A LETTER FROM THE CEO
CHRISTY WARD
ANAHEIM, CA
COSTA MESA, CA
MISSION VIEJO, CA
NEWPORT BEACH, CA
SANTA ANA, CA
Leading Share Ourselves: From Nurse to Advocate
Since September 2019, it has been my honor to serve as the CEO of Share Ourselves, continuing our legacy of delivering vital services such as healthcare, food distribution, and community programs, while integrating advocacy for social justice and equity into our daily operations.
My journey to Share Ourselves is rooted in a lifelong passion for healthcare and community support. Starting my career as a nurse, I witnessed firsthand the critical need for accessible healthcare and the transformative impact it can have on individuals and families. This experience inspired me to transition into various administrative roles in which I could affect broader change.
I also have the privilege of serving on the California Primary Care Association Board, CalOptima’s Provider Advisory Committee, and OCHIN’s CEO Steering Committee where we work to enhance electronic health records for safety-net clinics nationwide. By improving electronic health records, we can ensure that safetynet clinics like Share Ourselves have accurate, accessible, and comprehensive patient information which is crucial for providing quality care.
Partnerships are at the heart of our work. Collaborating with safety-net clinics, health systems, and civic leaders allows us to improve community health outcomes significantly. These relationships are crucial to our mission and amplify our impact in supporting those in need.
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead Share Ourselves. Our mission to provide care and assistance to those in need and act as advocates for systemic change is a collective effort, and together, we are making a profound and lasting impact on the health and well-being of our community. Let’s continue this journey together, striving for a healthier and more compassionate future.
Sincerely,
Share Ourselves at BESST Center Opening Soon!
Join us on Saturday, August 10th for the grand opening of the Share Ourselves at BESST Center Clinic!
9AM-1PM: Back to School backpack distribution
10AM: Ribbon cutting ceremony
10:30 - 11:30AM: Building tours
2045 Meyer Pl, Unit C, Costa Mesa, CA, 92627
What is Share Ourselves BESST Center?
This newly renovated space and location for Share Ourselves will serve children and families in the Newport Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) area with comprehensive health services that many families struggle to have access to locally. We are grateful for our partnership with NMUSD and Hoag Hospital who generously provided assistance with renovations of the new space.
Introducing Share Ourselves’ New Chief Medical Officer
Dana Ger, MD joined Share Ourselves in February, 2024, as Chief Medical Officer with extensive experience and a commitment to community health. Her journey into medicine was influenced by her upbringing, with her father’s volunteer work in healthcare around the world and her mother’s role as a social worker. “I always knew I wanted to work with people, help people. I just have a passion for it,” she reflects.
Her professional trajectory has been diverse, spanning emergency medicine, primary care, occupational medicine, and leadership roles in healthcare organizations across different regions. From working in urgent care on the East Coast to serving as the Deputy CMO at a Federally Qualified Health Center near the Grand Canyon, North Country HealthCare, Dr. Ger brings unique experiences into her new role at Share Ourselves.
DANA GER, MD Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Ger aims to lead collaboratively. “I believe in leading from behind,” she explains, highlighting her commitment to respect, inclusivity, and efficiency. With Dr. Ger’s leadership, Share Ourselves looks forward to furthering its mission of providing accessible and compassionate care to those in need.
Share Ourselves at Mission Viejo
Since opening the Mission Viejo clinic in September 2019, Share Ourselves has served the community with quality primary care. Due to increased demand for our services, we’re excited to announce the expansion of this clinic, doubling the number of medical exam rooms from four to eight and introducing dental services and OB care.
Our goal is to provide access to quality healthcare, regardless of insurance status. Whether it’s a wellness visit, chronic disease management, endodontic work, or anything in between, Share Ourselves provides comprehensive and compassionate care to those in need.
Why Primary Care Matters
One Physician Assistant’s journey from student to compassionate healthcare provider at Share Ourselves
“We are just the starting point, not the end of the line. We can help get patients on the right path to improving overall health and quality of life,” said Julianna Ramirez, PA-C (Physician Assistant, Certified). Julianna is a firm believer in the power of an integrated approach to medicine. Understanding the social determinants of health, from education to food insecurity and social inclusion and beyond, helps us know how to best treat patients so they can control food choices, improve their stress levels, and enhance overall well being.
