CALM’s annual fundraising luncheon, CALM at Heart, shattered records this year by raising more than $510,000 to support childhood trauma prevention and treatment services in Santa Barbara County.
At the Nov. 15 event to celebrate CALM’s work in the community, attendees heard from CALM staff, leaders, former clients, and community partners in a video about the organization.
Adolfo Garcia, COO at CALM, then shared stories about his experiences during his 20-year tenure with the organization.
“These stories are why I’m still here,” he said. “The work is meaningful and rewarding. My experiences at CALM have shown me how crucial it is to work with families as early as possible to prevent trauma before it happens.”
Alana Walczak, CALM’s president/CEO, spoke to the organization’s 54-year history of determining what works to create lasting change for children, families, and communities.
“If we can gain the trust of a child today and help them to heal, then that child has the capacity to grow up to become a healthy adult and a positive parent for their own child someday,” he said.
“That is when we change the trajectory of a family forevermore. In so doing, we change our community – by interrupting the intergenerational cycle of trauma. One child and one family at a time,” he said.
Walczak encouraged the audience to act as leaders in the community to stand up for what they believe in: “Our community’s children are looking to us. They depend on us. They rely on our strength and our collective action.
“It is truly up to us to create the world we want for ourselves, for each other, and for our children.”
For more about CALM and its mission to prevent childhood trauma, heal children and families, and build resilient communities, visit calm4kids.org.
CALM thanks its 2024 CALM at Heart sponsors:
Changemakers: Anonymous; Susan and Gary Gulbransen; Belle Hahn; Steve Lyons; Salin/Woloshyn Family Fund; Zegar Family Fund
Trailblazers: Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.; Amanda Lee Real Estate; Bartlett, Pringle & Wolf LLC; Casa Dorinda; Chevron; Roberta and Matt Collier; Jill and Sam Ellis; Carolyn and Andrew Fitzgerald.
Hutton Parker Foundation; McCann Mini Storage; Mission Wealth Management; Raymond James; Richard Russell; Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians; Katrina Sprague and Justin Fantl; Carrie Towbes and John Lewis
Innovators: Dave and Dina Cantin; CenCal Health; HUB International Insurance Services; Anna and Petar Kokotovic; Montecito Bank & Trust; Mosher Foundation; Allison Raine; Santa Barbara Foundation; Scott Vincent
Leaders: Accountix, Inc.; Anchor Point IT Solutions; Anonymous; Arlington Financial Advisors; Judith Bennett; Tim and Louise Casey; Fred Clough; Cottage Health; Goleta Mayor Pro Tem Luz Reyes-Martín; Kat Hitchcock; Chana and Jim Jackson.
Lisa Lloyd; NS Ceramic, Inc.; Vanessa Ringel and Gaspar Obando; Caroline and Dave Powers; The Riviera Ridge School; Nanci Robertson; Trudy L. Smith; CJ and Richard Yao; Zohar and Danna Ziv.
Wine Sponsor: Trippers & Askers