Pathways to Independence, an organization dedicated to transforming the lives of disadvantaged single young women by providing education, therapy, mentoring, housing, and healthcare to help break the cycle of poverty and abuse, was recently featured in the Press Telegram.

Click here to read the Press Telegram article.

Diana Hill, Executive Director, participated in the 2023 Executive Learning Group and is currently being coached in the 2024 Executive Coaching Program.

Samar Aziz and Adita Arya, both active participants in the Fieldstone Leadership Network, recently took on a unique challenge by participating in the Mudgirl Run in Lake Elsinore. Embracing mud, laughter, and camaraderie, they bonded with friends while pushing themselves physically in an event that was completely outside their comfort zone. As leaders, they believe in constantly pushing boundaries to conquer new frontiers, and this adventurous experience was a reflection of that commitment.



Samar participated in the 2022 and 2023 Leadership Reading Groups, the 2023 Executive Learning Group and was coached in the 2023 Executive Coaching Program. Adita was a participant in the 2023 Executive Learning Group and the 2023 Executive Coaching Program and was a member of the 2024 Leadership Reading Group.

Wellness & Prevention Center recently celebrated their 10th Anniversary. The center was founded by a group of dedicated community members to find innovative ways to help youth live healthier lives. What began as a school-based drop-in center has since grown into a unique organization that provides mental health services both in schools and in the community. It also educates the public on mental health and addiction issues and leads a federally funded Drug-Free Community Coalition, bringing together different sectors of the community to prevent youth from engaging in unhealthy behaviors.

Susan Parmalee, Executive Director, participated in the 2024 Executive Learning Group. Bill Carson, Board Member, has participated in the Leadership Reading Group since 2021, and Lauren Gallegos, Director of Prevention, is a current member in the 2024 summer Nonprofit Leaders Learning cohort.

Art & Creativity for Healing recently launched their Exceptional Family Members Art4Healing® program, designed for children and teens with disabilities and their caregivers. The workshops, held in a new, expanded studio space next to the nonprofit’s Laguna Hills headquarters, are offered free to families thanks to a generous grant from an anonymous family foundation.

Founder/Director Laurie Zagon said, “It has been several years since we have worked with the disabled and caregivers due to a lack of funding. We now have some generous donors and we are excited to serve this often-forgotten community.”

Laurie participated in the 2005 Executive Learning Group and was coached in the 2006 Executive Coaching Program.

Maricela Rios-Faust, CEO of Human Options, Inc., was honored to accept an invitation to visit the White House to celebrate 30 years of the Violence Against Women Act. This legislation was the first comprehensive federal law to focus on preventing and addressing violence against women. Maricela shared, "What an incredible opportunity to reflect on this journey, honor the dedicated advocates that have gotten us to this far, and hear directly from survivors."

Maricela participated in the 2007 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group and was coached in the 2010 Executive Coaching Program.

Shout out to the more than 2,500 people who came out to show their support for Walk to End Alzheimer's Irvine. 

Thanks to generous community and corporate support, the Walk to End Alzheimer's Irvine broke a record, raising more than $500,000! These critical funds will help the Alzheimer's Association® provide free educational programs and support groups in the local community, as well as fund groundbreaking research.

Deborah Levy, Executive Director, participated in the 2005 Executive Learning Group and was coached in the 2006 Executive Coaching Program.

WISEPlace, focused on ending homelessness for unaccompanied women by providing safe shelter, counseling, mental health services, case management, addiction recovery, and employment assistance was awarded $300,000 as a beneficiary of the sold-out Miller Foundation Charity Gala. The spectacular Moulin Rouge-themed evening brought together over 400 guests in support of the community, making it an exciting and memorable night.

Brateil Aghasi, CEO, participated in the 2013 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.

Olive Crest has broken ground on its first-ever, Olive Crest-owned apartment homes in Santa Ana, expected to open in Winter 2025. This is the first of five apartment homes planned across Southern California and Nevada, all part of Olive Crest’s efforts to prevent teen homelessness and equip young people for long-term success.

Kerri Dunkelberger, Executive Director, participated in the in 2016 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.

Erika Enz, Director of Program Scholars at Simon Scholars, was part of a panel at the Orange County Grantmaker's Summit. She shared her knowledge on “Community Engagement as an Internal and External Organizational Practice.”

Erika participated in 2018 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.

Chris Hoff, Executive Director of the California Family Institute, obtained the certification of Applied Strategic Foresight - Bringing Futures Thinking Into Strategy from Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies.

Chris was coached in the 2015 Executive Coaching Program and participated in the 2024 Executive Learning Group.

Kudos to Lina Lumme, Executive Director of The Youth Center! After nearly two years of diligently fund raising to purchase the property, overseeing the construction of the new Youth Center, and securing donations for the remodel without taking out a loan, she received final approval from OCFA and are now obtaining permanent occupancy!

Lina also had the honor of speaking at the Elevate Women’s Conference hosted by The City of Los Alamitos, sharing her insights on living a resilient life and overcoming challenges with grace.

Lina participated in 2018 Executive Learning Group.

Kristi Perez, Founder and Executive Director of Inspire Life Skills is excited to announce that Inspire has received a $1 million ARPA grant from Riverside County to purchase and renovate a home in Corona for young women exiting foster care or facing homelessness. Inspire’s mission is to break the cycle of abuse and poverty by providing stable housing, education, training, and mentorship to foster and homeless youth. As Inspire celebrates 20 years of service, they proudly reflect on having helped over 350 former foster and homeless youth since opening their first home in 2005.

Kristi participated in 2008 and 2015 Executive Learning Groups, was coached in the 2014 Executive Coaching Program, and was a member in the 2017 Leadership Reading Group.

Mark Lee, Chief Executive Officer of Radiant Futures was honored as this year's recipient from North Park University of the Young Distinguished Alumni Award from his MBA program. He gathered in Chicago with many other alumni who are doing great things for their communities.

Mark participated in 2020 Executive Learning Group, and was coached in the 2021 Executive Coaching Program.