Meet the KidWorks Alum: Haide Gutierrez
August 19, 2026(Editor’s note: This is the first in a new series called “Meet the KidWorks Alum,” where you have a chance to learn more about the many successful students who graduated… Continue Reading
Author: KidWorks
Summer at KidWorks Shines Bright
More than 200 students from kindergarten through high school grades joined in Bible study, fun, character building and reconnections with friends, staff and volunteers. It all took place during July under the “Camp Courage” theme for kindergarten through fifth grade and “The SPOT” for youth attendees.
There was also a strong family focus that included movie nights as well as events and opportunities that engaged parents.
Please enjoy this recap of Camp Courage activities at KidWorks
Camp Courage: Kindergarten-5th Grade
One hundred students in grades kindergarten through fifth returned to KidWorks for a great Camp Courage experience, says Karina Flores, Site Director for our Townsend Center. They participated in a hybrid program comprised of a hourlong Zoom event twice a week, along with an option for in person attendance twice a week of one hour to 90 minutes (depending on their grade level).
“Providing parents and students the option of participating virtually and/or in person helped ease the transition from what had been exclusively an online KidWorks experience due to the pandemic,” Karina says. “Whether students joined summer programs virtually, in-person or both provided a way to still connect with staff, volunteers and friends. It was truly heartwarming seeing the students for the first time in over a year.”
Adds Karina, “Students participated in fun, interactive games on the days we connected virtually. It was also great to see our volunteers take the lead on some of the online games.”
Karina says onsite activities included sports, crafts and board games. “Our students enjoyed having a variety of fun options during programs,” she says.
Bible study continued to be a strong focus of summer programs, as it always has.
“We had two main biblical heroes we focused on this summer, Joshua and Esther,” Karina says. “We created lessons highlighting their dedication and strong faith in God and how this gave them the courage to follow God’s will.”
Adds Karina, “We connected these themes to what the students experienced during the pandemic, highlighting how they, too, were resilient like Joshua and Esther; even in the midst of the unknown, God came through for them as well.”
Karina says the staff and volunteers saw firsthand how much Camp Courage meant to the students.
“Students were thrilled and excited to come back!” she says. “And parents let us know how much their students enjoyed connecting once again at the centers.”
The Spot: 6th – 12th grade
Thirty students, ages 11 through 17, enjoyed a summer to remember, says Cynthia Gomez, our Youth Lead.
“We picked ‘The SPOT’ as our theme for the youth summer program because we want the youth to think of KidWorks as the “the spot” to be during the summer and then in the fall,” Cynthia says.
The hybrid program included in-person daytime activities at our centers four times a week for 90 minutes each, two 90-minute in-person evening sessions and twice-a-week evening Zoom get-togethers for 90 minutes each.
“We wanted the students to feel they had choices again and the liberty to pick their activities and locations,” Cynthia says. “The small group format was a plus because it didn’t feel overwhelming while also allowing for a slower pace while we get into the swing of being back in person again.”
Adds Cynthia, “One of the goals for the summer was to prepare students for returning to in-person programs both at school and at KidWorks from an emotional and mental standpoint. That’s why we chose the topic of courage. We perceived that some students may understandably have reservation, concerns and a level of fear about going back to school, even if also excited about doing so. We wanted them to collectively think about what it means to face difficult things in life. Our hope is that as they return to school and KidWorks, they’ll be excited to try new things again.”
The youth summer had both a fun and more serious side.
“On the lighter side, students made their own backgrounds for their phone cases, created anime stickers and enjoyed watercolor arts,” Cynthia says. “The students also enjoyed making whipped iced coffee and playing sports outside.”
At a deeper level, KidWorks also included our traditional Bible study element into summer programs.
“This summer we introduced ‘Life Chats’ where students were encouraged to think about the hobbies and subjects they love and how they can trust and build a relationship with God as they pursue their dreams,” Cynthia says. “We are hoping the impact is a long-lasting and soothing reminder that God sees them, loves them, and is for them.”
“Another of the more serious components were the guest speaker segments on Zoom,” Cynthia adds. “Guest speakers spoke on topics such as ‘what is courage?’, relating how David from the Bible demonstrated courage despite his young age. Another speaker told his story about how he chased his dream of playing soccer abroad by selling snacks and applying himself while trusting God. Finally, we had a Young Professional for KidWorks member speak on the importance of investing money long-term as a way to create wealth starting from an early age, explaining the concept of saving and investing because ‘time on your side.’”
