CAMARILLO, Calif., April 11, 2024 – Casa Pacifica marked National Volunteer Appreciation Week with a special town hall luncheon celebrating their guests of honor – the agency’s 2023 volunteer award winners. These awards are bestowed annually to outstanding volunteers in several categories in recognition of dedicated service to Casa Pacifica.
“Casa Pacifica is deeply honored to recognize our volunteers of the year. Their unwavering dedication to serving at-risk youth and families embodies the very essence of compassion and community. From providing music instruction to our kids to lending their culinary talents to our fundraising initiatives to devoting their time to help with campus and children’s events, their diverse contributions weave a tapestry of care and support. We are so grateful for their commitment, which enriches the lives of those we serve every day,” said Carrie L. Hughes, Chief Development Officer, Casa Pacifica.
In 2023, volunteers donated more than 3,000 hours of service to the agency, encompassing on-campus children’s events, holiday donation drives and campus beautification projects, among others.
The 2023 volunteers honored for their exceptional service include:
Water’s Edge, Community Volunteer of the Year – Named one of the best restaurants in Ventura County, Water’s Edge is a longtime supporter of Casa Pacifica. Chef Alex Montoya is a familiar face at the organization’s most popular fundraising events – the Top Chef Yummie Dinner and the Casa Pacifica Angels Wine, Food & Brew Fest (WF&B). He’s notched numerous wins as part of the WF&B’s annual Yummie Culinary Competition – which pits the region’s top culinary masters against one another in a blind tasting competition judged by media personalities, food and wine editors and chefs – in both the Sweet and Savory categories.
Water’s Edge has also participated in numerous fundraising initiatives for Casa Pacifica including the annual Dishing it Out for Charity challenge, in which Ventura County restaurants create or select a special dish and donate $2 for every dish sold to the charity of their choice.
Steve Wiley, Musicians on a Mission, On Campus Volunteer of the Year – Every week for the past several years, musician Steve Wiley has been providing guitar lessons to students attending Casa Pacifica’s Non-Public School, augmenting the piano, percussion and voice instruction that’s offered through the school’s music education program. A longtime volunteer with Musicians on a Mission, Steve helps youth master their favorite songs, learn music theory and advance at their own pace. Research has shown that music education stimulates children’s brains and enhances memory, attention, creativity and problem-solving skills.
Musicians on a Mission is a volunteer-run organization that provides access to music through instrument “gift aways,” mentorship and performing opportunities for youth.
Pam Grenier, Angel of the Year –Pam Grenier serves as the Vice President of Skeels & Fox Wealth Management and parlays her leadership and organizational skills to the benefit of Casa Pacifica’s youth and families. A longtime member of the Casa Pacifica Angels volunteer group, Pam has been involved with the organization for more than 20 years. She currently serves as the silent auction committee chair for the Angels Wine, Food & Brew Festival, Casa Pacifica’s largest annual fundraiser, and is an active member of the Angels Board. She, along with her husband, Sonny, are credited with helping the Festival grow from a small community event to Ventura County’s premier wine, food and beer festival, annually attended by thousands of guests. A former professional roller dance skater, Pam devotes much of her personal time to teaching roller skating at Skating Plus in Ventura, which she has done since 1978.
To learn more about Casa Pacifica’s volunteer program, visit www.casapacifica.org/volunteer
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Casa Pacifica Mission: Casa Pacifica inspires hope and nurtures mental health and well-being of children, young adults, and families to realize their full potential.
Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families provides assessment, clinical, medical, residential, and educational services to foster and at-risk children/youth struggling with complex mental health disorders due to past trauma and/or mental illness. The agency is the largest non-profit provider of children’s and adolescent mental health services in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties and administers 16 campus- and community-based programs and services designed to give youth, and their families, the tools they need to heal, rebuild and strengthen relationships, reengage with their educations, and overcome their negative emotional and behavioral challenges. The agency’s Camino a Casa program, available to clients with private insurance, provides behavioral health care to support youth ages 12 to 17 with emotional and behavioral issues, along with their families.
For more information about Casa Pacifica visit its website www.casapacifica.org or call the Development Department at (805) 445-7800.
About Casa Pacifica
Headquartered in Camarillo, California, Casa Pacifica is the largest non-profit provider of children’s and adolescent mental health services in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. It’s nationally accredited programs and services include residential treatment, therapeutic behavioral services, wraparound services, mobile crisis response, transitional youth services, school-based mental health services and foster care services along with a fully certified, diploma-granting Non-Public School for grades K-12. Casa Pacifica specializes in treating children and youth who struggle with complex mental health challenges including anxiety, depression and emotional dysregulation. Nearly 52,500 children have been admitted to one of its programs since its founding in 1994.
To learn more or to get involved, email info@casapacifica.org or call 805-366-4040.