2022 Successes!
From Danielle Burke
Dear Friends of Gabilan Chapter Seneca,
Thank you for your continued support! This has been a very successful year, and one with some exciting changes. Kinship Center merged with Seneca Family of Agencies in 2011 to broaden the resources available to our youth, including mental health services, but they are just now adopting the Seneca Family of Agencies name for their Central Coast programs. To follow suit, Gabilan Chapter Kinship Center will now be Gabilan Chapter Seneca. The purpose of the annual Wine & Food Tasting will remain the same – to raise funds to benefit adoption, foster care and mental health services for our youth in San Benito County.
We are disappointed that we are not able to host our annual fundraiser at Paicines Ranch this year, but are happy to announce Swank Farms will be the new location for our 67th Wine & Food Tasting. They did not have a September date available for 2023 so please mark your calendar for another afternoon of fabulous wine, food and auction items on Saturday, August 19. Tickets will be available online starting in June.
With the funds raised from the 2022 Wine & Food Tasting, Gabilan Chapter was very pleased to present Seneca with a check for $80,000. A portion of the proceeds also allowed the following grants to be awarded to local non-profits with like-minded missions:
· $5,000 to CASA of San Benito County to support foster children
· $5,000 to Hollister YMCA for foster children in their programs
· $1,500 to United Way Stuff the Bus for backpacks for foster children
· $2,500 to Sunstreet Center to support their mental health program for children
· $2,500 to Emmaus House to help fund their mental health specialist for children
The William Medeiros, Jr Memorial Scholarship of $ 2,000 was awarded to a deserving young student to pursue an Associate Degree as a Therapist or Social Worker. Three $1,500 Gabilan Chapter Scholarships were awarded to students pursuing a degree in the areas of Psychiatry, Psychology and Counseling.
Gabilan Enrichment Fund provides supplemental funding to our foster and adoptive families. Grants totaling $4,800 were given in 2022, including a grant to Cooper’s Calling. Gabilan Chapter Seneca also provided 33 San Benito County foster families with gift cards to local restaurants totaling $4000 in honor of Foster Family Appreciation Month in May.
LOCAL OFFICE TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Seneca Family of Agencies is hiring a Mental Health Therapist to provide integrative therapy, family support and prevention services out of their Hollister office. The services will be available to youth and families residing in San Benito County. Watch for updates.
Thank you again for your continued support. It has been my pleasure to be Gabilan Chapter’s President this past year.
Sincerely,
Danielle Burke - 2022 President of Gabilan Chapter Seneca