Parents & Families
“We’ve been very mindful to maintain a consistent communication with our families and parents throughout the pandemic and throughout these unprecedented times,” says Sonia Rios-Guzman, our Parent Engagement Coordinator.
It all began with a summer kickoff event where families from all three KidWorks centers picked up kits full of activities that they could do together during the summer.
Adds Sonia, “I believe we’ve created a beautiful bond with many of our parents, to the point where they trust KidWorks and our safety protocols, guidelines, and regulations. The moms and dads feel comfortable to have their children return to in-person KidWorks programs.”
Sonia said that movie nights created a family aspect to summer programs.
“The movie nights were truly a hit!” Sonia says. “Parents and their sons and daughters could come as a family and enjoy a nice movie together. During these events, we made sure to maintain our safety protocols, including wearing masks, taking temperatures, wellness checks and social distancing.
e as a family and enjoy a nice movie together. During these events, we made sure to maintain our safety protocols, including wearing masks, taking temperatures, wellness checks and social distancing.
“All of this served to engage parents and students parents as we plan for in person afterschool programs,” Sonia says. “This engagement included community clean-ups in all three of our sites that were open to families and neighbors. Each community clean-up took place on Saturday mornings to accommodate families. This was a great way to be out in the community and serve the neighborhoods at the same time.”
And a Big “Thank You” to Supporters
“Everyone at KidWorks would like to send out a very big shout out of thanks to our summer volunteers and to our generous sponsors,” says Noemi Juarez, our Director of After School Programs.
“We are so grateful to all of our program partners who helped make summer a success.”
- Travis Bowen
- California Walks
- Girl Scouts of Orange County
- Environmental Nature Center
- Ben Juarez & Newsong Church
- Latin Jazz
- Los Angeles Angels
- Paul Park & the Life Church team
- Pure Game
- Young Professionals for KidWorks
By Glenn Leibowitz, volunteer writer
Meet Jake Olson: Foundation for Success Speaker
Jake Olson became the first completely blind football player in college football history and he’s sharing his story at our 15th Foundation for Success Luncheon on November 4th.
Jake’s story of overcoming retinoblastoma and going blind at the age of 12 has served as an inspiration to many people across the world.
Jake’s first battle with cancer began when he was just 8 months old and he was diagnosed with retinoblastoma. The disease claimed his left eye at 10 months old and in November 2009 Jake lost his right eye after battling the cancer for 12 years.
Jake confronted many challenges and encountered many setbacks during his battle and loss of sight but remained strong through his faith in God. He has used his experience to inspire and motivate others by authoring two books, creating a non-profit foundation to help visually impaired children and support cancer research and by sharing his story openly as a motivational speaker.
Jake is also a life-long USC football fan. While in high school he learned to long snap and was the starting long snapper for his team his junior and senior year. After being accepted to USC, he was offered a walk on spot with the USC football team, making him the first completely blind Division I college football player.
He saw his first live action when he snapped in USC’s home opener on September 2, 2017 and was named the Pac-12 special teams’ player of the week. In his college career, he had a total of three successful PAT snaps, earning his spot as one of the top two most inspirational stories in college football’s 150 year history.
His story has been featured on ESPN, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, FOX, Fox Sports, Hallmark, TBN, The Golf Channel, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Sports Illustrated, The Washington Post, etc. Since graduating, Jake has become an entrepreneur, co-founding Engage, an online platform that digitizes the process of booking talent for experiences.
A KidWorks Tribute To “Coach” Terry Donahue
KidWorks mourns the loss—and celebrates the life—of Terry Donahue, a great friend and inspiration to all of us. He is also revered by countless sports fans for winning more football games as UCLA’s coach than anyone else in the school’s history.
‘Coach’, as many affectionately refer to him, passed away on Sunday, July 4, at the age of 77.
“Terry and the Donahue family have been tremendous friends and supporters of KidWorks for decades,” says David Benavides, our Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director. “Their vision and leadership for KidWorks go back to our early days. In the early 2000s, Terry’s late brother, Dan, mobilized the real estate industry in Orange County to raise funds to support KidWorks. Later, at its grand opening, our main center was named in his memory, the KidWorks Dan Donahue Center. Their brother, Pat, is also a treasured KidWorks friend.”
