A Month of Hearts

I think we all know what happens in February. You see those little hearts everywhere. You can’t help but be reminded…it’s Heart Health Month! True, true. Valentine’s Day does happen as well, and that can be good for your health, but this is a whole MONTH versus a day. Let’s let those hearts linger everywhere, and let’s think about what makes a heart feel good.

What makes a heart healthy? Well, we hear increasingly about the heart-mind-body connection these days, so keeping all three in good shape can’t be a bad idea. In 2008, it was estimated that 15.8 million Americans took part in practicing yoga to keep their minds focused, their bodies healthy and their hearts open. If the Friday morning yoga class at the Fair Oaks Adult Activity Center in Redwood City is any indication, that number has grown rapidly in the last several years. On one of my many visits to the Friday yoga class, I spoke with Sansan, a yoga class participant who works as a flight attendant. She explained that yoga was something she could do easily while traveling. She tries to make the free Friday morning class whenever she can, but she can always practice by herself when she is in a different city. For Sansan, the yoga helps her keep her body and heart healthy, but it also provides a bit of a familiar routine when she is far from home. That has to be good for her heart.

Doing something physical isn’t the only way to do something good for your heart. Jack, one of our Senior Peer Counselors, knew that he’d be doing something helpful in the community by volunteering, and for many people, giving back is a way of feeling good. What Jack didn’t count on was how much he’d get from his role. “My client has taken me to parks I didn’t know existed…I’m actually learning about my community,” explained Jack when we spoke by phone recently. By volunteering, Jack has become more connected to his community and found out about new things. As a Senior Peer Counselor, I’m guessing that Jack’s Heart Health is doing pretty well!

If you would like more information about ways to keep your heart healthy, either through physical activities such as yoga or much needed volunteer acts, please contact info@peninsulafamilyservice.org or call 650-403-4300. We’ll be happy to help you with your heart-mind-body connection…and, as our logo shows, we’re about Heart Health all year ‘round!

The Love Boat

Enjoy Marisa’s thoughts about the upcoming Love Boat gala! ~ Chapin

For many people, it was the place to be on a Saturday night. The Love Boat  TV show offered a fun escape from the weekly grind and something to look forward to each week. So, with unashamed excitement, I have to let you know that IT’S BACK!!! The Love Boat is back! Well, at least to some extent. Let me explain…

One of our auxiliaries—amazing groups of volunteers that come together to host events and raise awareness of Peninsula Family Service—is holding their largest annual event on February 4^th. The Love Boat Gala hosted by Hillsborough Auxiliary to Peninsula Family Service is definitely going to be worthy of Captain Stubing. Held at the Pavilion by the Bay on Treasure Island, the Gala will have cocktails, a sumptuous dinner, live music by Double Funk Crunch, a raffle and a great auction with some incredible packages, including Be My Valentine…A Year of Romance. Think about this, Men. You would be guaranteed an exciting date for you and your partner each month, and all you would have to do would be to show up. How great is that?!?

The other really exciting thing about the evening, in my mind, is that money raised from the evening will help support a disabilities clinician in the child development and education programs at Peninsula Family Service. By helping identify developmental delays early, disabilities clinician ensures children receive help for special needs at an early age. This makes a big difference for kids. If you’ve ever seen the powerful Head Start advocacy video “One Window of Opportunity,” (we offer Early Head Start!) you’ve been reminded that kids learn more in their first 5 years than at any other time. If they are behind their peers in certain skills when they start formal education, there is a very real chance that they may never fully catch up. We have the power to change that with some early intervention.

While I know I’m going to love the Love Boat for the fun outfits, the awesome people involved and the beautiful views, I already love the Love Boat because of what it will help make possible for another generation of Peninsula children. I’m looking forward to spending another Saturday night with the Love Boat.

For more information about the Love Boat Gala or our programs, please contact info@peninsulafamilyservice.org or call 650-403-4300.

The New Year’s Buzz

Enjoy this great post from Marisa. Happy New Year! ~Chapin

I’ve got it. I’ve got the New Year’s buzz, when you feel like you have a fresh start. You can be the person you have always wanted to be. Those extra pounds are gonna be a distant memory, that long put-off adventure is really around the corner, that time that you promised yourself you’d make a difference in the community is NOT gonna  be spent watching reruns of How I Met Your Mother on the coach. It’s a New Year. Anything is possible.

