My name is Megan, and I moved from Texas to California a year ago. I believe I was born to become a mother, because I am a very loving and nurturing person. I haven’t always been as confident as I am today. I still have a lot to work on to reach my full potential. I’ve been through a lot in my life and am trying to turn all of the abuse and trauma I’ve experienced in my past, into something positive. There are still fears I have today that I am working to overcome. I never felt worthy of love, or that I deserved good things in life, and I have never liked myself. This past year, I have really been working on my sobriety, creating healthy relationships, and mending the broken ones. I have finally started to realize that I actually am a great person. I can do anything I want, if I work hard enough. Since coming to Casa Teresa, I have begun my healing journey and been given hope for the future of myself and my daughter. I want to become the mother I knew I always wanted to be.
Here is a heartfelt letter from Megan to her unborn daughter: My Baby Girl, I loved you from the moment I saw those pink lines on that pregnancy test. I can’t wait to finally meet you! I want to protect you, teach you everything I know, and love you forever. I talk to you every day, and pray for your health and safety every night. When I hold you in my arms for the first time, it will be the best day of my life! My greatest accomplishment will be you and I promise to be the best mother I can be. You have already changed my life and given me hope. I promise to be the best role model for you and lead by example. I love you more than you will ever know and will see you soon, my little miracle. Love always, Mom
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Every year, alumni return to Casa Teresa to reconnect with each other and the Casa community at our annual reunion. For many years, this reunion has provided a fun and family-filled event for the entire Casa Teresa community. This year's event, held this past September, was no exception: the soaring temperatures did not stop over 65 alumni and 100 children from having a blast at the carnival-themed reunion complete with a bounce house, caricature artist, face painting, and photo booth. Among all the fun and excitement, the reunion served to inspire our alumni to recognize their own strengths and to continue building a family mindset.
With so many alumni gathered, the reunion was an opportunity to communicate to our alumni that they now have a dedicated program and case manager providing them support and service. Our alumni case manager, Nichole Fontanoza, provided an overview of the program and opportunities for engagement, emphasizing the importance of paying it forward. Nichole acknowledged that given the traumatic experiences and challenges they have faced, they may find themselves focusing on the negative. Even as Casa Teresa graduates, they don't always see their internal greatness or credit themselves with the strength and determination they needed to overcome these challenges. Nichole encouraged them to self-reflect on the strengths within each and every one of them, pointing out areas they exhibit greatness but may not realize it. Have you noticed that you inspire current Casa Teresa moms who look up to you, or that you've dedicated yourself to raising your child and building a family? Have you shown consistent support to a friend who has also experienced trauma? Nichole challenged alumni to recognize their own unique gifts, particularly their strong position to speak to the lives of current Casa Teresa moms, who consistently lean in and are all ears when they hear from alumni. The alumni have been in their shoes, even lived in the room they now live in! This creates a special role alumni can fill as mentor and model to current Casa Teresa moms. So that our staff could engage with alumni and their families during the reunion, we relied on countless volunteers to make the event run smoothly. Below we highlight just a handful of our many volunteers who went above and beyond to make sure this was a fun and memorable day for all. Thank you for allowing our staff to come out from behind the scenes to build relationships and reconnect with alumni, and for demonstrating to our alumni that the community, including Casa Teresa volunteers, can be part of their support system. You are all part of the "village" - family, friends, and community - that we all need to raise children and families!
