Field hockey

I try to get to Hillsides between 7:30 AM and 8:00 AM each day, not because I am an early riser but mostly because the traffic is usually more manageable then and I  can find a parking space on campus at that hour! On this particular day I was arriving on campus after a morning meeting so the parking spaces were non-existent. However, I did manage to find one spot at the far end of the upper campus. The great thing about parking on that end of campus is that it provides a great walk to my office and an opportunity to meet and interact with staff and residents.

As I approached the playing field from where I had parked, I ran into a group of residents accompanied by a couple of staff members. One resident, who I had noticed over the last few days had been especially agitated, was on the swing set trying his best to soar as high as he could. As I examined this gravity defying exercise, the door of the gym opened and a young resident emerged excitingly carrying  a couple of hockey sticks and a ball. He immediately called out to the boy on the swing asking him to join him to play hockey. You could tell from the excitement in his voice that as happy as he was for a pick up game of hockey he was especially happy to see his buddy on the swing.

I can assure you that staff had attempted to engage the boy on the swing, but it was the enthusiastic invitation from his friend that freed him from compulsively trying  to reach new heights. When he heard the call to join him on the field, he leaped off the swing ran on to the field, greeted his friend and immediately started strategizing with him on how to organize the game. As I walked by, I was moved by the smiles on their faces and the wonderful rapport they clearly enjoyed.

Things are always very busy at Hillsides. For me and the staff, days more often than not are long and sometimes challenging. However when you see children freed from their worries and hurts enough to enjoy a moment of friendship and play, you can not help but be convinced that it is worth the great effort we make.

Great things are accomplished in simple and sometimes surprising ways. Our residents benefit as much from the relationships and friendships they have with another as they do from the great care they receive from staff.

I will admit that it can be daunting to address the funding and organizational challenges that are part and parcel of an institution like Hillsides. However, the smiles on the faces of these two boys gave me all the motivation I needed to make the necessary effort to see to it that they and all those we serve get the best possible care we can offer. GOAL!

Energy harnessed

He is a tall lanky kid who looks older than his actual age. In his eyes you can see he is being tentative, still not sure of whether he should trust anyone yet. Slowly the abrupt behavior and reluctance to be engaged lessens. He begins selectively to tell his story, happy to break the intensity with a ride on his skateboard. His social worker sits back and patiently waits for his return and the treatment process to advance, the pace set by him.

Treatment of youngsters who have been traumatized by disappointment and tragedy can be slow, but well worth the patience and perseverance required when the end result is a childhood restored. This is what Hillsides is all about--to serve as a resource for children and families that allows for hurt to be addressed and a pathway to a fuller life identified.

As we approached our centennial year, Hillsides began the process of examining how we communicate who we are, what we do, and how we make a difference. As much as things have changed in 100 years, some things remain constant-- the commitment to high quality care, innovation, and advocacy. And so the task was to select an icon, a symbol, a mark that would convey our role as caregivers who make a lasting impact on the lives of all we serve, like the young resident mentioned earlier.

Many different logos were considered, all of them taking into account what we wished to communicate. When we considered the pinwheel there was an immediate, unanimous agreement that this symbol would serve well to convey what we are all about.

A familiar object associated with the carefree nature of childhood, pinwheels are recognized across generations and within many different cultures. As a toy, it never-the-less teaches a child about the ability to harness the energy of the wind to create movement and momentum. In and of itself, it is simple but intricate. When engaged, the pinwheel comes to life and can be so satisfying. It is a transformational object that reflects life fully enjoyed. In some cultures, it is a symbol of how obstacles can be turned into opportunities. For us, it seemed clear that there was no better symbol to reflect who we are, what we do, and how we impact lives.

Like all logos, it is effective only to the extent that it truly captures the essence of who we are; an organization dedicated to creating lasting change. The impact we make is not achieved by a marketing and communications campaign. The impact we make is the result of the extraordinary care of so many, staff and volunteers alike, who are clearly driven by a mission to create lasting change in the lives of all we serve.

Centennial gala

Hillsides had the first of several celebrations of this centennial year at the fabled Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena on Saturday, February 23^rd.  This extraordinary gala event was a very successful event raising a record $655,000. Needless to say this was a great start to our yearlong celebrations marking 100 years of service.