To start my New Year off right, I followed through on a promise to a friend to make a loan through Kiva, and my loan will help a gentleman buy new tires for the car he uses to provide taxi service in his central European country. The fact that I got matched with him made me smile because I am such a fan of the Financial Empowerment programs we run at Peninsula Family Service. I can talk to a Ways to Work client in our programs and find out how the small loan we provided through our organization helped a family get a car and changed their lives. As I pushed the final button to confirm the transaction, it reminded me that the needs of people around the world are often the same. Microfinance programs are important around the world. I feel really lucky that I can work for an organization that helps change lives and empower people.

Next on my list is to figure out to give more to my community in terms of time. I’ve run out of re-runs, but I also have a feeling I could find something better to do with myself. I know we are always recruiting for our Senior Peer Counseling Program, which offers support and information to older adults in San Mateo County. I love that program! Coming from a small town, I really believe you need to band together when times are tough or someone is having a problem. While I’m a little too young to volunteer for that (you have to be 50 or older), I’m always impressed by the things I hear. One of our volunteers told me that he was experiencing his community MORE because of the things he and his client do, such as going for walks in parks. I hope I find a volunteer experience that is just as positive.

So, while I’m plotting my activities, I’d like to know what you are planning to do with your New Year. E-mail me at mbinder@peninsulafamilyservice.org and let me know what is inspiring you!

For more information about our programs, please contact info@peninsulafamilyservice.org or call 650-403-4300.

After the Turkey…

Thanks to my colleague Marisa for writing today’s blog! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! ~Chapin

Ok, I admit it. I ate too much turkey on Thanksgiving. Not too much in a Wow-I’ll-Skip-the-Next-Meal sort of way but too much in an Oh-My-Gosh-I-Don’t-Know-If-I’ll-Ever-Move-Again, Get-That-Food-Away-From-Me sort of way. As you can imagine, I spent a fair amount of time sitting/lying down on Thursday, which gave me a chance to think. Normally, I just run through my checklists of what I need to do for the day and week, but this time, as I rolled around with my distended stomach, I had a chance to ponder life and times…and turkey. Let’s face it, I wasn’t going to be going anywhere quickly. You have time for these sorts of things when you can’t move.

So, back to turkey. Thankfully, I didn’t have to cook this year (thank you, Friends!), but I did do a lot of observing of turkey. Those suckers are big! They are also heavy. You could do some serious damage to your toes if you dropped one. (Yes, deep thoughts, I know.) Anyway, that got me thinking, how would I have gotten a turkey home for my family if I didn’t have a car? This is not an improbable situation. For many years, I didn’t need one. As a college student, I lived close enough to my school and to work to walk everywhere. My weekly grocery shopping was a little limited because I could only buy what I could carry, and luckily, that never had to include a turkey. If I were really in need, I could often find a friend with a vehicle, but I knew better than to ask for favors or someone’s time during busy periods, like exams. In real life, that would probably translate to holidays. So, what if I needed to get a large turkey home, along with other groceries? Let’s make it even more complicated…what if I had to do all that with little children?

Now, even though I’ve been out of college for a few years, taxis are still a luxury in my eyes. So, scratch the taxi idea. There are buses and bikes, so they might be options. There is also the possibility of walking, but I don’t have a grocery store close to my home. I imagine I’d be trying to roll the thing down the street after the first two miles of carrying it. In that case, those imaginary kids of mine had better be ready to walk and help by their first Thanksgiving. Needless to say, none of these images led to a warm, happy family meal when I thought them through. I finally came to the conclusion that a car of some sort would really be the easiest way to get my imaginary turkey and imaginary children home safely.

As hard as I tried to avoid this, my deep thoughts led me into pondering my job. On the plus side, I didn’t automatically jump to my checklist of projects. Instead, it was back to the car idea. How would I obtain this car for my imaginary family? The first thing I thought of was our Ways to Work program, which offers low-interest car loans of up to $6,000 at a fixed interest rate of 8% over 30 months or less to parents of dependent children. I’d just been talking to one of our Ways to Work clients last week about her car and how it had helped give her more time with her three children. As someone who works full-time, has kids in three different schools and is attending classes for her Bachelor’s degree, time is a pretty precious commodity for Regina. (Read more about Regina’s story in our Winter 2011 newsletter.) Hmmm, I thought, a car would DEFINITELY give me more time than would my multi-mile turkey roll.