Adds David, “In 2014, we honored the Donahue Family with a Lifetime Giving Award at our Foundation for Success luncheon, Terry and Pat accepted the recognition on behalf of the family.”
In the Daily Pilot’s coverage of that event, Terry Donahue was quoted as saying, “All of us have been blessed with opportunity. And opportunity is what gives you a chance in life, whether it’s educational, work-related or family related. It’s all about giving people the opportunity. I believe opportunity can define our lives. How we respond when it’s given to us and how often we can give back to others is really the key to it.”
Terry Donahue has been a longtime champion of KidWorks, serving previously as a Board Member and more recently as a member of our Advisory Council. In 2012, Mr. Donahue teamed up with USC’s John Robinson, another football coaching legend, as keynote speakers at our sixth annual Foundation for Success event. They shared stories and insights that thrilled gridiron fans with this once-in-a-lifetime conversation between two highly competitive football rivals.
In its story this week about Mr. Donahue’s passing, the Los Angeles Times wrote, “Under Donahue, UCLA won four Pac-10 championships and tied for another. Donahue became the first coach to win a bowl game in seven straight seasons, and his teams finished ranked in the top 10 nationally five times.”
“Terry was not only a football legend who inspired his players, he and his family are also legends at KidWorks,” says David. “Every student who walks through our doors and participates in our programs benefits from what the Donahue family helped make possible. And like all legacies, their family’s positive impact will extend to generations of KidWorks students yet to come. We will miss Terry, just as we miss Dan, and will always share the story of the Donahue family with the families we serve.”
Coach Terry Donahue will be remembered at our upcoming Foundation for Success Luncheon.
KidWorks Volunteer of the Month: Karina Torres
On a recent Saturday morning in late June, Karina Torres and her family gathered to continue a family tradition: Giving back to their Santa Ana community and helping at KidWorks.
Our July “Volunteer of the Month” knew that our in-person summer programs were about to commence and that KidWorks was also carefully planning for on-site after school programs to begin in September when the Santa Ana Unified School District resumes classes.
Between themselves, the Torres family spent hours weeding, trimming mowing and sweeping the front of our Dan Donahue Center.
Karina was joined by her husband, Jesus, and children, Evelyn, 18; Jesse, 15; Ashley, 14; Andrew, 12; Alex, 10 and Stephanie, seven. All the children are enrolled in KidWorks’ programs.
Instilling a passion for volunteering in her children is a top priority for Karina. And it’s worked. All of them have helped out at KidWorks in one way or another.
“I really believe that when a child—or really anyone—sees someone pick up a piece of trash in their neighborhood or give back in some way, that it can inspire them to do the same,” Karina says. “A lot of what I do at KidWorks could be viewed as little acts, but little efforts add up to big results.”
Karina became an “instant volunteer” immediately after Evelyn began attending KidWorks programs as a second grader over 11 years ago.
Since then, Karina says it’s been her heart’s desire to be what she calls “an A-to-Z volunteer.” That’s included preparing classrooms for our teachers, being a mentor and leader as part of our Parent Advisory Council, assisting our staff with office work, translating documents for non-English speaking parents, helping with set up and clean up at many of our community events, assisting with our Thanksgiving and Christmas outreaches to families in need, advocating for KidWorks with government leaders in Santa Ana and Sacramento and assisting with our Love in Music program.
“Karina is so deserving of ‘Volunteer of the Month’ recognition because even though she maintains a busy life with her six children, her husband, her work and household duties, she manages to find ways to volunteer and give of her time to KidWorks,” says Sonia Rios-Guzman, our Parent Engagement Coordinator.
Adds Sonia, “Karina demonstrates leadership every time she steps up as a member of the Parent Advisory Council, such as facilitating meetings and asking for input, feedback or suggestions from the other parents. Once, she joined staff from KidWorks in Sacramento, where we advocated for funding and laws that would benefit our children and youth. As a program committee representative, Karina has grown as a leader, providing program staff with ideas and ways to better our programming.”
“Tenacious” is a word that would perfectly describe Karina’s approach as a volunteer. The KidWorks team never needs to ask her to lend a hand—she’s typically the first to see a need and proactively jump in with all her heart.
