Beta Foster Care Newsletter Volume I Issue 1.pub

Beta Foster Care
Always For The Children
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Advisory Board
David Weiss, President
David Weiss Designs
Advisory Board President
Wayne Basist,
Attorney
Valerie Brooks
Representative for Mimi Walters
BFC Event Coordinator
Connie Burns,
Soroptimist International of
Laguna Niguel
Chris M. Ferrigno,
Community Volunteer
Cindy Geyer,
Community Volunteer
Janice Glaab,
Glabb and Associates
Paul Glaab,
Laguna Niguel City Council
Member
Nita Guell
BFC Event Chair 2007
Karen Han
Wells Fargo Bank
Crystal Kochendorfer,
School Board Member CUSD
Linda Lindholm
Laguna Niguel City Council
Member
Pat MacDonald
Community Volunteer
Bill Phillips,
City Council of Aliso Viejo
Jim Thor,
Mayor Rancho Santa Margarita
JANUARY 2007
The New Advisory Board
By Chris M. Ferrigno
T
he new Advisory
Board met December
1 for a four hour
retreat to define our
goals for Beta Foster Care. The
newly elected President is David
Weiss, who was the past President of the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce, and a current
member of the Lions and the
Rotary Club. He is a dedicated
family man who lives in Laguna
Niguel and is dedicated to children’s causes. Board members
are from the local areas of Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Rancho
Santa Margarita and San Juan
Capistrano. The goals for the
new Advisory Board are to raise
funds for programs which benefit
foster care children; secondly, to
find warm, loving families to become foster
parents through various
recruitment strategies.
Events planned this
year include the Annual
Fundraiser (usually held
in June), a Chalk Walk,
and other various local
L-r Linda Lindholm, Karen Han, Connie Burns, Jody Vaughn, Craig
Zacuto, Valerie Brooks Nita Guell, Rear Bill Phillips, Chris Ferrigno,
David Weiss
children’s events.
********
David Weiss, President
David Weiss of David Weiss Designs- (a jewelry designer and
distributor), is the past President of the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Rotary Club and the
Lions Club and has championed children’s causes for many
years.
David Weiss
Frank Wasko
Southern California Edison
Meg Waters,
Magnuson and Waters
Associate Board Members
Mimi Walters, Assemblywoman
District Assembly 73
Anna Bryson
School Board Member CUSD
Maria Lazaruk,
C R & R Recycling & Refuse
Dan Weeks, Vice President
Wells Fargo Bank
Staff
Craig Zacuto,
Executive Director
Team Kids
T
eam Kids is a volunteer group which
worked with Alderwood Basics Plus Elementary School in Irvine, plus the help of
25 other individuals to provide gifts for
our Foster Care Children. There were about 16 youth
from Team Kids and the High School Youth Action
Team participating along with others. This is an annual event for Team Kids.
The “Team Kids” wrapped the gifts and they were
PAGE 2
BETA FOSTER CARE
The Stars Come Out tonight, A Chocolate Extravaganza
By Chris Ferrigno
Dan Weeks and Lara Anderson
Soroptimist International of Laguna Niguel
L-r Elizabeth Makabali, June Gordon, Connie Burns,
Michelle Verdugo, Craig Zacuto, Linda Bolles, Caryn Burns, Becky Grant,
Harriet and Lionel Gillerman Rear—Brian Hildebrand
Sheriff Mike Carona and Eric Ruth
T
Cathryn DeYoung, Craig Zacuto and Lara Anderson,
Assemblyman Todd Spitzer and Lara Anderson
Dan Weeks, Imran Patel, Colleen & Gary Mason
Linda Lindholm and Connie Burns
Jay Johnstone and Assemblyman Todd Spitzer
he annual fundraiser was held
June 3, 2006 at the El Niguel
Country Club in Laguna Niguel, California.
It was truly a night to remember with Community service awards for the following people: Jay Johnstone 96 Angeles Baseball Club
Alum; Todd Spitzer- Assemblyman, California Assembly District 71: Curt Curtoon
Visca Principal, Moulton Niguel Elementary
School and Cartoonist On Fox- 3. In addition, our keynote speaker was Eric Ruth
who was as a child in the Beta Foster care
system. He spoke about his experiences and
the impact it made on his life. Sheriff Mike
Carona was a nice surprise to our event.
Craig Zacuto and Curt Visca
Paul, Janice & Molly Glabb and Sheriff Mike Carona
The event had many items for their silent
auction in addition to some wonderful live
auction items including a week in a luxurious
Big Bear Cabin. An overflowing chocolate
fountain and a martini bar added to the funparty like atmosphere. The fundraiser raised
approximately $66,000 which goes directly
into the recruitment of new foster care parents and direct services for foster care children.
The event was sponsored primarily by Wells
Fargo Bank, with much thanks to Dan
Weeks. Other major sponsors included
Linda and Wayne Lindholm; Chapman and
Associates.