The thought of a car also got me onto the topic of travel. I once heard that Thanksgiving is the biggest holiday for travel. Nationally, AAA projected a total of 42.5 million travelers this Thanksgiving. For me, growing up in a rural area, I either drive 10 hours to get to my family or have to fly and then drive 2.5 hours. Only recently was a shuttle route started. For the majority of my life away from home, I would have been stuck in limbo had my parents or their friends not been willing to claim me at the airport hours from home. So really, a car would not only be necessary for helping me avoid a very mashed, bruised, road rash turkey, it really has to come into play if I want to see my parents. Now that I have a car, I often take my ability to see them for granted.

As much as I love trains, long walks and biking, a car makes a huge difference in my life, even when my imaginary children aren’t expecting that imaginary turkey at Thanksgiving. I know that, for the people who participate in Ways to Work, a car often helps them avoid work absences and tardiness, and perhaps most importantly, gives them more time with family. As I looked past my stomach to survey my wonderful friends—my San Francisco family— I decided to add an extra, silent thanks for a job which allows me to help others through programs like Ways to Work. Pretty cool.

For more information on Ways to Work, please contact info@peninsulafamilyservice.org or call 650-403-4300.

The Pumpkin Patch Project, or How I Got My Holiday Groove Back

The magic of a homemade pumpkin patch - for him and for me.

As the holidays are getting closer and closer (how in the world is it mid-November already?), I have to admit that I’m getting more and more excited. Granted, I’m too old to qualify for gifts from Santa, and I know how much *fun* holiday shopping can be when you are pressed for time. Still, I can’t help thinking there will be something magical about the holiday season.

Part of my excitement has to do with working on a site with one of our Child Development Centers. Earlier this month, when I was wishing I could take the kids to a pumpkin patch, I decided to do as Project Runway’s Tim Gunn would say, “Make it work.” I bought a few pumpkins and a mini-bale of hay from Walgreens so that the kids could get into the holiday spirit. They got to play with the pumpkins and sit for pictures on the hay, which, to be honest, may have been more fun for me than for them. They had me cracking up!

Anyway, their enthusiasm for the holidays, and MY enthusiasm over their enthusiasm, made the holidays feel special this year. So often I get bogged down in my “To Do” lists over cards, gifts, work projects before we all take off for vacation, decorating, etc…the holidays were starting to lose their luster. Hanging out with the kids brought some of the magic back.

Focusing on them and my PPP—Pumpkin Patch Project—got me thinking, too. I was able to bring something to them that they might not have experienced otherwise, and that reminded me of something else. Many people this holiday season might not be able to get somewhere or celebrate because of age, health, lack of funds, etc. That doesn’t mean the holidays can’t be brought to them. Call your local non-profit (say, for example, PENINSULA FAMILY SERVICE, St. Vincent de Paul, Shelter Network, or Samaritan House) and see how you can help. Maybe check in with an elderly neighbor who doesn’t have family nearby. The holidays can be magical, even if you aren’t on Santa’s list. The PPP definitely helped me get my holiday groove back.

The Invisible Group: LGBT Older Adults

Meet Arquimides, LGBT Program Coordinator for the Senior Peer Counseling Program

Life can be really difficult. You know that song I Get By with a Little Help from My Friends? What if you didn’t feel like your friends knew how to support you? How isolating would that be? Whenever I think about that, I have a renewed appreciation that I live in the bay area, a place with lots of services and a hub for LGBT advocacy. So I was excited to learn about a very unique service that Peninsula Family Service provides – counseling for older adults in the LGBT community.

I’ve heard about a good amount of resources for LGBT youth, but I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of anything for the older adult population. And I can imagine that population must be dealing with some unique issues. Whenever I hear about LGBT youth getting bullied today, I think about how it was probably even harder 40 years ago, especially without support like the It Gets Better campaign. Growing up in an earlier era when it was even harder to be out as an LGBT person must have had an impact on today’s older adults.

To find out more about the program and the challenges LGBT older adults are dealing with, I sat down with Arquimides, the manager of the LGBT component of our senior peer counseling program. Arquimides told me some of the most common challenges LGBT seniors face – isolation, loneliness, and depression. Many of them do not have family support and look to friends for someone to lean on, and the senior peer counseling program provides that support.

There are a variety of types of people in the group – some of them aren’t out, some identify as LGBT but don’t necessarily connect with others, and some are active in the community. The group welcomes all types of people. The things they do have in common are that they identify as LGBT, are over 55 years old, and live in San Mateo County (there are several resources in San Francisco and Silicon Valley and not as many in San Mateo County).

