RESTORING AT-RISK NEIGHBORHOODS...ONE LIFE AT A TIME

Fall 2014

HOPEREPORT

REPORT

Touching lives with hope.

1902 W. Chestnut AvenueSanta Ana, CA 92703714.834.9400kidworksonline.org

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit #51

Santa Ana, CA

KidWorks helps transform the lives of at-risk children, families and communities in Santa Ana, California, through educational support, health and fitness programs, and spiritual and leadership development activities that begin with preschoolers and follow youth into their college years. 100% of KidWorks high school graduates are college bound. To learn more about KidWorks please visit www.kidworksonline.org.

Walking on streets without sidewalks isn’t safe, especially

if you are walking with children or pushing a stroller. Riding bikes without a bike lane in traffic isn’t safe either. But what do you do when you have to bike or walk to get where you need to go in Santa Ana? If you are a student-member of KidWorks’ YEN (Youth Engagement Network) participating in the Bike It! Santa Ana campaign, you engage other teens and local residents around these important com-munity issues, present the

challenges to city decision-makers, and work together to create change. When presented with a meaningful challenge, KidWorks’ YEN realized

that they could become agents of change for themselves and those around them. They created maps using ArcGIS software, studied traffic

flow, and continued to educate the community. The collaboration of these young leaders with city employees resulted in the success of the city receiving six grants totaling $3 million to create sidewalks, bike lanes and better traffic flow to keep the residents of Santa Ana safe.That is the power of our young leaders at work. Safer streets mean a healthier community and a better tomorrow for all!

Dreaming a Better Tomorrow

Traumatized at school, KidWorks mentors help one little girl find her voice and her confidence.

Crystal is a shy 6th grader with a pretty smile. She loves arts and crafts and chatting with her friends. But last

year, that pretty smile was nowhere to be found.

At the beginning of 5th grade, there was a misunderstanding on the playground that led to Crystal being falsely accused of making threats against a younger student. Unfortunately, the situation was mishandled by a teacher, who called in the school resource police without an investigation or notification to the school administration.

Crystal had no one in her corner, no one protecting her. It wasn’t until later that evening that Crystal’s mother found out what happened and by then, the damage was done. Crystal’s trust in adults had been devastated.

Over the next months, Crystal’s mother fought the false accusation and heavy handling of the situation, while Crystal retreated into her shell: she didn’t want to eat, she had stomach aches, she missed school and she didn’t want to play with her friends at school or home. Crystal lives on Townsend Street, and area known for high crime rates and gang activity. She shares a two-bedroom, one bathroom apartment with 9 others.

Due to her living situation, it was hard for Crystal to find time and space to be alone. Her mother and father, as well as her sisters, continued to try to

break Crystal out of her shell. Even her school counselors met with her regularly.

Luckily, Crystal had been attending the KidWorks afterschool programs since kindergarten. KidWorks staff mentors Jessica and Melissa swung into action. They knew their first priority

was to repair the damage done by the adults in authority, so they set about creating situations where Crystal could learn to re-trust select individuals. They spoke with her frequently, sometimes directly about the incident, sometimes just mentoring her to find her voice and be stronger – for herself and when dealing with peers and adults. For months it seemed like they were treading water. But Crystal started opening up, little by little, building bridges to her mentors. She discovered—with KidWorks’ help—that she had control over how to handle what had happened to her, and has grown stronger because of it.

A year later, she’s a little shy, but that sweet smile is here to stay.

Starting Over

Thursday, November 13, 201411:30am - 1:30pm

DoubleTree Hotel201 E. MacArthur Blvd., Santa Ana

Foundation for SuccessLuncheon

8thAnnual

Featured Speaker: Bob Goff

Mr. Goff is a New York Times Best Selling Author, the founder of Restore International, a nonprofit human rights organization operating in Uganda, India and Somalia, as well as a highly sought after speaker for leadership and team building events.

