Helping Vulnerable Children & Families

NEWSCHILDNET

NEWS

ChildNet News Winter/Spring 2015 • ChildNet Youth and Family Services • www.ChildNet.net

On Sunday September 28, ChildNet held its first annual Family Festival. It was loosely modeled after the ChildNet/Long Beach Youth Home Boosters’ Festival of Chefs, which was a staple in the community for 28 years. The Festival included many new features while remaining true to event-goers love of tastes from some of their favorite local casual eateries. More than 200 people attended earning $30,000!

“It was a great day,” said ChildNet President & CEO Kathy Hughes. “Thanks to the hard work on the part of our enthusiast staff, we were able to increase awareness of our ChildNet programs. We wanted the Long Beach commu-nity to know that we served more than 7,500 individuals last year and continue to provide an array of quality programs and services to the most vulnerable children and families referred to us for much-needed help.

There was a very well-received classic car show that featured more than 30 vintage cars, with a cadre of owners from all over Greater Long Beach.

Food vendors included The Grand Food & Beverage, Critic’s Choice Catering, Callaloo Caribbean Kitchen, Buono’s Authentic Pizzeria, Casa Sanchez, Corner Bakery and Cookies by Design, to name a few.

The kids loved Geebo the Clown and his magic show as well as all of the balloon animals he created for them. The adults rocked on the dance floor to Andy & Renee with the Hard Rain band whose renditions of the ’70s-themed classic songs were a real crowd pleaser. And everyone loved the Sparkle Photo booth!

Major Sponsors of the event were DerManouel Insurance Services, Hays Companies, The Grand Food & Beverage, Norm Wilson & Sons General Contractors, Mason Insur-ance Services, and Touch of Travel. In addition, we are very grateful to those who purchased tables – we sold out!

For nearly 45 years, ChildNet Youth & Family Services has provided safe homes, education and counseling to vulnerable children and families. We have grown from an organization that provided residential care for 40 adolescent boys (Long Beach Youth

Home) to a multi-service agency offering Adoption Services, Foster Care, Behavioral Health Services, Therapeutic Behavioral Support (TBS), Family Support Services (Wraparound) and Special Education Services (Zinsmeyer Academy).

CHILDNET REVIVES FESTIVAL WITH A BRAND NEW LOOK AND MORE!CHILDNET REVIVES FESTIVAL WITH A BRAND NEW LOOK AND MORE!

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Geebo the clown creates animal balloons for the kids.

Vintage car nearly 80 years old!

ChildNet News Winter/Spring 2015 • ChildNet Youth and Family Services • www.ChildNet.net

On behalf of the ChildNet Board of Directors, our dedicated staff and the thousands of children and families served, I want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you who have faithfully supported our mission throughout the year. ChildNet provided safe homes, education and counseling to more than 7,500 individuals in 2014! Through our grow-ing Continuum of Care, our agency remains a leader in the delivery of quality Foster Care & Adoption Services, Special Education, Behavioral Health and Family Support Services.

Although the holiday season can often be an especially difficult time for many of the children and families we serve, the numerous toy donations we received this year helped to make the season bright and put smiles on the faces of thousands of children!

We had such a fantastic response to our holiday drive that not only did the children receive amazing gifts, but many of the families received a beautiful Christmas tree as well! We are so grateful for your generosity!

One very special example of the giving spirit occurred when Monica Quiñones (ChildNet’s Chief Operations Officer) and her husband Carlos asked their two young children how they would like to celebrate the holiday this year. After giving it some thought, they decided they wanted

to collect toys for foster chil-dren! Instead of telling their parents what they wanted for themselves, they wanted to GIVE to others. Wow! They immediately made a big poster that read, “Sophia and Mateo’s Toy Drive” and they went door to door in their neighborhood asking for donations. After collecting as much money as they could, and after empty-ing their own piggy banks, their parents took them to the toy district in downtown Los Angeles to shop. Sophia and Mateo spent the day picking out only the best toys for the foster kids! It was such a joy to see their excitement as they brought in all the bags of toys! Due to the efforts of these two very special Quiñones children, numerous foster youth received a special surprise under the tree on Christmas morning. Thank you Sophia and Mateo for reminding all of us what the holiday season is truly about!

Happy and prosperous 2015 to one and all from the Board and staff of ChildNet. We thank you for being our friends and supporters.