Our next fundraiser will probably be held
also in June and promises to be just as exciting. We are hoping that with some insider
connections Bruce Willis and his band
might provide the entertainment.
Assemblyman Todd Spitzer and Caryn Burns
Jim Thor
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
PAGE 3
Executive Directors Corner
Success in Foster Care—Part One
O
ne of the most common
questions I hear is “how
successful is foster care?”
To answer this question
we must examine our journey in foster
care, the destination, and making a
difference in the life of a child lasting
into adulthood. A three part answer is
needed with our focus on the children
themselves.
A primary goal in our journey is to provide a safe, caring, temporary home for children. These children are experiencing enormous stress
and our foster families help to normalize their lives. I see success on this
level each day and it is inspiring. The
Craig Zacuto is the executive
director and founder of Beta
Foster Care
By Craig Zacuto, M.A, MFT
foster children I
am privileged to
know fill my office with laughter. I only need
to greet them
with simple attention and kindness. Is there a
greater testimonial to success
than the warmth
of their smiles
back to me?
This journey includes foster
parent satisfaction. At a recent foster
parent meeting I heard several heart
Spot Light: The Chilton Foster Family
J
en & Dave Chilton love kids.
Jen is affectionately called “JBird” by almost every child that
enters their home. Neighborhood kids
flock to Dave due to his playful and
fun-loving personality. However, the
Chilton family takes their love for kids
a few steps further by opening their
home to foster children of Orange
County.
“We have always had a special place in
Beta Foster Care places boys
and girls from infancy
through adolescence. Foster
children are considered
emancipated from the system
when they reach 18 years of
age.
By Ali Lomshek, M.Ed
our hearts for children in need. We
decided that becoming foster parents
would be the best way to help” says
Jen. “These kids need a place to feel
safe.”
Mrs. Lomshek is a social worker with Beta
Foster Care, and coordinates monthly foster
parent support group and continuing
education meetings.
What ages are
the children?
warming achievements. A drug baby
now feeling comfort when held, a five
year old accepting a hug after tying a
shoe, a ten year smiles while talking
about her day at school, the twelve
year old that learns to play hockey, the
teen talking about making a new
friend. These milestones of foster
childhood are witnessed by all of us
and are visible when we simply look
for them. Our foster parents (with
staff support) create the opportunity
for foster children to enjoy the pleasures of childhood. This is success
beyond measure. Enjoy the journey of
foster “childcare” and treasure the
moment.
.
The Chiltons have two children;
Trevor, age 11, and Tony, age 6. They
have opened their hearts and their
home to four foster children, all boys,
over the last 3 years. The boys have
ranged in age from 5 to 15 years old.
Dave and Jen value the impact that
fostering has on their family. “We
learn so much about ourselves
through parenting kids with different
issues. It really enriches the way we
parent” states Dave. “It helps us see
Dave and Jen Chilton
our own children in a different light
and appreciate our family that much
more.”
Tony and Trevor commented that
they have enjoyed having foster brothers and like the feeling that they help
someone have a safe place to live. Of
course, having another playmate has
been a fun part of the whole experience too.
Although they do not currently have a
child in placement, the Chiltons are
looking forward to opening their
home to another child in the near
future.
Beta Foster Care
30101 Town Center Drive, #108
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Phone: 949-495-4829 Orange County
Phone: 714-901-3121 Orange County
Phone: 909-983-6400 Pomona Valley
Phone: 562-902-5800 Los angeles
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LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA
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Beta Foster Care (BFC) is a
private non-profit foster family
agency licensed by the State of
California Department of Social Services Community Care
Licensing. California Non
Profit Corporation 501©(3)
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Foster Care
“Makes a Difference”
A Horse’s Spirit
By Caitlin age 10
Winner of the Capistrano Unified School District
Distinguished Quill Award
As a horse runs across a green, grassy field, they uphold their
spirited wildness. With their elegant strength they can run many miles.
As they streak across the range, the breathing wind lashes
against their strong coarse mane.
As they eat their bittersweet oats I can hear their huge teeth
snapping and chomping. The stars at night look over those tall, beautiful horses as they dream and dream.
As they dream, they dream of temperamental galloping, soft
stomping, and shy whinnying. As they stand in the grassy mud, they
look so mellow and sweet with their attractive earthy colors of beige,
chestnut, crimson and the most beautiful of all, ebony.
A horse’s courage is beautiful and bold. As they roam they
think of the wildness of their spirit, knowing they are wild and beautifully free. Oh how I wish I was a horse, so I can be wild and free.
How can I
support
Beta
Foster
Care?
Giving to Beta Foster
Care is a way to give back
to the children of our
community. Be it a gift of
$10 or $10,000 both provide the donor with a tax
deduction and, more importantly, an opportunity
to really make a difference.
Because we are a small, local charity every dollar
given to Beta Foster Care
really counts.