The event was a combination of entertainment and testimonials that honored a number of people who have been especially dedicated to Hillsides and foster care. The testimonials that were provided by Jean Smart and Dr. Drew Pinsky were especially poignant, reminding everyone in attendance of how essential the services we offer are in transforming the lives of the children and families we serve.

This centennial is an opportunity to, once again, feature the challenges those we serve confront and how we are dedicated to being an essential resource for them.

To Liz Rusnak Arizmendi, the exceptional Chair and organizer if this event, Carrie Espinoza, the tireless director of our special events, all our Development Office staff, the legion of volunteers, our generous event sponsors and all our guests, thank you!

What follows are photos and excerpts from the press release that was issued making this great celebration.

Guests at Hillsides annual benefit, the Centennial Gala, raised $655,000 for vulnerable children and families living in Los Angeles County, far exceeding the amount raised in previous years.   On Saturday night, February 23, a sold-out crowd of more than 600 filled the ballroom of the iconic The Langham Huntington, Pasadena to celebrate the charity’s 100 years of service and to enjoy an evening of spectacular entertainment and fine dining.  

Elizabeth Rusnak Arizmendi, Rusnak Auto Group Vice President of Public Relations and chair of the event kicked off the evening by introducing the presenters who awarded Dr. Drew Pinsky of “Celebrity Rehab” fame and NBC4 Weatherman Fritz Coleman special “Hillsides Centennial” awards for all the hard work they do for the charity.  Tiffany Company of Pasadena generously donated the hand-cut crystal awards that were also given later in the evening to Emmy award-winning actress Jean Smart, comedian George Lopez, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Marcus Allen, and Paul Rusnak, Chairman/CEO of Rusnak Auto Group.

Presenters for the honorees were Colleen Williams, NBC4 anchor, Mike Catherwood, co-host of “Loveline,” NFL football players Willie Gault and Jason David, Robert C. Smith, CEO of Allied High Tech Company, Actress Kristen Renton, and Arizmendi.

“Hillsides Centennial Gala was truly a magical evening transformed into a winter wonderland with bursts of color everywhere once the new logo was unveiled,” said Arizmendi. “The honorees were extraordinary, the entertainers were flawless, the bidders were extremely generous, and the winners were the children and families served by this exceptional organization.”

The evening was action-packed with a live auction filled with unique and exceptional opportunities and items hosted by award-winning comedian and actor, Christopher Rich.   The live auction got fast and furious when a bidding war broke out among guests for a signed Elton John band guitar, with band members Davey Johnstone and John Mahon cheering the guests on.   Guests also rushed to outbid each other for a Danube Viking River Cruise and a weekend away at The Langham with a Maserati or Bentley from Rusnak Maserati Pasadena and Bentley Pasadena, part of the Rusnak Auto Group, among other items. 

During the evening, guests were treated to an incredible line-up of talented entertainers, including Nina Fetter & The Feds jazz quartet, “Dancing with the Stars” choreographer Christian Perry and his wife, Annette, violinist Lindsey Stirling, and three-time world champion of magic Jason Latimer, who wowed the audience with his awe-inspiring sleights of hand. Other performers included Jacky Ibarra, who sang the National Anthem, DJ Herick and DJ Lezlee, and recording artists CEEJ and Suzan Brittan Gault. Local talented students included The Polytechnic School dancers, who performed as ballerinas, and along with the Mayfield Senior Dance Conservatory were a flash mob.

Toward the end of the evening, Costa thanked guests, telling them, “As people depend on us to provide unconditional support and access to programs and services that improve their lives, we rely on your unconditional support to help us impact their lives.”  He gave special thanks to the event’s major sponsors, which include Paul Rusnak, Rusnak Auto Group, Wells Fargo, Specialty Car Craft, The Walt Disney Company, Susan and Bill Noce, Bolton & Company Insurance Brokers, Marge and Sherm Telleen, THE Magazine, Susan and Bill Noce, Jacob Maarse Florists, San Antonio Winery & Maddalena Restaurant, EFX-Event Special Effects. 

The evening ending with the unveiling of Hillsides’ new logo, a colorful pinwheel, representing childhood innocence and the power to turn obstacles into opportunities. Guests were surprised by the confetti bursts in the air as  Mayfield Senior School Vocal Conservatory performed a song from Pitch Perfect.

The Centennial Gala is just one of many exciting centennial events the charity has planned throughout the year.  To learn more about upcoming events and about Hillsides, visit www.Hillsides.org.