On Sunday, September 15th, we celebrated Founder’s Day.
The event was one of the last celebrations that have been planned this year to
commemorate the establishment of Hillsides one hundred years ago. It was a family-oriented
occasion, drawing many people who over the years have been associated with the
agency. There were former staff members, community members, longtime volunteers,
and of course, some alumni.
Hearing the recollections of those who actually lived at Hillsides
is always interesting. For the older alumni their stay at Hillsides was a
result of premature death or chronic illness that impacted their families,
requiring them to take refuge in a nurturing place as they dealt with tragedy
and loss. For the middle-aged alumni, their stories were of a place that gave
them a second chance, having been disruptive in their homes and communities for
various reasons. The most recent alumni returned to tell the stories of their
reintegration with their families and communities and the challenges that they
addressed to become independent and successful.
Meeting many alumni is wonderful, yet the one that stands out for
me was a young man who only left our care about two years ago. I was actually
surprised to see him, but was really moved by how happy he was to be a part of
this important celebration. He had come to the celebration on public
transportation from where he lives now in the San Fernando Valley. He greeted
his former teachers and staff members with a robust embrace, a smile on his
face and a warm greeting. As we talked, I was impressed by how important it was
for him to make the considerable effort to be part of the celebration. It was
his way of saying thank you and an indication of how proud he was to have been
part of the Hillsides community. For a young man like himself, whose life is
taken up with many challenges and his success is the result of great sacrifice
and effort, this celebration was important. An important part of his identity
is the care and support that he received at Hillsides.
Part of the celebration was a brief reenactment of the reception
of the first child by the founder of Hillsides, Deaconess Evelyn Wile. The
script was taken from her own writings that chronicled her tenure. She was a woman
driven by a mission to make a difference in the lives of the children she
served. I hope that she would be pleased that a century later her vision still
inspires and we are faithful at fulfilling the mission she established.
The greatest tribute we can offer to Deaconess Wile is provided by
all those who have been served by Hillsides over the years. Their success,
their gratitude, their ability to give back as a result of all they received
that is the lasting tribute!
To all those who participated in any way in this and the many centennial celebrations, thank
you for all you do to help us fulfill our great mission to create lasting
change.
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