A Unique Beginning Families form in many different ways—and for Lester and Vannessa, it all started with a television commercial. Vannessa had always carried a quiet hope in her heart: to one day foster to adopt. But she had never spoken to Lester about it. Then, one evening while visiting family and watching TV, a…
David joined Wayfinder’s Impact Council in August 2022, with the encouragement of his good friend and attorney, Jason Russell. “I asked Jason for suggestions. He suggested Wayfinder and I hopped on!” David was attracted to the mission as well as the opportunity to flex his empathy muscles. “I think there’s a large and growing group…
Make Your Impact Last: Give Through Your Donor Advised Fund Your Donor Advised Fund (DAF) offers a powerful way to support Wayfinder’s vital services for children and families. By recommending a grant to Wayfinder from your DAF, you can make an immediate impact while enjoying the tax benefits you’ve already secured. Your generosity ensures that…
“I’m exactly one year older than the organization.” For some people, generosity is a way of life. For Angela Brown, that desire to help began when she was very young. “You learn from your parents,” she says. And her father was a friend of Wayfinder’s founder, Norm Kaplan. So, in 1953, when he first opened…
Wayfinder’s annual event, “The Conversation,” focused on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Could you tell us a bit about why this topic was chosen this year? Our mission is deeply rooted in supporting the well-being of children, youth and families. We recognize that ACEs have a profound and lasting impact on individuals and communities. Understanding and…
And few people know Wayfinder’s Camp Bloomfield like Patricia. She’s been coming to camp from the beginning … back in the 1950s! She remembers those early days fondly. The fun, the adventure, and a few pranks figure in her stories. During her first couple of years, she was homesick. But by the third year, she…
I want to make an impact Whitney Baugher is a new member of the Community Council in Sacramento. She’s a Banking Center Manager for Community West Bank. A Sacramento native, she loves that her job allows her to be more involved with her community. But she wanted more opportunities to become involved in the community….
Angelo, age 4, was beginning to adjust to the idea that he was going to be adopted by his maternal grandparents because his mom had given up her parental rights. She was struggling with substance abuse. Claudia, a Wayfinder mental health therapist, was helping Angelo work through his emotions. Despite her struggles, Angelo’s mom, Emilia,…
The first hint of trouble came when 16-year-old Sergio was playing baseball. “Less central vision in my left eye was making it harder to see the ball,” he recalls. “I was getting hit in the face by the baseball.” As he sought answers, he began to lose central vision in his right eye. The rest…