Thank you to everyone who was part of this special day. We are already looking forward to next year's reunion! Almost one year has passed since guests at our 2018 gala donned flapper dresses and suspenders for a 1920's Gatsby-themed night at the Fashion Island Hotel, helping raise nearly $200,000 to support our programs serving pregnant women and their children who find a home in Casa Teresa. Next month, we will travel 1300 miles south of Gatsby's New York for our 2019 gala: Havana Nights. Returning to the Fashion Island Hotel on October 25th, this year's guests will be transported to Cuba during Hemingway's years, the 1940s and 50s. The night will feature a cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner, and Hemingway's Hideout, complete with a cigar lounge and piano bar. During last year's gala, guests were treated to heartfelt stories shared by two Casa Teresa alumni, Desiree and Shaina. We are blessed to share today an update on their journeys. Desiree Many of you many remember Desiree from last year’s gala as a budding college student who had set her sights on becoming an educator. Ever grateful for Casa Teresa and her the experiences that set her ambitions on the path to a career mindset, Desiree took time out of her volunteer work sorting clothing for The Collection to share her latest achievements. As of January, Desiree graduated from Cal State Fullerton with her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with a minor in adolescent development. Soon she will begin her credential program, also at Cal State Fullerton, to be completed spring 2020. Desiree says that because of so many staff at Casa Teresa cheering her on, writing recommendation letters on her behalf, and helping direct her path she was able to celebrate so many milestones, like graduating college, that she never thought possible before, but that’s not the only exciting update Desiree shared. Her son, now age five, learned how to ride a bike this summer! She shared that he is enjoying more independence all the time and she feels overwhelmed with joy to be watching him grow up happy and healthy. Since he has started to do more and having graduated Desiree has had the opportunity to learn the joy of reading for pleasure. She just finished Outlanders and is searching for her next book. Desiree shared that something as simple as watching her son ride his bike and getting lost in a good book are exactly the moments of peace and calm Casa Teresa has made possible in her life. Shaina Shaina’s story was one of broken hope and strained family relationships after many years of drug use and “shenanigans”, as she called it. Coming back to Casa Teresa and sharing that she and her family vacationed together this summer was a surreal moment for her. Shaina now has a key to each of her parent’s homes and looks forward to each visit. She now often sits with her daughter and mother at the dinner table telling stories of the day and laughing over silly jokes. Shaina credits Casa Teresa for opening her heart in a way that makes family dinners possible. Shaina has also started a new position with Edwards Lifesciences and is working to move from a temporary to full-time position with the company through the help of the Casa Teresa Alumni program. She elaborated that setting any goals, let alone career goals, is a huge improvement in her life. While she has been busy working and supporting her daughter Genesis, who just turned 3 years old, she is finding time to enjoy the little things in life. Genesis recently started ballet classes and Shaina loves watching her as a happy carefree child learning and dancing. At Casa Teresa, we are fortunate to continuously witness the healing journey that breaks the cycle for so many pregnant women in crisis. Updates from our alumni remind us how meaningful it is for these women to experience everyday triumphs and trials when navigating their children, families, education, career, and social lives. We look forward to sharing even more alumni stories at the 2019 gala and are thrilled that these women's stories can impact the entire Casa Teresa community.
It is stories like Desiree's and Shaina's, and so many other alumni that speak to the importance of our mission. Funds generated by the gala are critical to further this mission and its impact on pregnant women and their children. We are incredibly grateful to our generous sponsors and all who have contributed to this year's gala!. Thank you to our 2019 Sponsors and Partners! Diamond American Career College / West Coast University Regina and Richard Hunsaker Sapphire Arees and Heather Akoubian Jean Patierno Cornyn and Joe Cornyn Emergent Success The Frome Family Foundation Jack and Donna McNutt The Don Redfern Family Wells Fargo Emerald Applied Medical First Republic Bank Lisa Karos/RE MAX The Stanton Family Topaz Frank Campbell Valerie Rafferty Cigar Bar Underwriter Cathy and Steve Muzzy Whiskey Tasting Underwriter Holly and Ken Hart Partners Gorjana Luxe Interiors + Design Sundrop Vintage How can we better serve the unique and varying needs of our former residents? This is what we asked several years ago when we began the