Message from the President/ Chief Executive Officer:Message from the President/ Chief Executive Officer:

Kathy Hughes, President/CEO

Sophia and Mateo Quiñones

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ChildNet News Winter/Spring 2015 • ChildNet Youth and Family Services • www.ChildNet.net 3

A Donor’s Holiday StoryA Donor’s Holiday StoryMy mother was an orphan at the Fairmount Children’s Home in Ohio

from the time she was a baby (the Great Depression) until she gradu-ated from high school. Though she doesn’t like to talk about her time there, she once revealed how painful it was at times during certain milestones throughout the years. Graduations, birthdays, holidays and other events created a sense of being alone in the world. I can say that I don’t think that sense of emptiness has ever been resolved within her.

By chance, I happened to go to the Circle Marina car wash and saw the ChildNet tree. I was compelled to participate. I was spiritually moved by being able to give. Knowing that perhaps one child may have those same feelings and with grace of the heavens above, a gift could change a child’s emotional /spiritual course. One tag became three and then that became ten. How could I not? I then happened to be at IKEA and they were making donations to UNICEF for every stuffed animal purchased. I purchased 15 stuffed animals, put them in a large bag and dropped them off at the car wash for any child who’s tag had not been taken from the tree.

When I had finished and dropped everything off, I called my mother who is now 82 years old and let her know what I had done. Let’s just say, this was one of the best gifts I have ever given her in my lifetime!

Editor’ note: That was his story in 2013. It didn’t end there. In 2014 he called ChildNet directly and asked for the wish lists of 20 children and fulfilled some wishes of all of them! Surely his mother is very, very proud of him . . . so are we!

The 2014 Holiday Gift Solicitation Committee

On behalf of the children we serve, THANK YOU to all of our support-ers during the Holidays and all year round! We appreciate each and every one of you.

Top: Tag from WIsh List tree. Above: Holiday Gift Solicitation Committee. Fran MacLain (front), Eileen Factor (second row, left), Anita Anglin (second row, right), Brett Lewis (back row, left), Robert Reilly (back row, right).

by Robert R., Long Beach, CA

ChildNet News Winter/Spring 2015 • ChildNet Youth and Family Services • www.ChildNet.net4

DonorsDonors July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2014

MAJOR DONORSAlamitos Bay Garden ClubBerry PetroleumBess J. Hodges FoundationDelRe FoundationDer Manouel Insurance & FinanceGloria & The Hon. George DeukmejianJanet EatonEmployees Community Fund of Boeing CaliforniaCarla & Stuart GordonLA County Supervisor Don KnabeHays CompaniesTara & Michael JulianLinn EnergyLong Beach Community FoundationNorm Wilson & Sons, Inc.R.H. Mason Insurance ServicesEdna & Paul SchumacherMarlene Temple

SPECIAL FRIENDSTherese AccinelliJune V. AdamsJane G. AffonsoKim AlarconFaye & Robert AlperinBarbara AlpertAmerican Business BankPat & Phil ApplebyDavid ArmesRobert ArmstrongCindy & Thomas BakerDebra & Darwin BarradPat & Walt BausmanVirginia BaxterBeach Ventures EnterprisesRobert BeamanSandra & Howard BeharJason BlockBoutwell Fay LLP

Linda & Robert BresnanVernon BrokerKen BuckJames ButoraBeverly ButtersDale CareyJoan & Louis CassaniShane CherryChildrens Empowerment NetworkMarcelita CobianSharon & William ColemanChris ConwayCookies by DesignJudith A. CrumptonGloria CulpepperYolanda CussenLisa & Michael DeaderickRobert Di StefanodiPiazza RestaurantDive Works Diving ServiceRaymond R. DowningSuzanne & Gordon DudleyLeeann & Carl EkstromAmy EkstromNancy & Donald EriksenSandra & Gerald FaconEileen FactorRobert E. FalkWendy & Cliff FiesKen FisherNancy & Ronald FrankRick FrenchRobin FriedDiana GarciaMary Claire GarritySharyn & Walter GertzCherrie GibbsGoals for Life FoundationJeri & David GoldsteinEdith GouldGreecian Pools, Inc.Sandra & Allan GreenbergMelissa & Steve Guillen