“If it’s important and in your heart to do it, there’s always a way to make it happen, and there is no reason to come up with excuses,” Karina says. “I love the priceless feeling I get from volunteering.”
Karina’s many years as a KidWorks volunteer give her a unique perspective to offer ideas and input that have helped us to continuously make our programs better:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she suggested that KidWorks start a Homework Hotline for students learning to navigate the new normal of online learning; we launched the hotline and will continue it even when in-person learning returns.
She also advocated for the creation on a video that could visually show parents the step-by-step process to complete registration for our after school programs. That made filling out the various forms smoother for parents.
On the Parent Advisory Council, Karina has grown into a trusted and valued leader among both staff and parents. Her personal goal this fall is to increase the number of parents joining and actively participating in the council.
“All parents with students enrolled in KidWorks are required to attend general parent meetings, and I see this as an opportunity to recruit new council members, especially due to the normal attrition when students graduate from high school and parents leave the council,” Karina says.
Karina is a strong advocate for KidWorks programs among educators and within her community.
“I talk to school principals and tell them about KidWorks’ after school programs,” Karina says. “I refer parents to KidWorks when I see them searching for a great after school program for their children.”
Karina sees KidWorks as having a positive impact that goes beyond being a proven after school program.
“KidWorks is not like any after school program,” Karina says. “It’s not just about academics, but also about developing spiritual grounding and good morals in students. That’s why KidWorks is always on my mind when I see a parent with a need for their children.”
We thank Karina for not only bring her own family into ours in such a meaningful way, but also for the countless other families she’s done the same for in the community she cares so deeply about.
By Glenn Leibowitz, volunteer writer
Preschool Today, College Tomorrow
KidWorks graduation season ended on June 30th by celebrating the cutest graduates, our preschool students!
Preschool graduation is one of our most popular celebrations at KidWorks, attracting parents, grandparents, siblings and friends. This year we live streamed the ceremony on Facebook and YouTube so that everyone could enjoy the celebration.
KidWorks preschool continues to be one of the premier preschools in Orange County. This year 89% of our students were assessed as Kinder-Ready compared to 53% of students, county wide.
Preschool is the first step on the journey towards college. The skills that these students learn in preschool will be used both in Kindergarten and in college.
We can’t wait to welcome these same students back as kindergarteners to our after school programs in August. We are also enrolling new preschool students for our 2021-22 school year. Click the link below for more details.
Cars for KidWorks
If you’ve got an extra car, truck, RV or boat that you no longer need, make the most of it by donating that vehicle to KidWorks. In exchange, you’ll be supporting numerous KidWorks students on their path towards college and career success.
“I recently donated an older model Honda Civic through Charitable Adult Rides & Services (CARS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that administers vehicle donations to KidWorks,” says Glenn Leibowitz, a longtime KidWorks volunteer. “The process was far simpler and much more efficient than I could have imagined. I’m aware that there are some less than reliable ‘donate your car’ and ‘we buy junk cars’ services out there, so I had real peace of mind knowing that I’d be donating a car through a resource thoroughly vetted by KidWorks.
Adds Glenn, “The whole process took just a few days. The service picked up my car at no cost to me, provided the necessary paperwork for tax purposes and generated meaningful dollars for KidWorks when the car was auctioned the very next week.”
To find out more about how to donate a vehicle, boat or RV to KidWorks, please visit this link, or call (714) 834-9400×133 to learn more.
(Editor’s Note: KidWorks is deeply grateful to everyone who supports our students through gifts of time, talent and resources. This month, we’re launching a new feature called “Ways to Give.” We’ll share additional ways you can enhance how you may already be helping those we serve. Our first story describes how to donate a vehicle, boat and/or recreational vehicle.)
KidWorks Night of the Stars 2021
The KidWorks Class of 2021 has a lot to celebrate. 100% of KidWorks high school seniors are continuing their education this fall, despite college enrollment being down by 7.2% at the national level for incoming freshman.
We honored our KidWorks seniors at our annual Noche de las Estrellas (Night of the Stars), at Newsong Church. Parents, friends, staff and mentors gathered to honor the KidWorks Class of 2021 and bless them as they head off to college.
Senior Cecilia Angel gave the commencement speech and reminded her classmates that if you can overcome a pandemic, you can overcome anything! KidWorks parent, Yadira Mora encouraged students to leave a legacy for the next generations of students.