strategic planning process for our new Alumni Program. Countless ideas and opinions were explored, with one common goal: to build and nurture a community where all Casa Teresa alumni feel welcome, supported and strengthened. Before the new program was implemented, graduates would continue to meet with the case manager they had met with during their time at Casa Teresa. The arrangement allowed alumni to extend relationships with case managers they had come to know and trust, but also presented challenges in terms of resources and time constraints. Now, a dedicated alumni case manager, Nichole Fontanoza, oversees the Alumni Program, including case management and engagement. A familiar face who has given years of service to Casa Teresa, Nichole was a logical fit to manage the alumni program and does so with honor. She also oversaw the entire transition, clearly articulating that this new program’s purpose is to better serve alumni by allowing her to specialize in their unique needs. During the transition, Nichole took extra care to be sensitive to current alumni, understanding that this presented a change for them. She reassured alumni that the new program will provide (and even go beyond) the services they were accustomed to receiving. Managing the transition also allowed Nichole to build trust and rapport with the alumni, who kept an open mind and learned to adapt to this new program. With alumni case management and activities now centralized under Nichole, we can better serve each alumni wherever they are in their journey. Nichole describes the mission of the Alumni Program "to be in kinship with alumni," emphasizing that the program is designed to seamlessly continue the support they received at Casa Teresa, while respecting that each alumna has moved on to a different place. Recognizing that some alumni are less inclined than others to engage in the program, one pillar of the Alumni Program is that it can be part of each alumna's everyday life, partnering with and supporting them during the highs, lows, and everything in between. Social media has strengthened the program, helping Nichole remain connected with alumni even if they reside outside of Orange County. Advice from Dr. Pugh and Nurse Kerri is particularly beloved among alumni and a reminder that Casa Teresa has a place in their daily lives. As the program evolves, Nichole hopes that alumni who are called to give back to Casa Teresa embrace the many creative ways they can make a positive impact. Our alumni are currently giving a variety of gifts to Casa Teresa, including:
These gifts do not require an abundance of time or money and allow alumni to explore their interests, make connections, and gain experience. As the Alumni Program grows and evolves, we hope to someday achieve engagement with all (nearly 6,000!) alumni. We will continue to keep their needs at the center of all we do and are humbled by this opportunity to serve them. My name is Tracey, a mother of six beautiful children, a daughter to a mother of three, and a sister to many. Before Casa Teresa, I was a mess. I was deep in my addiction, in an abusive relationship, and far away from my family and friends. I soon ended up living on the streets, drowning in a pool of emotion, pain, and lies. In the midst of all of this, I found out I was pregnant. I was scared, lost, and didn’t know what to do or how to get out of this mess. The thought of ever being a mother again pierced my heart. So, I searched many shelters and called many, but only one stood out to me…and that was Casa Teresa. On March 20th, I arrived at Casa Teresa. Entering, I was nervous, scared, and hurt. I remember walking into Casa Teresa with my mother and immediately feeling the love and warmth in the home. Everyone was so welcoming and kind-hearted. I could see in my mother’s eyes that she was finally at peace. My mother was able to go home and have a sense security for once, knowing her daughter was safe. Casa Teresa provided a safe haven for me. I was in shock that a shelter could be so beautiful. They fed me, clothed me, loved me, supported me, and believed in me. Wow! How that touched my heart and gave me hope. Being at Casa Teresa, I saw that I wasn’t alone. There were other women that I could relate to. My roommate even had the same birthday as me. At Casa Teresa I was able to focus on my health and pregnancy. They guided me toward each step I had to take in order to become a stable mother for all my children. I was referred to a six-month outpatient treatment center to educate me on my addiction. I took parenting classes that showed me the areas I needed to work on the most. I attended bible study every Tuesday, and continue do so. This strengthened my relationship with God. I attended classes that helped me set boundaries and build healthy relationships. I also attended the High School Equivalency Academy through American Career College to obtain my GED. Something I had tried to accomplish in the past but was never able to complete. Everything I thought I was incapable of accomplishing, Casa Teresa proved me wrong! They kept me busy, focused, and showered me that anything is possible. On