Vicki HamrenKen HansonMarla HarrelsonZacarias HayNancy & C. HegelheimerMelanie & James HogrebeMari HooperKathy HughesRob InderriedenCherie JeffriesRichard JeffriesSonia JohnsonKardentKiwanis Club of Long BeachCheryl & Daniel KruegerEric KupferL.B. Firefighters Honorary AssociationLaborers’ International UnionLaurie & Mike LaosKaren & Dwayne LarsonLinda & Gene LassersLathrop & Gage LLPShannon LeahyLynn A. LeichtJudi & Gordon LentznerBill LesiyLinda & Thomas LewisAnthony LopilatoCrystal & Roderick MacDonellLindsey MarksMike McCarthyAnne & Gary McClaflinJanet & Michael McDermottAlex MendozaDonna & Gregory MerkleJean MerlePamela & Michael MundySandra NashAlfredo NavarroCora & Robert NicholsAssemblyman Patrick O’DonnellThe Hon. Beverly O’NeillSusan & Philip Osterlind

Robert PandoVal ParkerPaycom Payroll LLCKathleen & Robert PaynePG&E CorporationLyn & John PohlmannPreferred Family Care PhysiciansTony PrintyChristine PurcellQdoxsMonica & Carlos QuiñonesRosa RamirezPhil RamsdaleDonella & Norman RasmussenRD Reilly & Associates, Inc.Debbie & Robert ReillyJanette ReynoldsRichmond Plastering, Inc.Patrick RichmondMadison RooneyShelley RooneyGlenda & James RoopPeter RosenwaldMisty RymanStephanie Schneider-PrintyPatricia & Richard SchnetzerAlan M. SherryJames SlamaBarbara & Thomas SloweyLisa SmockSoma Futures, LLCStonatto Development CompanyEmilio SosaPhyllis SpearErin SpencerLorie StackRobert StackStrategic Pension Services, Inc.Susan & Mort StuhlbargRenee & Patrick SummarJulie & Henry TaboadaThe Harrington Group

ChildNet News Winter/Spring 2015 • ChildNet Youth and Family Services • www.ChildNet.net 5

DonorsDonorsThe Winnick Family FoundationVeronica ThongFrancine TogneriTruist Comprehensive DistributionJudith & Leo Vander LansNicole & Michael VasileMary & Jeffrey WalkerPatricia & Richard WalkerCarol WaltersJoanne Ward-BurchamJan WardClaire E. WestmoreLeonard WilliamRod WilsonSusan Yates

IN-KIND-DONORSAction PointAdvance Beverage CompanyMarisel & Karl AgnesPat & Phil ApplebyDavid ArmesAs One, Inc.Assistance League of TemeculaCourtney BenemaJalen Black-PolemarchBrunswick Recreation CenterCafé LorelCallaway Vineyard WineryCarters Pajama ProgramCedars-Sinai Billing DepartmentCheesecake FactoryCircle Marina Hand Car WashCMS ConstructionCostco Wholesale / Signal HillSharon CrabillCrooked DuckElaine CurranDelancy Street FoundationRob DamicoEcho Global LogisticsFidler Street Neighbors

Cynthia MartinCharis FranzWynona GrandKimberly GreenwoodSusan GriffithMarisol GutierrezHangar 18, Long BeachFrances HarrisJoanna HernandezHome Town BuffetChristina JacobsCatherine JonesJeanne & Michael KataokaKings Hawaiian BakeryKiwanis Club of Long BeachEric KohnLong Beach Camerata SingersLong Beach Memorial Medical CenterLos Angeles DodgersSummer ManawayLucille’s Smokehouse BBQMiki MarkusenGina MartinMission Grove TheaterMulligan Family Fun CenterNaples Rib CompanyNational Pajama and Book DistributionNeutral Grounds Gracie JiuJitsuNew Horizons Elementary SchoolMatt NorrisBonnie & George NovakVicky OjerioOn DeckOrange County Fair/Friends of the FairOur Lady of GuadalupeShelley PadillaRichard PaulsonPerformance Plus TireMateo Quiñones

Sophia QuiñonesCarla & Rob RaneyDonella & Norman RasmussenDebbie & Robert ReillyReMax Real Estate SpecialistsRobert RinehartRoller City Skating RinkRound 1 Bowling & EntertainmentScandia Amusement ParkAmy SchallmanSeaside Printing Co., Inc.Shakey’s PizzaBarbara & Thomas SloweyEmilio SosaSouthern California EdisonSpark of Love - Long Beach Fire DepartmentStonatto Development Co.Debbie & Steve StuverErin TaberThe Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of CommerceThe Middleman MerchandiseThe VillageEdward TurnerIrene TurnerDiane & Art Villar

If you have made a donation to ChildNet between July 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014 and are either not included on these lists and/or did not receive an acknowledgement, please call or email Eileen Factor at 562-498-5252, efactor@childnet.net.

