Excellent work is being done at Share Our Selves! Recognizing National Health Center Week, SOS shed light on the important work that Community Health Centers do for the vulnerable in our society. In furthering their mission, they debuted a new SOS Mobile Health Unit and were joined by Congressman Harley Rouda, Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley, and Liz McNabb from the office of Assemblywoman Cotie Petrie-Norris. They shared their collective desire for improving the health, well-being, and livelihood for the marginalized in Orange County. Karen McGlinn with the SOS Foundation was an original member in our 1994 Executive Learning Group and was trained as a coach in our Executive Coaching Program.

Collaboration at its finest! Early Childhood OC, Saddleback Church, Be Well Orange County and Extraordinary Lives Foundation, came together this month for a webinar titled, Building Resilient Families.

For a recording of the fabulous webinar, click here.

Network member and presenter, Lauren Brand, Director of Operations at Be Well OC participated in the 2016 Executive Learning Group, is one of our Executive Coaches, is a current member in our Leadership Reading Group, and is a Creative Encounters by Fieldstone facilitator.

We congratulate our Network partners Human Options, Interval House, Laura's House and Women's Transitional Living Center as they have stepped up during this crisis to address the increased need for domestic violence services. All four centers offer emergency and short-term shelter in confidential locations with varying resources to assist in finding permanent housing.

To read the LA Times/Daily Pilot article, click here.

Click here to listen to Mark Lee of WTLC and Maricela Rios of Human Options as they shared practical ways we can all support family and friends who might be suffering from abuse. All of these organizations have participated in FLN programming, past and present.

Congratulations to Jennifer Ponce, Education Manager of Laura's House, who was elected to serve on the California Partnership To End Domestic Violence (the Partnership) board of directors.

For the complete article, click here.

Jennifer participated in the 2019 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.

Kudos to Jeri Wilson, Executive Director of Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, for her development efforts in these challenging times. Jeri was featured on CBS Los Angeles bringing awareness of the increased need for funding without the ability to hold in-person events. They also partnered for the 6th year with a live gaming stream company Vinesauce, and successfully raised over $250k remotely from people all over the world. Most donations were $5-10 and over 4,000 people donated in small increments. Amazing work!

Click here for the entire interview.

Jeri participated in the 2016 Executive Learning Group.

Congratulations to The Wooden Floor, who was recognized by Orange County Business Journal as a 2020 Innovator of the Year Award Nominee. Dawn S. Reese, CEO, is a social innovator who leverages her unique blend of experience in business, technology, and the arts to propel young people forward. During Reese’s 11-year tenure, the organization’s budget has grown from $2.1 million to $3.4 million and has expanded its model both locally and nationally to Washington, DC.

An article written by Dawn for the OCBJ, Driving Social Innovation With a Plan Ahead Strategy, can be viewed here.

Dawn was a participant of the 2007 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group and was coached in 2012 and became a Coach in our Executive Coaching Program in 2013.

Congratulations to Pam Shambra, Campaign Director for

Orangewood Foundation and her team! They completed their $35.5 million capital campaign to build a residence for foster youth, a building for 7^th & 8^th graders, and an Innovation Center during the pandemic.

Pam Shambra participated in the in the 2010 Executive Learning Group, was coached in 2004, and became a Coach in our Executive Coaching Program in 2013.

While we will miss our Network member Tina Graves greatly as she embarks on a new life in Nashville, we are excited to announce Ciara Jones has stepped into her role as Director of Administrative Operations at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Ciara has been with Chapman for eight years and was in higher education administration in the UK, France and the US for 16 years prior. She looks forward to making a positive and lasting impact on the school and her colleagues, especially during these uncertain times.

Ciara is a current member of the 2020 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.

Bravo to Gayle Knight, Founder and CEO of H.O.P.E. as they continue to serve between 1,800 and 2,000 individuals monthly, all with COVID-19 standards in place. They have added art and guitar, violin, cello and piano lessons, all via Zoom. In the near future, Cal State Fullerton students will provide STEM tutoring for the children.

Gayle participated in the 2013 Executive Learning Group.

Anne Grey, Executive Director of the Orange County Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, along with her staff, have created a full spectrum of resources for COVID-19 and care giving, including "Protecting Loved Ones in Long Term Care Settings" and "Tips for Caregivers."

Please click here for more information or call their free 24/7 Helpline at (800) 272-3900 to speak with a dementia care expert.

Anne participated in the 2001 Executive Learning Group and is a current member of our Leadership Reading Group, and has been a Crossroads and Turning Points presenter.

Congratulations to Taller San Jose Hope Builders as they celebrate their 25^th anniversary! Shawna Smith, Executive Director, along with her staff, created a virtual campaign called 25 Days for Building Hope, sharing videos about their history and plans for the future.

To view the special website they launched for the occasion, click here.

Shawna is an Executive Coach in our Executive Coaching Program and several members of her team participated in our Learning Groups.

Three Habitat for Humanity of Orange County house recipients in Fullerton were in for a BIG SURPRISE! After the new homeowners were presented keys to their front doors, a car parade cruised by their new homes. Everyone walked by to wave at the passing cars that were decorated with “Home Sweet Home” signs and balloons. Three of the cars had big red bows, but they didn’t drive away after the parade- because each family also received a surprise car from Auto Club of Southern California!

To see the entire article and pictures from of OC Register, click here.

Sharon Ellis, President & CEO and one of our esteemed Executive Coaches, along with many of her staff, are active members in our Network.

Congratulations to Ligia Hallstrom, Ed.D. as she embarks on a new career as Administrator, Instructional Programs with North Orange County Regional Occupational Program (ROP). Ligia is an experienced Chief Operating Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & health care industry, and is skilled in Curriculum Development, Public Speaking, Mental Health Counseling, Human Rights, and Staff Development.

Ligia is a current member of the 2020 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group

In the face of COVID-19, CHOC Children’s remains committed to helping kids feel like kids, even when hospitalized. One way they do so is by offering virtual activities, such as calligraphy classes, magic tricks and charades games. CHOC music therapists host classes via teleconference–even launching a virtual ukulele group for patients.

As long-time corporate partners, Nuvision Credit Union joined CHOC’s child life team last week to help support their virtual activities, including a live origami session. With help from CHOC’s in-house radio station, Seacrest Studios, patients were able to virtually follow along directly from their rooms.

Click on this link to learn more about the Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Department at CHOC Children’s.

Nadia Flores, Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement of NuVision Credit Union, participated in the 2012 Executive Learning Group and was coached in the 2013 Executive Coaching Program.

Madeylnn Hirneise and her team at Families Forward have been working hard to meet the extraordinary need for hunger relief due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Families Forward has developed a Drive-Thru Food Assistance Program. By partnering with local cities to hold food collection events, Families Forward has provided food assistance to more than 40,000 individuals since March 16th. To date, there have been seven events, held in partnership with the Cities of Irvine, Mission Viejo and Lake Forest, with more planned in the coming weeks. Collectively, 209 barrels of food have been donated by local residents at these events, providing assistance to nearly 9,000 families.

The Orange County Grantmakers Summit is fast approaching and they are requesting nominations for a Legacy Leader, Emerging Leader and Outstanding Change Maker.

For more information on the summit and nomination link, please visit here!

Thank you to Orange County United Way for assisting in the 2020 Census. It is so much more than counting all Californians! The census helps policymakers make funding decisions, businesses make crucial hiring decisions, and researchers conduct new projects. We need everyone to be counted so no one is left behind.

To fill out your census, click here.

Leaders in the Field is a monthly communication highlighting Fieldstone Leadership Network members and their