Pastor Ed Salas from Newsong church concluded the evening with a blessing and charge to the graduates, reminding them the power of words. He invited parents to come up and speak words of encouragement to their sons and daughters as they embark on this new chapter of life.
We are proud of our graduates and can’t wait to see how God uses them in the coming years.
*National Student Clearinghouse Research Center data
KidWorks Alumni Spotlight: Gilda Gallardo
For many years, Gilda I. Gallardo kept a three-by-five index card with her. Over time, it became bent, crinkled, worn and torn.
“The condition of that card was a metaphor for how I felt about myself,” says Gilda, now 26-years-old, and a graduate of KidWorks’ programs. “But the single word written on that card let me know I would persevere. It read: IM*POSSIBLE.”
Gilda’s journey begins in Mexico and is shaped by the challenges of growing up undocumented, yet she consistently finds a way to turn what might appear to be an impossible obstacle into the possible.
Now living in a small port town near Valencia, Spain, Gilda first began her KidWorks journey in 1999 when her older brother, Cresenciano, now 27-years-old, began attending our programs at the original Townsend Street Center (a one-room apartment converted into a schoolroom).
“I was too young to enroll in KidWorks, but the staff just couldn’t bring themselves to chase me away when I refused to leave,” Gilda recalls with a laugh.
She’s stayed involved in our programs all the way up to her enrollment at Georgetown University, graduating in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in German Literature and Culture.
But it was never a sure thing that she would continue her education beyond high school. KidWorks changed all that.
Gilda says, “I remember that Sara Culver, a KidWorks staff member at the time, handed me a brochure from Yale University. She looked me right in the eye and said, ‘You need to start by planning to go to college.’ She told me I could go to a university. I held onto that pamphlet and that simple act of encouragement by KidWorks reoriented me to towards a possibility I had not before even imagined.”
She said the path to higher education was also inspired by our Campus Crash program, where high school students enrolled in our programs get a firsthand taste of college and university life, with the goal that they pursue higher education.
Even so, attending Georgetown was far from a given. At the time, her father vehemently objected. Yet, he eventually came around. At one point, Gilda gave him a metal car license plate frame reading “Georgetown University Parent,” which he put on his vehicle. That led to his bosses at work inviting Gilda to speak to their children about Georgetown.
Gilda completed her Georgetown courses during a study abroad semester in Germany and began her current entrepreneurial work in the areas of music, film, editing and production.
A German company she co-founded called KreativeKids was inspired by the name KidWorks and is now absorbed into another European enterprise.
Gilda also credits KidWorks volunteers from a wide range of economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds for what she calls her own “becoming.”
“KidWorks was a combination of wonderful, consistent volunteers who gathered in a safe and welcoming place. The contrast of people freed my mind to dare to be different,” she says.
Some of Gilda’s fondest memories of her elementary, middle school and high school years at KidWorks include our summer camp, where she hunted for blackberries and played in the lakes, “I noticed that every KidWorks student was wearing a life vest because none of us knew how to swim,” Gilda says. “That motivated me to sign up for the girl’s water polo team in high school. Through KidWorks I met Genai Kerr, United States Men’s Water Polo Olympic Team goalie (2004 Athens Olympics), and received a scholarship to train at his water polo clinic at UCLA.
“Another time Genai came to town to introduce the Summer Kids Club to water polo. He demonstrated to me the bigger lesson of gathering strength and power in the struggle and discipline. I learned about nutrition for athletic performance from my tutor, Monica Mendoza and was encouraged by her presence at my tournaments and games. “
“About the same time I also got to sing and dance in the KidWorks Children’s Choir for Roger Waters’ “The Wall” tour. Former KidWorks staff member, Donia Quon is a mastermind! Those were the best two nights of my life, dancing like a wild child next to my guitar hero for a packed Honda Center.”
In Spain, Gilda continues to pursue her interests in music and film.
And while she may be thousands of miles away from Santa Ana where she was raised, Gilda has stayed in touch with many she forged friendships with at KidWorks.
One of those contemporaries is Erika Sanchez, our College & Career Manager. Says Erika, “Gilda and I grew up together. We were neighbors and would do everything together. My favorite memories were going to KidWorks together for tutoring, dance classes and art classes. It was such a fun time together.”