Now that we are into the new year, tax time is right around the corner. Uncle Sam encourages charitable giving by providing some significant tax benefits when you make a gift to a qualified nonprofit like ChildNet.

For example, if you give a CASH gift of $1,000, it will actually only cost you $720, assuming you are in a 28% marginal tax bracket. A $1,500 gift would cost $1,080.; $2,000, $1,440; $2,500, $1,800; and $5,000, $3,600. A $10,000 gift would cost you $7,200, which would save you $2,800.

You can also provide for ChildNet through an INSUR-ANCE POLICY. This can be an extremely cost-effective way of providing a very significant gift to ChildNet, at a very low annual cost. If you make ChildNet the owner of a policy, your annual premium is tax deductible.

A gift of SECURITIES OR APPRECIATED REAL ESTATE can be highly advantageous, since, in many cases, you avoid capital gains taxes and receive a deduction based on the appreciated value, not on the purchase price.

You can give an interest in a home or rental property while retaining full use of the property during your own and a beneficiary’s lifetimes. Depending on your age and the age of your beneficiary, the tax benefits can be quite substantial.

For more information about any of these options, please contact Eileen Factor.

Thank you one and all!

ChildNet News Winter/Spring 2015 • ChildNet Youth and Family Services • www.ChildNet.net6

In His Own WordsIn His Own Words

ChildNet hosted the EASBA February mixer and farewell to Robert Reilly.

On September 1, 1988, I arrived at ChildNet (known as Long Beach Youth Center prior to 1998). The local school district was having difficulty serving the children that resided in the Long Beach Youth Home because of the combination of learning disabilities and mental health issues that were becoming more apparent with this population. The organiza-tion was intent on creating an alternative education environ-ment for these youth so I was hired to provide assistance.

During my first year with the Youth Home, I served as a family therapist providing group and individual family counseling for the residents.

In 1989, we began the earnest process of applying for state certification to open a nonpublic school. This project included remodeling the property on Anaheim Street for use as a school, processing application paperwork with the state department of education, and meeting with our local school district for advice and direction.

In 1990, the Long Beach Youth Home School was officially opened for Youth Home residents. And by 1993, the local school district began sending community students that were in need of a more individualized and structured educational setting.

During the following years, community friends donated generously to the school so that upgrades and more classrooms could be added to the growing student popula-tion. In 1996, in honor of Daris Zinsmeyer, the school was renamed the Zinsmeyer Academy to rec-ognize her financial support to the school.

Over the next decade, the academy became the preferred nonpublic school for many public school districts that were seeking placements for students that were in need of a different level of service. The academy also became one of the first nonpublic schools in California to be fully ac-credited by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC) further enhancing its excellent reputation with its public school partners.

I remained the principal of the academy through 2007 at which time I focused my efforts on expanding the academy’s and ChildNet’s mission throughout the state as the Director of Community Relations.

A quick way to sum up my 25-year experience with Child-Net – it was time very well spent! Zinsmeyer Academy is one of the premier nonpublic schools in the state that local school districts know is a safe and well-managed school where they can send students in need of extra services.

In addition, we have a long, positive relationship with the California State Senate and Assembly due to ongoing communications and visits through my Board membership with CAPSES (California Association of Private Special Education Schools). The Kiwanis Club of Long Beach, through my membership, has been a generous donor to ChildNet not only as a club, but also through its contacts with other community philanthropists. And, the East Anaheim Street Business Association (EASBA) has been a generous supporter. ChildNet was the recipient of the proceeds from their first annual Walk-a-thon in 2013.

And last but not least, I am grateful for my association with ChildNet where I met my wife Debbie in November of 1988, for my ability to complete a doctoral degree, for having developed lifelong friendships and professional associations, and for providing me with the best retirement event ever!

by Robert Reilly

Alan Lowenthal presented Robert Reilly with a certificate of appreciation for 25 years of service with ChildNet.