Don’t miss the #1 Charity Luncheon in Orange County!

For more details about the event, please visit us at kidworksonline.org. Or, contact Lisa Gels at 714.619.7560 or lisa@kidworksonline.org.

Thank You$200 - $999 (continued)Anita and Mark BrownJane and Scott CalderZacarias CervantesCharitable Ventures of Orange County - Building Healthy CommunitiesKymberly and Anton ChiapuzioDaniel CiauriC & V Consulting Inc.Dana L. Fraser Remodeling & Design, Inc.Dwight Reilly Surety & Insurance Brokers, Inc.Nina and Wilfried EibachFred FarrMirta ForresterIra GarbuttKirstie GarciaLisa and Al GelsCynthia and James HelfrichDavid HengstlerDebbie and Jeffrey HetschelMr. and Mrs. Chris HiteInland Empire Framing Inc.Kenneth and Eileen JacobsJamar Power SystemsRegina JenningsNancy A. KempLinda and Andrew LawlerRoy LeeSheila and Ron LitzingerHeidi and Ruben MendozaMonica MendozaMorley Builders Inc.M & A Water and Party SuppliesMarion PalanjianNewsong Community ChurchBryan PeckFrancesca RehnborgMichael A. SantoroRoss SavageAlison and Bradley SchweitzerShea Homes & Shea PropertiesSheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLPStudio-PadKyle TeamTownsend & Raitt, LPAlex TriestmanEric VanDerHeydenVillage Church of IrvineVineyard Christian Fellowship of AnaheimCari and Donald WallsWeingart FoundationWestcliff Early Childhood Center

*Includes cash and in-kind donations. Please note: If your donation occurred after the publication deadline, your donation will be duly noted in the next issue.

Please email don.dang@kidworksonline.org if you have any questions or concerns about this report.

Imagine growing up in a low-income neighborhood in Central Santa Ana,

surrounded by noise, traffic and violence. Now imagine having the opportunity to go to camp for a week at Yosemite, surrounded by 100 year old pine and Sequoia trees, hiking through fields and into meadows full of flowers you’ve never seen before. Imagine breathing mountain air when you’ve only ever lived at sea level. First times are wonderful.

Fourty-two 6th-12th grade KidWorks campers were able to experience the beauty of Yosemite at the Yosemite Sierra Summer Camp, courtesy of a generous grant from Star Rock Ministries.

For a lot of the campers, it was the first time they left home without a family member, and certainly their first sleep away camp experience. It was such an amazing and wonderful week – filled with hiking, swimming, kayaking, archery, mountain boarding, and that crazy banana boat on the lake!

One of the key elements of the week was the workshops that encouraged the campers

to embrace their individuality and discuss life skills and how to overcome challenges as they arise.

A week filled with firsts, but one that will be remembered forever.

Thank you Star Rock Ministries!

$50,000 - $99,999Toyota Financial Services

$20,000 - $49,999Draper Family FoundationPublic Health InstituteThe Sacred Harvest Foundation, Inc.Wells Fargo

$10,000 - $19,999Bank of America Charitable FoundationCox, Castle & Nicholson LLPDhont Family FoundationEvening Star FoundationFrome Family FoundationKaiser PermanenteSheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLPStuart Kane LLPTELACUThe Crean FoundationWestern Digital

$5,000 - $9,999Andrea and Terry DonahueBuilding Block Foundation FundPaula and Patrick DonahueDonnie CrevierG&L Realty Corp., LLCKaye Scholer LLPKern County Supt. of SchoolsMarin-Finn FoundationOrange County Community FoundationU.S. BankWinslow Maxwell Charitable Trust