I was shocked to learn that the senior peer counselors are all volunteers! These dedicated volunteers go through a nine-week training on topics such as depression, understanding loss, suicide awareness, and cultural competency. After they are trained, they are paired up with older adults seeking support, and meet with them once a week for an hour. The newest piece of the program is the group component – they’ve formed a lunchtime group that meets once a month. Being a senior peer counselor is definitely a big commitment, but I think it must be pretty rewarding, too.

This is a very exciting time for the program. With Arquimides on board, the group is getting more active and is looking for more participation on both sides. They even recently landed on a name for the additional group that has formed – Peninsula Community Connections for LGBT Seniors. If you or anyone you know would like to participate, feel free to contact Arquimides at (650) 403-4300 ext. 4320 or apacheco@peninsulafamilyservice.org. He told me the next group meeting will be on November 16, so contact him soon if you’d like to attend.

To be able to talk to someone dealing with the same challenges as you are must be a great relief. I know I wish I had support like that. I’m quite proud of Peninsula Family Service for identifying the older adult population, and especially the LGBT older adult population, as one that could use support. Because we all could use extra support sometimes.

How to Live Like a Queen at 95

Felicia at one of her Start2Save classes

To most of us in our twenties, retirement isn’t a word in our day to day vocabulary. Sure, I always hear that it’s never too early to start saving for retirement, and I’ve always deposited into my work’s retirement plan… but that’s all I do. I don’t know how much is in my Fidelity Account. I know I get an email monthly telling me my account statement is ready… and that’s about it.

But when I learned that this week is National Save for Retirement Week, and heard that Peninsula Family Service has a program called Start2Save that helps with beefing up your emergency savings account, I decided to learn a little bit more about the program and what I could potentially do to jumpstart my own savings – for emergencies and for retirement.

Start2Save is a combination of classes, resources, and even a deposit of $1,000 into your emergency savings account. And it’s all free. I thought it was too good to be true, so I asked Felicia, a participant in the program, to tell me about her experience.

Felicia told me that she’s been putting $50 in her savings account each month since May – and come April, when she graduates from the program – a group called Opportunity Fund will deposit $1,000 into her account. I was excited about that – who doesn’t like free money? She took some classes about savings, budgeting, and investment. She’s come out of the classes a new woman.

Felicia has stopped eating out so much to save money. She also has significantly decreased the number of payday loans she takes out. I don’t know anything about payday loans, so Felicia explained to me that you need to pay $45 within 15 days of taking one out – so just saving $50 each month at the start more than makes up for multiple loans.

I asked Felicia what she learned from the program. “Discipline,” she said. “Before, I was living beyond my means. Now I stick to my budget.” With this new emergency savings account, Felicia can feel confident about moving forward with saving for retirement. She even has a side business she is starting, outside of the regular workday. With the money from her business, she hopes to give back. “If I make more money, I can help more people,” she said.

All this talk about saving for retirement made me curious about my own future. In my online research I stumbled upon the AARP Retirement Calculator (you can check it out here). I’m in my late twenties now and not married. If I continue saving at the rate I am (basically putting away my birthday money each year plus the Fidelity stuff), I won’t be able to retire until I’m 78! If I want to retire by the time I’m 67, I should be saving $3,400 each year. That’s a lot more than I get for my birthday, that’s for sure. It was very enlightening. Something needs to change, whether I spend less on food or make more with a side job. Felicia was lucky that she had Start2Save to help her along the way.

I’m happy National Save for Retirement Week exists – I know I’m taking this week to look at my finances and think about how I can save for the future. I read one statistic that I found interesting, and true in my case: outside of employer-sponsored plans, employees save virtually nothing. Doesn’t sound like the best way to get ready for life after retirement, does it?

The Importance of Volunteers (And Holiday Entertaining)

I’ve volunteered before and never thought too much of it. But I recently heard a statistic that blew me away. I just learned that if volunteers were paid, they’d receive 43% of the nonprofit sector’s wages! That’s huge. Volunteers are an integral part of nonprofit operations.

We’re lucky to have many different types of volunteers here. Just about a week ago, on Saturday, September 24, a group of volunteers from Oracle came out and helped us clean our outside play area for one of our child development centers. Yes, I said Saturday. I don’t know about you, but I was definitely sleeping in Saturday morning! It’s really cool that they chose to use their time that way.

