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.

Family Night with Santa

SVCFS North Modesto Family Resource Center held a three-week long event to support family literacy and positive family interaction. Families were treated to a book reading from Santa featuring Christmas stories, photos with Santa, a holiday movie, and each family was given a book to take home courtesy of Casa De Modesto and Barnes & Noble.

Po'g Mahon Toy Run

Po'g Mahon Motorcycle Club fulfilled Christmas wish lists for all of the children in Sierra Vista’s residential treatment homes. This is always one of the highlights of the year for the children living in Sierra Vista’s residential treatment homes.

Make A Special Year-End Gift

 Our children and families need YOU this Holiday Season.


In a perfect world, every child would be nurtured by a loving family and friends, attend a challenging and exciting school, have guidance, encouragement and a secure home. But the sad reality is that not every child has these opportunities, and the thousands of children we serve have had devastating experiences with abuse and neglect. Almost all are in emotional turmoil.


But your gift will help Sierra Vista continue to be a place of healing… a place of hope for the children and families we serve… a place that is committed to caring for them… a place that champions their cause … a place that is empowering and supports them in becoming stronger and healthier… a place that helps rebuild futures and bring families and love together.

Your year-end gift will help us reach out to the nearly 24,000 children and families we serve each year and provide quality services that will help to stop child abuse and neglect, promote healthy development and strengthen families.
So please act now to bring the gift of hope and a smile to the face of a child. Please make your tax-deductible donation, of which 100% goes directly to the children and families we serve, in the reply enveloped provided.


Thank You from Sierra Vista Child & Family Services!


To make a donation visit:  

www.sierravistacares.org/donations-and-events/make-a-donation

Annual Holiday Dinner

Bowen Cardoza, Steve Gikas, Santa, Laurie Gikas, Judy Kindle

Thank You to Steve Gikas, his family and friends for their generosity and hosting once again the Annual Holiday Dinner for the children and families of Sierra Vista Child & Family Services. Every child attending received a gift and was surprised by a visit from Santa Claus himself!

Renegade Classics Toy Run

Thank you to Black Oak Casino & Renegade Classic of Modesto for the 5th Annual Santa Claus Toy Run for Sierra Vista Child & Family Services. Thank you to all those who donated toys and put a smile on the faces of children we serve this Holiday Season.

Leadership Modesto

Sierra Vista Child & Family Services was honered to host the 2011 Class of Leadership Modesto at our Kirk Baucher School.

Thank You Sutter Gould Medical Foundation For Your Generous Support

Paul DeChant, M.D., Judy Kindle,
Kim Bull, Charles Sanders

Sierra Vista Child & Family Services would like to thank Sutter Gould Medical Foundation for their generous support of our First Step Perinatal Drug and Alcohol Program. The First Step Program supports women and their children as they are trying to move from a life of drugs and alcohol to a healthier and safer life of sobriety and positive parenting.

The number of women and children needing this support has grown this past year due to the economy and the cuts in County services. The funding however has not increased. The support of Sutter Gould Medical Foundation makes it possible for Sierra Vista to offer smaller class sizes for these women and more room for the children to play and learn social skills. Classes for the women consist of parenting education, self esteem building, how to avoid the temptation of drug and alcohol, and basic living skills.

We cannot thank you and Sutter Gould Medical Foundation enough for your support. You have helped to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of women and children.

Hearts for Children Gala

A benefit for Sierra Vista Child & Family Services. Sierra Vista has been helping abused, neglected and emotionally disturbed children and families in crisis since 1972.


Saturday, January 28, 2012; Modesto Centre Plaza, 1000 L Street, Modesto, CA
 Hearts for Children Gala begins at 6:00 p.m.

Please contact 209-523-4573 for more information on our Hearts Gala.

November is National Adoption Month

Sierra Vista Child & Family Services observes National Adoption Month in November

In California, approximately 58,012 children live in some type of foster care setting and in Stanislaus County, there are 628 children in foster care. Many have spent most of their lives in this "temporary" situation, and have moved within the child welfare system more times than they care to remember.


“These are very real children who desperately need families of their own. Because the public is so often unaware of these kids and their needs, we would like to draw special attention to waiting children during National Adoption Awareness Month in the hope that we can unite many of these young people with permanent, adoptive parents,” said Judy Kindle, Executive Director of Sierra Vista Child & Family Services.


These waiting children come from a variety of backgrounds. Some have physical or mental disabilities; some are part of a sibling group; some are of African American, Native American, or Latino heritage; and many are older children or adolescents. The share a common bond: the desire to be someone’s son or daughter and to be part of a forever family.
We fervently believe there is a family for each waiting child. Our task is to make our waiting children more visible and bring them together with parents. These children are calling out-to be loved, to feel wanted, to share their potential and themselves... to be adopted, said Mary Jo Mastin, Director of Foster Care Services.

For more information regarding Sierra Vista Child & Family Services and our foster care program please call (209) 491-0872.