Bloom "A Tea for Hope" June 23, 2012

This past weekend we held our annual Bloom "A Tea for Hope" event and this was truly the place to be. With a beautiful setting, delectable food catered by Greens Market, fabulous live & silent auction items it was a memorable day for all who attended. We cannot thank Dr. Stephen & Ann Endsley enough for opening their home to us. Our guest speaker Olivia Villarreal a former foster child that has advocated for foster youth since the age of 15 spoke to our guests about how their contributions to the youth in our community can make a difference. This year was a big success and we thank everybody who joined us in support of our foster care mentoring program. Through your generosity, we are building a road of hope and possibility for our foster youth.



Executive Director Judy Kindle & Guest Speaker Olivia Villarreal





Residential Treatment & Foster Care Art Show

Sierra Vista's residential treatment and foster care children put on an art show this past week. It was an amazing opportunity for our kids to share their artistic talents with all who came. Not only did the kids pick their best art to show off but they also made cookies and cupcakes for all to enjoy while viewing.

 You could truly recognize the value of the art show when you saw the excitement on each kids face as people congratulated them on the great artwork. The art projects ranged from watercolor, paint, charcoal, mixed media, and crafts. It was easy to see that a lot of these children have a lot of talent and were able to express what they loved through their work.

Salon Salon Supports Sierra Vista

Thank you Dr. Patrick Rhoades of Valley Wellness Center and the employees of Salon Salon in Modesto who raised money with creative Barbie dolls, creating amazing gift baskets, and providing beauty care all for Sierra Vista.

Stylists from Salon Salon created unique Barbie's that looked like celebrities, characters, and extreme costumes. These custom made Barbie's were auctioned during an open house party hosted by Salon Salon.

All of the money raised from the night for Sierra Vista will go towards the children and families in our community.

May is National Foster Care Month

Did you know there are over 58,000 children in foster care in California. These youth need stable, loving care until they either safely reunited with their families or establish other lifelong relationships with a nurturing adult.

May in National Foster Care Month. No matter how much time you have to give, you have the power to do something positive that will “Change a Lifetime” for a young person in foster care. For more information contact Sierra Vista Child & Family Services at (209) 491-0872.

Love Modesto loves Sierra Vista Family Resource Drop-In Center

Thank you to all of the Love Modesto volunteers that came out to help Sierra Vista Family Resource Drop-In Center with their community garden. With the help we received we were able to prepare the soil and plant a full garden full of flowers and vegetables. Love Modesto has brought our community together to make our home of Modesto a cleaner and more beautiful place.

Sierra Vista Family Resource Drop-In Center focuses on improving the well-being of children, youth, families, and communities. The goal is to ensure that the children and families in our area are provided access to programs and services. Sierra Vista Drop-In Center provides family support, parent education programs, support groups, a clothes closet, community garden, and additional services.

  

To learn more about the programs and services at the Sierra Vista Family Resource Drop-In Center call (209) 492-9785.

Brenda Athletics Family Fun Run

Thank you to Brenda Athletics for the Family Fun Run and all those who supported Sierra Vista. With the participation of your Family Fun Run it helps us serve our community.

20th Annual Golf Tournament

Sierra Vista Child & Family Services 20th Annual Golf Tournament was a great success! Thank you to all of those who came out and supported us.

All of our golfers were treated to amazing weather at the Turlock Golf & Country Club. The tournament was filled with friendly competition, great food, and drinks. Congratulations to Les Azevedo for breaking the glass and winning $250 from Don's Mobile Glass. After the tournament during the dinner we had a special presentation for all the sponsors who have supported us throughout the 20 years. What started out as a small tournament for valley nut processors has evolved into a major fundraising event for Sierra Vista.

We want to thank our Eagle Sponsors Pacific/Atlantic Crop Exchange and Winton-Ireland Strom & Green Insurance Agency for their continuous support to the children and families we serve in our community.

 Mark your calendars for next year’s tournament April 26, 2013

Dedication Ceremony March 29, 2012

What an emotional night! On March 29th we dedicated our administration building to John Hunter & Kim Wood-Hiatt. John and Kim’s combined leadership, commitment to caring and investment in the children and families we serve will leave a legacy for generations to come.

Sierra Vista joins Givv.org

Givv.org is a new way to make your impact with Sierra Vista Child & Family Services. Givv allows people the opportunity to donate any amount to organizations in a simple way. To learn more visit givv.org/why. Giving even as little as $1 a month will have an impact on the children and families we serve. Givv now to make a difference just search for Sierra Vista Child & Family Services.

12th Annual Hearts for Children Gala

Imagine walking right into The Wizard of Oz through Dorothy's house and being drawn in with the sharpest of details from the world of Oz. Sierra Vista wants to thank each and every one of the people that supported our Hearts for Children Gala. We exceeded our expectations and had an amazing evening. Without the help of our sponsors, guests, and volunteers this night would not have been such a huge hit. We look forward to seeing everybody again next year.

Judy Kindle -Executive Director presenting
award to Michael Lawrence of
 Pacific Atlantic Crop Exchange

Wizard of Oz Entrance

Bottle etched and hand painted
 by G3 of E.&J. Gallo Winery

Invest in the Future. Mentor A Child.

January is National Mentoring Month, and Sierra Vista Child & Family Services joins cities and states across the country in a call for caring adults to become mentors and make a difference in a young person's life.

During January's National Mentoring Month, the Community Moms Guild, a program of Sierra Vista Child & Family Services that encourages mentoring to foster youth, is recruiting volunteers to step up and become catalysts for creating a community of support for foster youth in our community. Sierra Vista will be holding an orientation and sign-up for those who are interested in being mentors on January 17th at 5:00 p.m. at 101 Park Avenue, Modesto CA.

Nationwide, more than 463,000 children live in foster care. In California, which has the largest foster care population than any other state. The number of foster youth has tripled in the last 20 years. Youth living in foster care are among our nation's most vulnerable young people. many have been abused or neglected, resulting in a multitude of emotional and developmental needs. Because the lives of these children in care are often wrought with instability and frequent moves, they can benefit tremendously from the consistent attention of a mature caring adult.

"Mentors serve as vital role models to our foster youth," said Mary Jo Mastin, Director of Foster Care services. "Every child in our care deserves a mentor, someone who is in his or her corner who can be a friend, and advisor, a shoulder to lean on, an open ear, and an inspiration. Our community can make a difference for these children by positively impacting the direction of their lives." Becoming a mentor is one of the best investments you can make for the future.

Each year since its launch, National Mentoring Month has enjoyed the strong support of the U.S. President and members of Congress. Additional prominent individuals who have participated in the campaign include: Maya Angelou, former President Bill Clinton, Clint Eastwood, Senator John McCain, Quincy Jones, General Colin L. Powell, Cal Ripkin Jr., and Bill Russell.

To Learn more about mentoring a child in foster care or attending the orientation on January 17th, please call (209)523-4573 for more information.