While one time projects like that are important, Peninsula Family Service has long-term volunteers that function unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. They’re groups called auxiliaries, and they put on events and raise awareness for Peninsula Family Service. We have three active auxiliaries: Hillsborough, Red-Car-Bel, and Foothill. The groups work tirelessly for us throughout the year – Red-Car-Bel even manages and staffs (with volunteers, of course) Family Tree, a second hand shop in San Carlos. All proceeds from the store are in turn donated to Peninsula Family Service. I’ve only been there once, and I’m really only one to shop for what I need, but I ended up walking out with a beautiful tablecloth and oil and vinegar bottles. And my coworker bought these cute pants that were such a steal! Family Tree really has some great finds – I hope to go back soon.

There’s a Foothill Auxiliary event coming up, and I’m curious to attend and see what the energy is like in the room. It’s called Holidays on a High Note, and it seems like a really creative event. From what I understand, designers will have displays set up that show how you can decorate your home when entertaining guests. There will be tablescapes, floral artwork, and even a how-to demonstration by Keith Shaw, who’s won awards world-wide for his floral arrangement work. If you want to come, I included some information about it at the end of this post. Just make sure you buy tickets in advance – I hear they require reservations. Come say hello if you come by, I’d love to meet you!

A Floral Arrangement at Holidays on a High Note in 2009

I’m glad Holidays on a High Note is coming up. I don’t know about you, but I definitely could use some guidance about making my place more festive for the holidays. And I’m not just talking about hanging a wreath on the front door – I want something innovative and new. I have a feeling that Holidays on a High Note will be the perfect place to get the latest tips.

Beyond the designer displays and how-to presentation, there’s going to be a lunch and an auction. The best part – all proceeds from ticket sales, auctions and 20% of boutique sales will benefit Peninsula Family Service! Wow. It’s astonishing to me that such a big event is being put on solely by volunteers out of their own generosity. We have so much to be grateful for with this partnership.

I can’t wait to go to Holidays on a High Note and meet more Auxiliary members. I’d like to meet more general volunteers at Peninsula Family Service, for that matter. I can’t stop thinking about that 43% statistic that I mentioned at the beginning of the post – even though I don’t necessarily know yet what volunteers are doing or how many hours they are putting in, clearly, volunteers are a big part of what we do! It makes me think about my own volunteer work that I’ve done – I guess it made a bigger impact than I ever realized. I wonder where I should volunteer next?

Holidays on a High Note will be next Monday, October 17 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Menlo Circus Club in Atherton. Tickets are $100 per person, and advanced reservations are required. For tickets or more information, contact Eileen Sullivan at 415-309-3412.

Why You Should Care About National Employ Older Workers Week

Susan Houston, Diane Young, Brenda Guidry-Brown, and Manny Chargualaf at Winners 2011

Last week I finally got the chance to attend my very first Winners Celebration! It was a beautiful evening, with some very heartfelt stories. I must admit I got teary eyed hearing about some of the honorees. They really have overcome such great challenges.

One of last night’s honorees was Diane, this year’s Older Adult Services Winner. She has an amazing story. While the economy was still booming, Diane chose to leave her job and temp for a while. I really admire her courage for taking that step – she clearly had her priorities in order, feeling like she needed to refresh her life after feeling burnt out after a while. Unfortunately that’s when the economic downturn happened, making it impossible for her to find steady work. After using up her savings and selling her car, she was forced out of her apartment. That’s when she found Peninsula Family Service.

Diane is now in a long term internship with Peninsula Family Service in the Older Adult Services department. I don’t know much about our Older Adult Services department, so after I heard her story at Winners, I asked her to tell me a little bit about what she does. It’s great timing, because I also found out this week is National Employ Older Workers Week.

I’ve never heard of National Employ Older Workers Week, so I did a little research and found out that it’s an official week designated by the U.S. Department of Labor. Their website says it recognizes the vital role of older workers in the workforce. Diane is clearly the woman to talk to about this week – she knows firsthand about the challenges older workers face.

Diane helps older adults, or as she likes to call them, mature workers, find jobs through workshops and one-on-one appointments for resume or interview assistance and tips. I haven’t been able to see her in action yet, but judging from our chat, I bet she’s a very dynamic presenter. She said she feels she is a silent job partner. “I try to boost their ego,” Diane said. “I don’t do their job search for them, but I hope to help their self-esteem.”