Julianna completed her master’s degree in social work from Cal State Fullerton in 2016 and went on to study to become a physician assistant at Keck Medicine of USC. She did her senior rotation at Share Ourselves in 2021 where she got to experience all sides of medicine, from seeing patients to shadowing in the pharmacy and OB care. “This taught me what primary care is and how to be creative in treating patients without insurance or facing financial barriers.”
Through this experience, Julianna knew she wanted to work in family medicine. She yearned for opportunities to grow and develop new skills and felt called to see the patients at Share Ourselves. In August, 2021, Julianna started working full time at the Mission Viejo clinic.
“The patient demographic we see comes with its own challenges and rewards, but the best part is to see
Scan the QR code to learn more about the Mission Viejo clinic
them leave the clinic feeling both physically and emotionally better,” said Julianna. At Mission Viejo, the staff treats their patients like family. If a patient has a birthday near the date of their appointment, the team prepares and signs a birthday card for them. One patient even sent a card in return, thanking them for being so kind.
By treating patients with dignity and respect, the team creates a safe and inclusive environment. “Our role is to help patients make confident choices regarding their health,” Julianna said, recognizing that patient education serves as the foundation for long-term success.
The Mission Viejo clinic serves a community that is often overlooked. There are many elderly people living in the area and lowincome families living in a high-income area. These patients have been neglected by the health system, whether they lost their job and insurance or are navigating Medi-Cal and Medicare for the first time. Despite popular belief, there is a big need in Mission Viejo and South OC and Share Ourselves is here to serve this community.
Julianna Ramirez PA-C (4th from left) and Share Ourselves Mission Viejo clinic team members celebrating the expansion.
Share Ourselves Community
In Loving Memory: Ski Harrison
Ski Harrison, Share Ourselves Board Member and Chair of the Share Ourselves Development Committee, peacefully passed away on May 30. A retired attorney and former Managing Partner at Rutan & Tucker, LLP, Ski leaves behind a legacy of warmth, generosity, and dedication to service. For many years, Ski supported Share Ourselves with unwavering commitment, serving on both the corporate and foundation board.
“Ski Harrison was a personal friend whose quiet passion for the Share Ourselves mission was contagious. His leadership of the Foundation exemplified his personal commitment and that made it easy to join him in embracing that purpose.”
- Jake Rohrer, Share Ourselves Development Committee Member
Beyond his professional achievements, Ski was a devoted husband to long-time Share Ourselves volunteer, Kathy Harrison, and a loving father and grandfather. On the day Ski passed, he was surrounded by the love of his family. Ski Harrison’s legacy will continue to inspire us. His kindness, generosity, and unwavering dedication to his community and family will be remembered fondly by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
A New Outlook On Life
Paige has been leaning on Share Ourselves for nearly a decade. As she celebrates her birthday, she looks forward to a brighter future.
Paige’s cheeks flushed bright pink as she grinned ear-to-ear. She was celebrating her 64th birthday surrounded by her Share Ourselves family. She had not experienced a birthday like this one since grade school.
Paige grew up in Northern California. Her family was well-off and she went to a good school but her life quickly derailed after a series of unfortunate events. The youngest of five children, she and her siblings all struggled with drug addiction at some point in their lives. Paige’s older brother introduced her to drugs at a very young age, which marked the beginning of a continuous battle.
In 2007, Paige moved to Newport Beach for rehab after spending 23 days in jail. Her experience in rehab extended far beyond getting sober–she was ready to restore purpose to her life. After finishing the program, she got certified and worked at the rehab center until she was laid off in 2013.
At this point in her recovery, Paige was motivated to finish her college degree. She had studied communications at St. Mary’s College of California but was two courses shy of finishing her degree. At the age of 54, she returned to her studies and received a bachelor’s degree from Cal State Long Beach.
The Power of Care Management
During that period, Paige was living in a small studio in Seal Beach until a drastic rent increase in 2015. “I didn’t just decide to go live on the streets. It doesn’t really happen quite like that,” said Paige. She attempted living with an acquaintance in Long Beach but the situation was far from ideal. Struggling to find both housing and work, Paige spent most nights sleeping in her car. That is, until she fell asleep at the wheel and got in a terrible crash and ended up on the streets.
While going through the succession of terrible experiences, Paige discovered Share Ourselves. She would stop by every day for food, clothes, blankets–whatever she needed, she knew she could turn to Share Ourselves for help. “The people are so wonderful, they have such personalities, and you can see how much they care,” Paige said, referring to volunteers and care managers.