Robert also received one from Bonnie Lowenthal.

ChildNet News Winter/Spring 2015 • ChildNet Youth and Family Services • www.ChildNet.net

The Art Program is a key component of the specialized curriculum provided at ChildNet’s Zinsmeyer Academy. The equipment and supplies, which were partially funded by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe’s Arts Education Partnership Program has significantly enhanced student learning and has made a positive impact on the lives of the many vulnerable youth we serve.

For example, the use of smart boards allows students to engage in an interactive process, which improves their at-tention span and serves to expand their artist skills as well. The various features of the equipment allows the Instructor to project the assignments clearly for the class, allows stu-dents to zoom in for a more detailed critique when desired, allows them to showcase their work and enhances the overall learning experience. The quality of the arts instruc-tion has improved with the use of smart boards due to the ability to design step-by-step drawing instruction and further exploration of various types of art.

Built around a carefully planned series of activities, the Art Program curriculum teaches and reinforces essential life skills in addi-tion to structured art projects. Stu-dents learn to work

within a group, acquiring helpful behaviors and learning to trust others as well as increasing artistic skills and artistic expression. The program is outcome-based and geared toward students’ specific needs, interests and abilities. The treatment objectives are measured and monitored individu-ally and can include delay of gratification, impulse control, project completion skills, patience, fine motor skills attained, recognizing the need for requesting assistance, waiting one’s turn, negotiation skills, lowering levels of frustration, increased tolerance, trust and interpersonal skills with adults and peers, etc. The activities help to improve verbal/nonver-bal communication, team work, peer and adult interactions, social skills, personal responsibility and self-discipline. Each lesson plan includes group discussion and/or the oppor-tunity for the individual to learn more about and practice art techniques, while learning more about him/herself as an individual and as part of a group. One example is the Animation Cell Project where students learn the process of creating an animated feature and participate in creating a piece of animation. Students learn to work with a variety of art materials including pencils, animation cells, animation paint, markers, paint brushes, canvas, acrylic paint, graphite paper and more.

The photos are holiday cards created by students at Zinsmeyer. A competition was held to select Child-Net’s Holiday card last year.

These were the winners, although the consensus of the judges, which included Board Chair-man Lou Cassani, was that all of the entries were fabulous!

Through his association with the East Anaheim Street Business Association (EASBA), Bob Reilly was instrumental in ChildNet being selected the recipient of proceeds from the group’s First Annual Walk-a-Thon in 2013. The turnout was great, especially for a first-time event. Many members of ChildNet’s staff participated . . . and truly – a fun time was had by all!

The Zinsmeyer Fine Arts ProgramThe Zinsmeyer Fine Arts Program

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Robert Reilly, former Zinsmeyer Academy principal,

gives motivating keynote address at Zinsmeyer’s graduation ceremony in

June 2014.

EASBA First Annual Walk-A-ThonEASBA First Annual Walk-A-Thon

(L to R) Bob Reilly, Kathy Hughes, Rod Wilson, EASBA president and

co-organizer of the walk.

Providing safe homes, education and counseling to vulnerable children and families

Non Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDLong Beach, CAPermit No. 2222

ChildNet News Winter/Spring 2015 • ChildNet Youth and Family Services • www.ChildNet.net

BOARD OF DIRECTORSChairman, Lou CassaniVice Chair, Randy WilsonSecretary, Don TrojanTreasurer, Gordon LentznerBOARD MEMBERSRobert Alperin Robert ArmstrongJim ChouraMike DeaderickDr. Erainia FreemanStephen E. GordonBraden PhillipsPhil RamsdaleTim RichmondOFFICERSKathy Hughes, President/CEOAllan Greenberg, CFOMonica Andrea Quiñones, COO

ChildNet Youth & Family Services4155 Outer Traffic Circle

Long Beach, CA. 90804-2111Address Service Requested

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Santa and his helpers waiting to hear the wishes of the Zinsmeyer students!

Mother and son picking out a tree for their family donated by the

Delancey Street Foundation.

Visit our website at www.childnet.net to keep up-to-date on the happenings at ChildNet!

Santa and his helpers arrive on his sleigh.