I’ve never really thought about it before, but older workers face age discrimination and other stereotypes, and Diane is there to help. “There’s a myth that older workers might retire soon after you hire them,” Diane said. “But there’s the same chance that a younger worker might go on maternity leave or their spouse might be transferred.”

In fact, Diane shared that older adults have much to offer. “They have a great work ethic. “They’re dependable and will be on time every day. They also offer both life and professional experience.”

It’s easy to see Diane’s passion for this work. She herself experienced what she helps others do in her work every day. She was in their shoes, so she’s clearly very committed to helping older workers. “National Employ Older Workers Week should be every week!” Diane said. “It gives the opportunity to bring this issue into focus.”

I won’t soon forget Diane’s amazing story of triumph that was shared at last week’s Winners, and I was very happy to learn that there’s an official week to recognize Diane and others working with this cause. This is an important week, and it’s great that Peninsula Family Service can offer so many services to combat the challenges older adult workers face.

I asked Diane how she feels being selected as a Winner. “I feel honored,” she said. “It’s a privilege to represent Peninsula Family Service.”

I know I feel privileged to have spent time with Diane. I’m sure everyone else at Peninsula Family Service feels the same.

What’s the Deal with Winners?

Diane, the 2011 Older Adult Services Winner

As a newbie to Peninsula Family Service, all I’ve been hearing over the past month is Winners, Winners, Winners. And so, I couldn’t help but wonder – what’s the deal with Winners? What is it, and why do I care?

So, I went to Peninsula Family Service president Laurie Wishard to ask her. Her answer to my question – who cares about Winners – made me eager to go next week and see for myself.

Next week’s Winners Celebration, which will be held on Thursday, September 15 at 6:00 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Cabaña Hotel in Palo Alto, will honor the Moberg and Callaghan families. I’m excited to learn more about their story. From what I’ve heard, they’ve opened their hearts and helped others in a big way – so big that they’ve gained two new members of the family. They have gone above and beyond simply contributing to the community. They truly create a new definition of family.

I’m also very excited to hear more about the Winners’ stories. Winners are chosen from Peninsula Family Service’s four main programs – Child Development, Financial Empowerment, Older Adult Services, and Family Services. Everyone who has been chosen as a Winner has overcome challenges, demonstrated empowerment, and represents Peninsula Family Service’s values. I’ve gotten a chance to read their stories, and they’re inspiring. I can’t wait to see their faces when they receive their award.

I asked Laurie what Winners means to the community. “Winners is an uplifting event,” Laurie told me. “For me and others, it’s an annual experience of renewal.” Laurie told me that Winners celebrates people who have gone through tough times and challenges but have successfully turned their circumstances around with someone’s help. “Whether it’s a teacher, neighbor, friend, or Peninsula Family Service, all the Winners have had someone help them. Hearing their stories is emotional, and it warms your heart.”

Laurie told me about Jessica, a past Winner. She was a teen mom who cared about her kids and kept a stable relationship with their father. Jessica proved herself to be a hard worker and ended up working for Peninsula Family Service as a receptionist. She honed her professional skills, gained polish, and has since progressed in her career with a more advanced position.

Laurie also told me that Winners was founded and implemented by volunteers – Michael Berube, Sharon Dolin, Gary Arabian, Mike Fazio, and Bruce Thompson. This group came up with the concept, presented the idea, worked hard to get it off the ground, and supported its continuation. There aren’t many nonprofit organizations that can say volunteers came up with the concept of one of their big events – it’s inspiring.

Winners has gone through some changes in the last sixteen years, and I can see why. The event used to be a breakfast showcasing high school students. It’s now a dinner that highlights clients who exemplify our values and goals, encompassing more of our population and allowing us to highlight some pretty remarkable clients.

I can feel the excitement in the office as we move closer to Winners next week. Laurie is clearly very passionate about this event, and shared with me something powerful that a Winner had said after being honored.

“When I was called a Winner, it made me realize… I’m a person of value.”

Being so new to Peninsula Family Service, I can’t wait for this year’s Winners Celebration. It will give me a chance to learn more about the lives being changed every day through Peninsula Family Service programming. I can’t think of a better orientation to the organization.

*For more information about this year’s Winners Celebration visit our website at www.peninsulafamilyserivce.org. To purchase tickets, contact Lynn Engel at lengel@peninsulafamilyservice.org or (650) 403-4300.