Back in February 2010, our fund raising committee was brainstorming ideas for a fundraiser. We wanted a unique, meaningful fundraiser, one that brought in much needed funds, raised awareness, and also involved Chamberlain’s children. We also wanted to establish a legacy event for an amazing woman, Mari Davis. Mari’s leadership, vision, compassion, and determination are primary reasons for Chamberlain’s transformation.
I witnessed a transformation similar to the ones that Mari initiated the other day while we were celebrating the unveiling our Wellness Center’s Music and Movement Room. As I absorb the happy vibe as Chamberlain’s children were playing the drums and strumming the guitars, I reflect back that only a short time ago this room was just an empty shell. Because of a group of creative, dedicated individuals and the financial support of Ted Davis, Teknova, and the Safeway Foundation, dreams became reality! When I walk into the Wellness Center Kitchen I get the same feeling, what was once an outdated, unused kitchen is now a state of the art Learning Lab! What was once a storage space collecting dust is now a vibrant Fitness Center!! I look out over the Wellness Center deck and see what was once a weed patch; now a Tee Pee Garden! I look out my office window and see what was once an empty, dangerous condemned building is now garden boxes with vegetables our children are growing. In fact, we now have a gardening therapy group. That’s transformation in action!!! Finally I see pictures from less than a decade ago and see an open dust bowl, which now has four sturdy homes, a ball field, a playground and a Gazebo!!
I urge you to join us on Saturday, May 18th to not only raise funds for our program, but to see these transformation in person, to feel the “vibe” in the air, to smell tri tip on the barbeque, and hear children laughing. It will surely leave you with a sense of all the loving hands that have spent their blood, sweat, and tears in order to transform Mari’s vision into reality!!
Our event is on the Chamberlain’s campus and is from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. The cost is $20 for adults and $5 for children. All members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend! The BBQ lunch, provided by Hollister Rotary, will be served at 12:30pm. It will include Tri Tip, BBQ beans, salad, bread & drink for adults and hot dog, chips, and a drink for children. We will have face painting, a petting zoo, and a bounce house for your kids, a silent auction for adults, and a raffle and dance performance for everyone. One of the raffles will be for a 2nd Generation iPad! Come out and have some fun! You will be supporting a great cause at the same time!
For more information, please contact Robert Freiri, Chamberlain’s Executive Director at 831 636-2121 or robert@chamberlaincc.org or go to our website www.chamberlaincc.org.
Chamberlain’s mission is to empower at-risk foster children in a home-like environment to heal from past trauma, discover their strengths, and develop the skills they need to achieve life-long success. Our state licensed facility provides therapy, case management, schooling, and residential treatment in a home-like environment. CCC’s clinical team enables our children to overcome the effects of the trauma they have experienced. Our well trained and caring staff provides comfort, compassion, and a safe haven to up to 24 children at a time. Our program serves an average of 50 children annually from nine counties, including San Benito, Monterey and Santa Clara.