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Explore our Giving Guide and donate to one (or more!) of the amazing organizations making an impact right here at home. Let’s make this #GivingTuesday unforgettable!
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Ashlyn Neavel, Marketing Manager at Olive Crest, to learn more about how the nonprofit supports children and families in crisis.
Olive Crest
Question: What is the name of your nonprofit, and what is its mission?
Answer: Olive Crest; Olive Crest is dedicated to preventing child abuse by strengthening, equipping, and restoring children and families in crisis… One Life at a Time.®
Q: How long has your organization been serving the community, and who founded it?
A: Olive Crest was founded in 1973 by Dr. Don and Lois Verleur.
Q: How is your nonprofit primarily funded, and what are its biggest needs right now?
A: Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus receives government funding, but with the help of generous donors, Olive Crest is able to offer much more. The Hope Refuge Campus offers the highest level of care that a state-licensed facility can offer, which addresses the complex trauma of exploitive sexual abuse. Through therapeutic and relational support, the goal is for each girl to heal from the trauma of their abuse, be a part of a strong, loving family, and get connected to a community of support that will help them forge a pathway to success.
Currently, our greatest need is to renovate and modernize the campus to be able to serve more minor girls. The current facility is nearly 60 years old, and general wear and tear has started to show. In addition to renovating the campus, increased demand for services has stretched Olive Crest’s staffing and resources, so additional funding would provide counselors, therapists, and case managers to work directly with the girls as they combat the trauma they have endured.
Q: How do you allocate your funding to support your mission?
A: All funds raised for Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus go directly towards the needs and operating costs of the facility. This six-month residential program operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing hope, restoration, and resources for healing. All needs that arise for the girls, including clothing, food, safe/secure housing, medical/dental services, and recreational activities are provided during their time in the program.
A comprehensive and nurturing education environment is onsite which allows these girls to continue their education and reach their full academic potential in a comfortable setting, while continuing their treatment and recovery.
Q: How can people get involved with your nonprofit or volunteer?
A: Olive Crest believes that “Everyone Can Do Something…What’s Your Something?” Through various drives, community events, monetary donations, or volunteering your time, everyone has the power to make a difference in their community and have an impact on this under-served population. Volunteer opportunities could include hosting an art activity, mentoring, recreational opportunities, or music classes.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities or how you can get involved, please contact Sally Cook, Director of Development and Community Engagement at sally-cook@olivecrest.org.
Q: What sets your nonprofit apart from similar organizations?
A: For over 51 years, Olive Crest has transformed the lives of 250,000 children and their families. We work tirelessly to meet the individual needs of kids in crisis by providing safe homes, counseling, and education for both youth and parents. Our 98% stability rate is a testament to the lifelong commitment and unwavering compassion that the Olive Crest family maintains to the children and families we serve, even after they have graduated from our programs.
Additionally, Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus is one of the only programs that services minor girls who have been sex trafficked. Most facilities are for women, 18 years or older.
Finally, all staff are Trauma Informed trained, Commercially Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) trained, and hold a Bachelor’s Degree at the minimum.
Q: Could you share a story or two about individuals whose lives have been positively impacted by your organization?
A: At just 15 years old, Mia had already endured more pain and hardship than most people experience in a lifetime and was caught up in a dangerous cycle of sexual exploitation. Recognizing that Mia needed a safe place to heal and rebuild, she was referred to Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus – a place where survivors can find safety, understanding, and the tools to move forward.
Upon arriving at Olive Crest, Mia was quiet and guarded. Years of abuse had left her feeling unworthy of trust or love, and she struggled to let others in. Her past had been filled with manipulation and fear, and she had developed tough defenses to protect herself. The staff at the Hope Refuge Campus could see her pain and knew that Mia’s journey would take time, patience, and unwavering support.
Mia was welcomed into a community that understood her struggles and met her with compassion. Slowly, she began trauma counseling and joined group therapy, where she realized she wasn’t alone. She connected with other girls who had been through similar experiences, and for the first time, Mia felt like she didn’t have to hide. She also resumed her education through on-site schooling and discovered a love for art, which became a powerful outlet for expressing her emotions.
In this supportive environment, Mia began to envision a different future for herself. She worked closely with her therapist to build healthier boundaries and gain a sense of self-worth. The staff helped her establish routines and goals, and each small step she took was celebrated.
Today, Mia is enrolled in a local high school, where she’s making friends and participating in school activities. She’s focused on her studies and dreams of going to college one day. With the support of Olive Crest, Mia is healing from her past and working toward a future she never thought possible. She now believes she deserves a life filled with safety, respect, and hope.
Q: What makes your organization trustworthy for donors, and are there other ways people can support your cause beyond donations?
A: For over 51 years, Olive Crest has been meeting the needs of some of the most vulnerable children and families, becoming one of the leading providers of services for children and families in crisis. Established, proven, and respected, Olive Crest serves 5,000 children and families each day through the Western United States.
Year after year, our programs meet the highest national standards in delivering optimal services to the community and surpass national average for key outcomes, including Safety, Well-Being, Stability, and Permanence.
Olive Crest has been accredited by the Council on Accreditation since 2001; and received the California Nonprofit of the Year Award in 2019, by State Senator Richard D. Roth. Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus is operating at the highest level of licensing provided by the state of California.
Q: Can you highlight one immediate goal and one long-term vision your nonprofit aims to achieve in the next year?
A: One short-term goal for Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus is renovate and upgrade the campus in order to service more young girls.
Long-term, it is the goal to establish a Transitional Housing program. Transitional Housing is a comprehensive program that will help these high-risk girls forge pathways to economic stability and self-sufficiency. This is available to girls who have graduated from Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus and will include safe, affordable housing and supportive case management to help them achieve their life goals.
While a part of this program, girls will participate in at least 4 hours of Independent Living Skills (ILS) classes, which include areas of financial literary and budgeting, time management and healthy living, and workforce development training. The girls will be encouraged to continue their education, whether it be a GED, trade school, or community college/university.
Click here to support Olive Crest’s mission to prevent child abuse by strengthening, equipping, and restoring children and families in crisis.
Check out Noozhawk’s Guide to Giving for a full list of nonprofits to donate to this giving season.
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