$2,500 - $4,999Angels BaseballArcher NorrisBixby Land CompanyCity National BankDuckworthMehner Private Wealth Advisors, IncEibach Springs, Inc.ExplorOceanIngram MicroJane Deming Fund c/o OCCFLiberty Hill FoundationMaximusMariners ChurchNewmeyer & Dillion LLPRobert D. OlsonElizabeth and Michael SchreiberShea Homes & Shea PropertiesSouthern California Gas CompanySquar, Milner, Peterson, Miranda & Williamson, LLPThe Irvine CompanyUnion BankWilliam and Nancy Thompson Family Foundation

$1,000 - $2,499AES Due Diligence, Inc.Anthony AnsevinCBRE Foundation, Inc.Arturo EcharteFarmers & Merchants BankSusan and James HartJCAP Financial GroupLPA, Inc.Lucy and Rick RawlinsMater Dei High SchoolLisa and John “Calum” McBeanKaren and Barry MeguiarNew York LifeHoang NguyenAdriana OcampoOutdoor Recreation GroupSchwab Charitable FundSilversage AdvisorsStrata Media, Inc.Kyle Team

$200 - $999Abergel & Associates, Inc.Erik AgleKathy AylesworthStephanie and Tim BernardyBertie ChawlaScott BeyerPam and John BlomSummer Born

July 1, 2014 through September 30, 2014

Legos are small. Legos really hurt when you step on them with

bare feet. But Legos may help change the world. Alex Triestman,13, has decided to change the world, one Lego brick at a time.

When Alex was 6 years old he, he started noticing that Lego kits came with ‘extra parts’, which nearly added up to a functional package by themselves. And that started him thinking… he realized that if he combined a few of the ‘extra parts’ packages with some spare Legos, he would have a complete small package – and, better yet, he could share it!

Alex germinated this for a while and five years later, when he turned 11, he decided to create a non-profit - Brickshare. He wanted to gift Legos to children who could not otherwise afford these wonderful little toys.

Alex just needed to figure out how to package the Legos for distribution – and once he did, the Brickbot was born! He put out the call to collect the ‘extra bits’, the leftovers, and gently used Legos from friends, family, neighbors, and school mates. While he did this, Joanie, Alex’s

mother, helped him with an online search for worthy local non-profit serving children in need. Joanie found KidWorks!

But then he thought that he could pair Legos with school supplies! So, with his mother’s help he started a GoFundMe page to purchase the supplies for KidWorks.

Alex organized ‘stuffing parties’ that created over 250 Brickbots for distribution. KidWorks has been fortunate to be the recipient of Alex’s and Brickshare’s generosity. We are so pleased to have met this extraordinary young man and gotten to know him.

Alex is still passionately raising Legos and funds to make sure that Legos get to the homes of boys and girls who perhaps might not have access to this expensive and educational toy.

Brickshare helps military children who have parents that are deployed abroad, low-income children,

orphans, and children abroad who could not afford the cost of a Lego set.

To learn more, check out his website at www.brickshare.biz.

Anything but SmallA story about one of KidWorks’

youngest donors

Our Deepest Appreciation for your Generous Donations

Alex Triestman coordinates with his friends to pack Brickbots for donation.

Alex Triestman and his mother, Joanie

RIGHT: This donation funded the demolition of carports at the Bishop Manor apartment complex, where one of the three KidWorks’ community centers is located. These carports housed illegal drug activities.

ABOVE: Jimmy Mai, Wells Fargo VP, KidWorks’ board member; Al Nederhood, KidWorks; Mavel Becerra, Wells Fargo Community Outreach Coordinator; Keith Kobata, Wells Fargo Greater Orange County President.

ABOVE: Ava Steaffens, KidWorks’ CEO; Daniel K. Walker, CEO and Chairman of the Board at Farmers & Merchants Bank; Patrick Murphy, President of Mater Dei High School, with KidWorks’ students

ABOVE: Ava Steaffens, CEO, and Craig Hirson, Senior VP of Bank of America - KidWorks Board member, with a group of KidWorks' students.

Marcos & Efren learn the ropes course.

Seeing Stars at Yosemite

Giselle climbs the rock wall.