July 30, 2018, I gave birth to my son Mekah. He was 7lbs and 21 inches long. I was full of joy and excitement, yet I was anxious knowing there was a chance my son may not be able to go home with me. I had two prior CPS cases that I did not succeed in. A few days after my son’s birth, a Social Worker came in and gave me the news I had dreaded. He would be placed into a foster home until the courted deemed me a stable, sober mother and that I would continue to do so. At this time, I felt hurt with a million emotions running through my mind and body. I didn’t want to think of my son being out of my sight or reach. The old me would have ran, seeing this situation as permanent, thinking I would never get him back. Casa Teresa was a ray of light on a cloudy day. Because of Casa Teresa, I had hope. I knew this was only temporary and I continued to attend my classes and follow the court’s orders to get my son back. Casa Teresa encouraged me to not give up and continue fighting for my son. On September 25, 2018, my son came home. This was a miracle. I was told the judge didn’t have to see my case because of my prior CPS cases. These are usually open and shut cases in which they don’t see the parents as being fit…ever. But they saw my work and effort at Casa Teresa. Casa Teresa didn’t stop there. In October, I transitioned to T1, which gave me my own studio apartment to live in with my son. I was able to show responsibility and growth in areas I lacked before. They showed me how to manage my time and keep up with a set schedule every day. I was able to go back to school to get my GED and completed it in November 2018. I also enrolled in a vocational school to become a Dental Assistant in December 2018. On January 25, I was transitioned to T2 which blessed me with a two bedroom apartment. This was another step toward my ultimate goal to have all my children under one roof. Now my children are with me every weekend. Now I can be the mother I’ve always wanted to be for my children and provide a safe, loving home for them. Everything I was able to accomplish would not have been possible without Casa Teresa and the wonderful staff. I can truly say that waking up every day is like hitting the jackpot. I am safe. I am loved. I am supported. They have been able to provide everything I ever needed to succeed and get back on my feet. Thank you Casa Teresa. -Casa Teresa Alumna, Tracey #fromtheguttertoacollegegrad wrote with pride by one of our alumna, Julia. I immediately read her post on social media with tears sliding down my face as if my own daughter was soon to graduate, my heart beat with joy and instant flashes of Julia’s raw beginnings at Casa Teresa vividly came to me. I quickly stepped into “mom mode” reaching out to Julia and asking her, “Is there anything we can help you with?”
Working at Casa Teresa lets you witness God’s grace and humility on continual basis. The restoration taking place that transforms the lives of our residents in such a short amount of time is nothing but inspiring. To witness it on a daily basis is a gift that’s life changing. As Casa Teresa is rapidly evolving in many ways, we are continually evaluating what we can do to improve the way we support our residents and their children. We strive to show them unconditional love and desire to walk with them through their growth process - from the beginning of their pain to their restoration and happiness. When you serve at Casa Teresa, you can’t help but desire to walk alongside women through their journey for as long as you possibly can. I had the honor of attending Julia’s pinning ceremony in June. I watched her walk towards the stage as she fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a Registered Nurse. For me, that moment solidified the significance of Casa Teresa’s Alumni Program and exemplified how it has transformed into a beautiful partnership with our former residents. Julia received an acceptance letter to CSUF to further her education and attain her BSN. She will be starting at Cal State Fullerton this fall. I was asked to spearhead the Alumni Program last year and with honor I accepted. Over the past year our Alumni Program has progressed beyond margins, providing ongoing support to our residents after they graduate from Casa Teresa. A year later, we are truly in kinship with our Alumni and have the great privilege to celebrate wonderful successes, such as Julia’s. It’s that time when schools are ending their academic year, students are eagerly awaiting graduation ceremonies and excited about their plans for the future. Many of our residents come to Casa Teresa without their high school diploma. In our commitment to meeting pregnant women wherever they are on their journey and giving them the support they need to create bright futures for themselves and their children, we are able to offer our residents the chance to earn a High School Equivalency Certificate through our partnership with American Career College. This provides our residents with the opportunity to earn a High School Equivalency for free, which is recognized by the State of California as an equivalent to a high school diploma.