“It’s not just about the food, it’s about the fact that something’s open where people care.” - Paige
The level of stress and trauma Paige went through while being homeless was remarkable. What she found at Share Ourselves was a sense of community. She connected with the staff and volunteers on a deep level. She even discovered that she went to the same high school in Northern California as one of our volunteers, Kathy Stefano. Kathy and others check in on Paige frequently. Care manager Michael McGlinn has helped Paige receive the support she desperately needed in attempting to find permanent housing. Paige has also visited the Share Ourselves dental clinic and noted that Dr. Nikkhah is a kind soul who goes
out of her way to greet Paige.
Paige is now housed and thriving. If there is one word to describe Paige, it would be ‘resilient’. “You have to show up. They’re not going to put it in your lap,” said Paige. After putting in the work to change her life around, Paige sees a bright future ahead. Instead of sleeping with a fork in her hand to protect herself and wondering if she even had $3 to get a meal, she is now sleeping in her own apartment equipped with simple luxuries like a bed, a TV, and a coffee maker.
While many of her experiences in life have been far from happy, Paige remains as optimistic as ever. Her birthday wish this year? To work with animals. Paige has always loved animals and is looking forward to volunteering soon.
While the group sang happy birthday and shared chocolate cupcakes, Paige was filled with joy knowing that she found true, supportive friends who want to see her succeed. With this new outlook on life, Paige is ready to tackle whatever comes next.
Paige celebrating her 64th birthday.
The impact of donors
From Sandwiches to a Life of Service
No matter how fortunate we’ve been in life, we’ve all felt the pains of hunger creep up on us. Hunger is a universal sensation. Food is a critical determinant of health and the Saints Simon & Jude Catholic Church’s (SSJ) Mission Outreach team recognize this aspect as part of their mission to feed the hungry, help the working poor and marginalized in Orange County.
The SSJ Mission Outreach team first connected with Share Ourselves in 2020. They were looking for ways to magnify their impact in the community. During this
time, most people were stuck at home wondering how they could still engage with the community and serve others. The Mission Outreach group searched for local nonprofits to work with and a beautiful partnership blossomed with Share Ourselves.
Initially, SSJ’s involvement with Share Ourselves was strictly financial support due to Covid restrictions. But this didn’t matter to the SSJ community who were thrilled by the idea of participating in food drives, sock drives, and more. Once restrictions loosened
up, SSJ expanded their donation and volunteer programs. Their school groups would assemble sandwiches for the Share Ourselves food pantry. They would set up workstations in the classroom or church building, assembling sandwiches and sack lunches. The teachers would ask the kids to draw on the lunch bags and write encouraging notes.
“It’s fun to do the lunches because kids can relate when they’re hungry,” said Louise Nakamine from the SSJ Mission Outreach team. The goal is to get the kids thinking about who they are giving to and why it matters. Knowing what it feels like to be hungry helps put the work into perspective. The kids learn not only about feeding the hungry but also about the challenges our low-income and unhoused neighbors face.
While the team doesn’t make sandwiches anymore due to updates in the food pantry, SSJ continues to hold donation drives and activities for their parishioners. From food drives, sock drives, and cold weather clothing drives to assembling hygiene kits, snack bags, and participating in Share Ourselves’ Adopt A
Louise Nakamine (left) and Share Ourselves volunteer Julie Katayama (5th from left) dropping off donations with Saints Simon & Jude Mission Outreach Team.
Family program, SSJ remains active in their mission of serving the local community. Louise is excited to see how the SSJ community got behind the idea of Mission Outreach. Church members often ask her when the next program is coming up or when they are hosting another donation drive. What started as making turkey sandwiches has turned into an inspiration to live a life of service.
Part of the SSJ’s vision is to motivate members to become actively engaged in the community. Julie Katayama, a Share Ourselves volunteer since 2022, is the perfect example of this vision. She recalls that SSJ held a community outreach event where they invited members from local nonprofits to speak. She was inspired by how Share Ourselves started as a social justice initiative and she immediately wanted to help.
At first, Julie started volunteering in the food pantry packing grocery bags. Soon after, she moved to the
distribution window where she interacts with patients face to face. Our patients come to Share Ourselves for their basic daily needs, whether it’s food, clothing, or other forms of support. For many, being greeted by a smiling, friendly face provides a much-needed respite from their daily struggles.