Gilda continues to keep in touch with KidWorks by participating in virtual alumni activities from Spain. She most recently participated in a Loteria night where she enjoyed reminiscing with fellow alumni.
Erika and Gilda are two KidWorks student alumni who make “possible” come to life–whether they are in Orange County or an ocean and a continent away.
By Glenn Leibowitz, volunteer writer
(Editor’s note: This is the first in an occasional series called “Where Are They Now?”, which tells the stories of students who have graduated from KidWorks’ programs and what their lives have been like in subsequent years.)
KidWorks Volunteer of the Month: Pilar Quezada
This senior at Chapman University has been a vital and inspiring volunteer during our online programs for students during the pandemic.
Pilar signed up as a KidWorks volunteer in January 2021 as part of a class research project; her timing was perfect as our programs for students were being conducted on a “virtual” basis.
“Zoom can be a difficult environment to engage students, especially for long periods of time,” Pilar acknowledges. “I use icebreakers to get everything started off in a positive and welcoming way. I view the icebreakers as mini lessons because they have allowed me to get to know the students and form connections with them.”
Adds Pilar, “One game that I introduced was the ‘Unpopular Opinion’ game where students had their cameras turned off and they were to turn them back on if they agreed with the statements I announced. Some of the statements were, ‘Fall is the best season,’ or ‘Soul is the best Pixar film.’ I used icebreakers that were entertaining because they pushed students to be active and participate.”
To overcome Zoom fatigue, Pilar is quite resourceful.
“We played an online Pictionary game called Skribbl.io and BASTA, a Spanish-language educational game,” she says. “We also completed several personality tests that the students really enjoyed doing. They love learning new things about themselves and my goal is to support this development.”
The KidWorks’ team is very grateful for the significant positive impact Pilar has had even though it’s only been a few short months since she’s been part of our journey.
“Pilar was such a blessing in my online classrooms,” says Cynthia Gomez, our Youth Lead. “From the get-go, she brought so much energy and positivity, always sharing words of encouragement.”
Adds Cynthia, “In addition to class time, she supported me by making weekly phone calls to parents and students; that is a tangible reason why more students started showing up to online programs. She also volunteered for Youth Nights and Campus Crash and was instrumental in the planning, creating and leading breakout rooms. Overall, Pilar’s hard work, positivity, and energy created more successful programs. Pilar is such a gem!”
Gerardo Magaña, our Senior Director of Volunteer and Leadership Resources, agrees. “Pilar’s impact as a volunteer has been so refreshing and encouraging. She’s a hard worker and comes in with contagious energy and positivity that is not easy to carry over via computer screens.”
During her time as a volunteer, Pilar has mentored grades 11 and 12 graders, plus middle school students during Campus Crash, which introduces high school students to college and universities, and the Youth Lock-in, a night of fun and fellowship.
Pilar is an enthusiastic advocate for Campus Crash.
“Campus Crash provides the narrative that students from any cultural background, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or any identity are capable of going to college,” she says. “During the online sessions, we heard from speakers who are KidWorks’ alumni and they shared how they got to college. I believe Campus Crash inspires students to strive to achieve their goals and never give up.
“During the virtual Youth Lock-in early this year, I led an ‘Among Us’ game room,” Pilar adds. “The students were happy to see a college student like myself playing video games with them on a Friday night and having fun. Youth nights create a safe space where students are not bound by the academic responsibilities and schoolwork they face in their daily life. Youth Nights are a time where students can socialize and interact with a familiar environment that is close to home and that is reflective of their culture.”
Pilar shares, “I also helped organize the Friendentines Youth Night in February by contributing my ideas on what items could be included in the students’ kits. I created a list on Amazon to support Ms. Cynthia so that she could choose any items she found to be useful; these items included girls scrunchies, lip balm and face masks; I found art supplies and mini easels for crafts.”
Pilar supports our shared intent to fully involve the parents of our students in all we do. To support this goal, she’s made numerous phone calls to moms and dads.
Her calls serve to remind their parents to invite their students to log on to Zoom and to keep parents up to date with any new updates or upcoming programs/events. She also reaches out to parents so KidWorks is updated on their children’s graduation plans.