We had our first HSE commencement ceremony of the year in February. Three Casa Teresa residents received their High School Equivalency Certificate. Casa Teresa Alumna, Shaina, was invited to address our graduates and spoke about the opportunities that opened up for her from earning her own HSE Certificate while at Casa Teresa. “Once I received my diploma, I felt like I could do anything I wanted to and I did. I went to another school and became a Registered Alcohol Drug Technician and began working in an all women rehab facility, earning my hours and working towards becoming a Certified Alcohol and Addiction Counselor. While pursuing this goal of mine, another opportunity presented itself and I was able to take it and broaden my horizons.” She is currently employed at a company that is a global leader in medical innovations for structural heart disease. Shaina stated, “Both of these things would not have been possible without having the love and support from Casa and the tools available for me through the HSE Academy.” “So please remember to challenge you limits and never miss an opportunity”, Shaina reminded our residents. Each of the women that received their Certificate that day are doing just that. One is currently enrolled in the Dental Assistant Program at West Coast University and another is enrolled in a program to become a licensed Esthetician. Our staff and fellow residents are continually inspired by the hard work and dedication of the women in our program dedicated to completing the HSE Academy. We are so excited to watch them take their next courageous step towards building a full and rewarding future. Our monumental 40th Annual Neill Sullivan Legacy Golf Classic took place this month on Thursday, May 16th at the beautiful Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, Ca. The tournament raised over $115,000 in net proceeds that will go towards the live changing programs at Casa Teresa. Casa Teresa dedicated its annual tournament to co-founder Neill Sullivan in 2014. Neill and his wife Sally have left a lasting legacy in founding Casa Teresa, an Orange County based non-profit that has provided a loving home to over 6,800 pregnant women in crisis and their babies since its founding in 1974. The tournament featured a day of delicious food, beverages, and fun contests. Golfers enjoyed craft beer from Docent Brewing located in San Juan Capistrano, tequila tastings by Don Julio Tequila, Nekter Juice Bar tastings, cookies and milk provided by Paradise Bakery, grilled burgers catered by Hanna's Restaurant & Bar located in Rancho Santa Margarita, and a special Travis Mathews shopping experience. The tournament was followed by cocktails provided by Pau Maui Vodka, an exciting live & silent auction, a Casa Teresa alumna guest speaker, and dinner. Thank you to our 2019 sponsors!
Platinum Sponsor Don & Sue Redfern and Family Silver Sponsor Prestige Office Coffee Services Bronze Sponsors Advanced Real Estate Chase Bank The Frome Family Foundation The Jankovich Company The Muzzy Family Wells Fargo Hole In One Sponsor Audi of Mission Viejo Dinner Underwriter The Von de Ahe Family Lunch Underwriter Hanna’s Restaurant & Bar Birdie Sponsor Schreiber Foods, Inc. Talley, LLP Exclusive Hole Sponsor First Republic Bank Bar Sponsor Pau Maui Vodka Talley, LLP Golf Cart Sponsor Sperry Commercial PR Cart Sponsor Orion Risk Management Insurance Services, Inc. Tee Sponsors Bright Bear Caliber Construction Inc. Lissa and Rich Callaghan Rob and Midge Cavalieri EMCOR Services/Mesa Energy Systems Ron & Peggy Guziak Main Graphics Norm Wilson & Sons, Inc. John & Patty Pace Paragon Home Resources Paragon Real Estate Resources Jerome and Shanell Pierce Sharon Industries, Inc./John Mikulka We hosted our fourth annual Ruby Luncheon & Fashion Show last week at Newport Beach Country Club. The sold out event featured informal modeling of fashions from our resale boutique located in Orange, “The Collection by Casa Teresa”, and guest speakers including our Executive Program Director, Dr. Jim Pugh and current Casa Teresa resident, Tracey. Our guests enjoyed a delicious lunch, fun opportunity drawings, spins to win prizes at our “Wheel of Fashion” and fashions modeled by esteemed Casa Teresa staff, board members, corporate and service partners, supporters and volunteers. Our 2019 Ruby Luncheon & Fashion Show: “Dream Big” raised net proceeds of over $73,000 which will immediately impact the lives of the 25 women, 11 babies and 3 children at Casa Teresa today. We would like to thank our 2019 Sponsors, Volunteer Models, and Luncheon Committee: Title Sponsor
