume Design: Goldsmith & Klein

Art Direction: Jacob Maarse Florists

Music: Mark Levang & Band with special appearance by John Mahon

A special thanks goes to or guests for attending, viewing, and bidding. I wonder ... who will get next year’s awards?