Brian Barreto has a long history with Wayfinder, dating back to 2008 when it was known as Junior Blind. In his position in external affairs for California American Water, Wayfinder’s water utility, he has been at the forefront of his company’s partnership with Wayfinder. Brian recalls volunteering at Wayfinder’s athletic events, which his company sponsored….
Would you like to help support Wayfinder Family Services without changing your will or parting with any assets now? You can do this by naming Wayfinder Family Services as a beneficiary of certain assets or accounts you own. This “beneficiary designation” is one of the simplest ways to make a gift to us. It is…
Over the years, donors like you have found that a charitable gift annuity can be a great way to support Wayfinder Family Services and receive a lifetime of fixed amount payments in return. Thanks to a recent change in rates, the charitable gift annuity just got better! Wayfinder Family Services can now offer you an…
We stand up in support of equity and social justice, and we stand against injustice and racism. We strive to build an equitable world for our clients and staff. Take the time to put yourself in our shoes. And think about what you wanted as a child … When a child enters the foster care system,…
Jay Allen, president of Wayfinder Family Services, will become president and chief executive officer of the organization on July 1, 2023. He brings considerable experience to his new role and an unwavering commitment to children. What is the greatest challenge faced by children and families today? Poverty, systemic racism and the impact of COVID, combined…
Dear Friends, I will be retiring at the end of June 2023 after 17 rewarding years leading Wayfinder Family Services and a total of 31 years as a nonprofit CEO. This was a decision that I made several years ago, and I worked with our board of directors to ensure a smooth, seamless transition. While…
Fifteen-year-old Daron is a happy teenager who loves music. Also, he has cerebral palsy and partial sight. He is nonverbal and says only a few words, so he uses a communication device to let his devoted family know what he needs—and to joke around. Daron requires assistance with all the basic functions of life, like…
How has Wayfinder grown and changed with recent changes in the world? We have changed for the better. We chose our name—Wayfinder—because it’s about moving forward. We’ve always been an organization that keeps progressing. One example is in our child development program for young children with vision impairment or multiple disabilities. Initially because of the…
If you have vision loss and don’t have a reference for color or shape, what are your dreams like? Nick Aull, then a teenage counselor-in-training at Wayfinder’s Camp Bloomfield, wondered about this and more regarding the life experiences of people with visual impairment. A camper named Zion told Nick that his dreams were audio-focused. “Hearing…
“I knew I had to step up and be the dad I needed to be for Liam, says his father, Ryan. “Wayfinder helped me out a lot.” After a divorce, Ryan became a single dad to Liam, who had been born three months prematurely, weighing only 2 pounds. Liam was in the neonatal intensive care…