American Career College & West Coast University Presenting Sponsors Applied Medical Mike Bell Wells Fargo Emerald Sponsors Frome Family Foundation Regina and Richard Hunsaker Topaz Sponsors Judi and Bill Leonard Mike and Janae Muzzy Rand and Rosemary Sperry Pearl Sponsors Daily's Sports Grill First American Title Models Heather Akoubian - CCO, Akoubian Enterprises Lisa Barton - Owner, Wheel Solutions Adriana Boylan - Program Director, HSE Academy Kathleen Boyle - CEO, Verify, Inc. Jamie Donchess - Community Volunteer Ken Hart - CEO, Aquatic Technologies Mike Janett - SVP, Wells Fargo Megan Meihaus - Arbonne Independent Consultant Steve Muzzy - Managing Director, MF Partners Rick Ptak - Insurance and Financial Services Dr. James Pugh - Exec. Program Director, Casa Teresa Heather Raney - Founder, High Line & Company Barbara Roppolo - Realtor, Surterre Properties Neill Sullivan - Founder & CEO, REO Homes and Sullivan Management Valarie Valverde - Vice Chairman, Third Step Ministry Jana Williams - Owner, Brow Works Beauty Studio Kyle Wolack - Sr. Account Executive, Seabreeze Management 2019 Ruby Luncheon & Fashion Show Committee Lori Stanton, Chair Vivian Allsopp Michelle Caliendo April Casanova Michele Culbertson Michele Gentile Kathy Honda Barbara Roppolo Pam Sherman Suzanne Wickman I have been working at Casa Teresa for 12 years and I’ve seen how the love of this organization heals our resident’s hurt and pain. As a Casa Teresa House Mother, I was mentored and taught by Dr. Pugh. I have learned about grace, the power of love, and strength and how it changes lives. For me, being a House Mother is the most meaningful position I could have. I have the honor of nurturing and loving our residents in a way that they probably never had before. To me this position is not just a job, but is my passion and purpose. The way each Casa Teresa program is specifically structured has a purpose and a meaning. It has been tested, nurtured and modified as the organization evolves. Back in July of 2018 I had a health scare. By the grace of God, I had good doctors and the common sense to not put off the symptoms I was experiencing. After further medical testing, I had my first surgery in August and found out I had cancer. I was terrified. My OBGYN sent me to the best gynecological oncologist in the country. He held my hand and told me to move quickly and go to see him as soon as possible. I did exactly as I was instructed and moved fast to get an appointment. My first appointment with the oncologist was a blur. I was so thankful I was able to call Dr. Pugh to help me through this process. I have no family that live close to me, so he calmly instructed me like a caring father, to bring someone with me to my first appointment and take notes. He also told me to contact Casa Teresa’s HR Representative, she was AMAZING and was so helpful to me. The entire staff at Casa Teresa stepped in to help, a calendar was created and different staff members signed up to bring me groceries, some signed up to bring me homemade meals or take a walks. One staff member even offered to let me recover at her home after surgery so I wouldn’t be alone. I had tons of support and love. I was totally surprised and blessed that my work family cared that much for me. They all went above and beyond what I ever expected and I want to thank each one of them for what they did for me while I was battling cancer. I will never forget it. Today, I am back at work fulfilling my passion and purpose. What inspires me to work at Casa and continue to work here is the fulfillment of seeing our resident’s lives change so dramatically, and being a part of that growth. I wanted to share my story with everyone who supports Casa Teresa, because this is such a unique and loving workplace where we practice what we preach with each other, not just with the women and babies that we serve. |
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