“I love seeing the people and I try my best to help them. Trying to give back to the community means everything to me.”
- Julie Katayama
Recently, Julie was volunteering at the window when a woman approached. The woman asked for a noncooking food bag and shoes. Julie asked her what other items she needed and gave some suggestions. They began talking more and bonded
Email us at: volunteers@shareourselves.org
Interested in hosting a donation drive?
over their shared love of cats. These small interactions are a reminder that we are all human, regardless of our current circumstances. The woman left with a pair of shoes, a purse, a bag of food, and a smile on her face.
Saints Simon & Jude has been a great supporter of Share Ourselves for several years now, through countless donations, drives, and volunteer hours. Their service is a testament that anyone can take initiative to seek out more opportunities to give back to the OC community. Every pair of socks, hygiene kit, and financial donation makes a real impact in the lives of those we serve. To learn more about how you can get involved, visit shareourselves.org/getinvolved
Email us at: philanthropyshareourselves.org
Share Ourselves’ 31st Annual Wild & Crazy Taco Night
This year’s Wild & Crazy Taco Night held on May 16, 2024, was an extraordinary success, bringing together nearly 700 guests for a memorable evening of tacos and philanthropy.
With your help, we surpassed last year’s fundraising achievements, raising over $170,000 in support of Share Ourselves. These funds will directly benefit those in our community facing barriers to healthcare, social services, and food insecurity. With the generous support from our community, donors, and partners, we are making a significant impact in the lives of those we serve.
As guests entered the venue, Mariachi Juvenil Herencia Michoacana welcomed the crowd with a lively mariachi performance. In addition, 17 local chefs and restaurants showcased their unique flair and passion, crafting inventive and delicious tacos. From
Underwriters:
Crab Rangoon to crispy enoki mushroom, barbacoa lamb shoulder, and beyond, these unforgettable tacos were enjoyed by all.
We were thrilled to have Yelp continue its support as the Premiere Sponsor. Guests enthusiastically participated in voting for the Yelper’s Choice Award for “Fan Favorite Taco,” a highlight of the evening. The coveted title was awarded to Puesto. Chef Ivan Lizaola wowed the crowd with Puesto’s “Cali Taco,” featuring filet mignon, guacamole, jalapeno pico, creama, potato chips, and crispy melted cheese served on a non-GMO, gluten-free blue corn tortilla.
Share Ourselves’ Wild & Crazy Taco Night exemplifies the transformative impact of a united community. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our donors, community partners, event underwriters and sponsors for their generous support.
Sponsors:
HABANERO SPONSOR
$10,000+
• C.J. Segerstrom and Sons
• Sharon D. Lund Foundation
PINATA SPONSOR
$5,000+
• DMP Properties
• Frome Family Foundation
• Hoag
• PCV Murcor
• Sylvia Michler & Dennis Noren
CACTUS SPONSOR
$3,000+
• Alkeme Insurance
• Coalition of Orange County Community Health Centers
• Dr. Alberto & Jori Mendivil
• Enterprise Bank & Trust
• Jenice & Randy Carter
• Mary Moyer
• OneDigital
• Patricia Doyle
• Pacific Hospitalist Associates
• Prestige Medical Group
• Susan & Kevin Daly
• Will & Annick Klatte
SOMBRERO SPONSOR
$1,500+
• Anonymous
• Axiom Financial & Insurance Solutions
• Anne and Bob Cress
• Dr. Allyson and Andrew Brooks
• David & Joyce Plotnik
• Kathy & Michael Lewis
• Michael & Diane Stephens
• Shamrock Supply Co.
• Western Community Housing, Inc.
EVENT DONATIONS
• Armida Brashears
• Beatriz Soto
• Cheryl Fischer
• Denise & Kent Schell
• Fletcher Jones Motorcars
• Gary Bess Associates
• Gary & Cathy Wyatt
• Graphics 360
• Ingardia Bros. Produce, Inc.
• James & Diane Bailey
• James & Patricia Hilbert
• Judith & Werner Hinz
• Linda & Kevin Pitts
• Lisa & William Applebee
• Patty DeYoung
• Roger & Lynn Tomalas
• Sherri Rice
• Suzanne Cecconi
• Suzanne & Adam Walburger
• Thompson Family Foundation
• Uline
• Wendy & Gary Bryan Join us next year on Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Newport
shareourselves.org