“I loved making the phone calls to parents because 99% of the contacts were mothers who spoke Spanish and I was thrilled to be able to communicate and be real with them because I am an insider in the Santa Ana community and I speak Spanish fluently,” Pilar says. “They definitely prompted their children to attend programs because I noticed that some students would log on after I finished making the calls. Many parents let me know that they appreciate my concern for their children and the information that I provide to them. I always send them Zoom links and any flyers for upcoming events because I know it can be difficult for their children to let them know of any activities they are involved in.”
At Chapman University, Pilar is majoring in political science and integrated educational studies.
“I intend to apply for a Fulbright Scholarship so that I might further my research in Latin American countries, obtain an internship abroad or teach English overseas,” Pilar says. “I hope to study for the LSATs while abroad and apply to law schools in California. I also hope to work on creating kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum for the Santa Ana Unified School District.”
Asked what she would say to high school and college students considering volunteering at KidWorks, Pilar doesn’t hesitate to share her encouragement:
“Always say ‘yes,’” she says. “Be a ‘yes’ person. You never know who you might meet along the way or what connections can be available to you.”
We invite high school and college/university students to learn more about how KidWorks can provide you with opportunities to earn service hours, intern and volunteer
Pilar is a well-traveled young woman.
“I love to travel,” she says, “I’ve visited Spain, Amsterdam, Italy, Portugal, Morocco, London, Germany, Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic and definitely Mexico.”
The journey we are most grateful for is the one Pilar is taking alongside each student who benefits in countless ways from her deep compassion and commitment to their futures.
By Glenn Leibowitz, volunteer writer
KidWorks Women’s Pickleball Spring Tournament
An impressive $40,000 was netted at the fundraising event, held at The Tennis Club at Newport Beach Country Club, in support of KidWorks’ College Success Initiative™ that funds activities for our College Apps Academy, Campus Crash and mentorship program – all designed to support first generation, low-income students on their journey towards college success.
The first tournament was held last October and was so well-received that our Women’s Committee moved forward with the Spring event. The second tournament sold out in 24 hours and more players participated than in the first event. Another pickleball tournament is planned for the Fall.
“We are so grateful to the organizers, sponsors and players who made the pickleball tournament such fun—and such a success,” says Lisa Gels, our Associate Director of Development. “The KidWorks’ Women’s Committee brings together caring individuals to ‘fund raise and friend raise.’ We are excited about the group’s tremendous and growing potential to support KidWorks and those we serve.”
Pickleball is an ideal fundraiser due to its growing popularity and since game is played in a socially distant manner that aligns with COVID-19 precautions.
As in the first event, a special moment followed tournament play. Yosely Ocampo, a senior at Mater Dei High School and who is enrolled in our youth and academic programs, updated the group on her KidWorks story.
“It was amazing so many women come together to support KidWorks,” shared Yosely. “They were all so encouraging and it was fun to watch them play.”
Tournament committee members were co-chairs Heather Gaughan and Corinne Morgenstern. Committee members were Vivian Browne, Kim Carpenter Leslie Casserly, Betsy Flint, Lori Junkins, Leslie Montgomery, Sharon Roy, Jill Schriber, and Kyle Team (also a KidWorks board member).
Tournament winner is Susan Vigil.
Event Sponsors Include
Queen of The Court
Heather Gaughn
Sandy Wirta
Court Sponsor
Oltmans Construction;
Amazing Aces
Anonymous
Helen Fedalan
Suzy Metcalfe
Leslie Seidner
Kyle Team
Darling Dinkers
Empty Nesters Unite
Lori Junkins
Schriber Family Fund
Kathy Stuart
Lunch Sponsor
Newport Beach Country Club
Lovely Lobbers
Holly Anderson
Anonymous
Anonymous
B. Candy
Beach Hardwood Floors
Kim Carpenter
Pam Conner
Flint Family
Beth Hallett
Cate Hanley
Emily C. Mandrup
Mel Murray
Shelly Read
Claudette Shaw
Zotovich Wines.
“At the core of our College Success Initiative is a commitment to education because we know it leads to higher income, improved health and a better future,” said KidWorks’ Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director David Benavides. “We are developing life-ready learners who are leaders.”
For the past seven years, 100 percent of KidWorks high school students have graduated on time and 100 percent have gone onto higher education.
The committee thanks all the amazing sponsors and players who came to support KidWorks students on the path towards college success.