Newsletter Spring 2021

Ginnie and Rich Hunsaker's loving legacy, pg. 8

Celebrate the Class of 2021, pg. 10

SPRING

Daniela finds her inner strength, pg. 6

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Beacon of Hope As we reflect on the last year, there is one constant amidst the challenges of our time, and it is…The Wooden Floor is a beacon of hope for the most vulnerable children and families within our community.

Since day one, we have been laser-focused on helping our students emerge from the pandemic with positive attributes of social, emotional, and academic wellbeing in order to propel their lives forward. To that end, our Board of Directors and staff have made a commitment to invest in deepening our mental health and wellness services as well as programs beginning in 2020-2021 including: ■

Enhancing our virtual dance education approach to deepen opportunities for self-expression, learning to trust of oneself and others, and connecting

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Forming a new partnership with OCAPICA (OC Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance) to provide 1:1 student counseling

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Creating a new part-time position called a Family Services Specialist to provide student and parent mental health and wellness workshops

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Investing in technology for case management and tele-med counseling as well as increasing the mental health knowledge base within our Board of Directors by having Dr. Naveen Jonathan, LMFT, Clinical Associate Professor of Marriage & Family Therapy and Chair, Marriage & Family Therapy at Chapman University’s Crean College of Health & Behavioral Sciences serve as our first expertise-community board representative

Dawn S. Reese

Chief Executive Officer @DawnSReese

As a part of our Strategic Vision 2021-2031, the attention on increased mental health services was identified through focus groups with parents and students, as well as by community stakeholders as a priority area in 2018, long before the pandemic. Since 2019, I have had the privilege to co-chair the Youth Mental Health Sub-Committee for the Santa Ana Task Force, which is comprised of business, community, civic, and education leaders with the purpose of recommending strategies to break the barriers to youth mental health services in the City of Santa Ana. Unfortunately, due to the prolonged nature of the pandemic, its multifaceted impact on youth mental wellness is still revealing itself to us, to our students, and to our community.

We thank our current supporters who have asked how they can help our students and families navigate these critical mental health challenges (see pg.

11). We also want to honor the passing and legacy of long-time supporters Ginnie and Rich Hunsaker who always believed in each child’s unique and greatest potential (see pg. 8).

I ask you to continue to help us shine the light of hope on our young people so they may emerge from the pandemic as confident, resilient, and joyful leaders of tomorrow.

With gratitude,

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THE WOODEN FLOOR

Mission Moment

Turn this page into a special behind-the-scenes video by downloading the FREE Pixpand mobile app!

Virtual Auditions The Wooden Floor held its first ever virtual online Annual Auditions via Zoom. After evaluating virtual options, staff, faculty, and accompanists aimed to provide every hopeful student an engaging, safe, and positive online experience. Students were encouraged to have fun, learn something new, and to be proud of their accomplishments and the bravery it took for them to audition online.

We look forward to welcoming our newest students and their families this spring.

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Newsfeed VIRTUAL CAREER DAY JANUARY 2021 Our Virtual Career Day series focused on Business and Entrepreneurship in January, featuring panelists Estefany Arias, Founder of Gentle Riot; Michelle Drucker, Chief of Staff & Head of Studio at Operate; and Tatiana Rivera, Project Manager for ReedGroup and Class of 2011 Alumna of The Wooden Floor. Launched in 2010, our career panels help to bridge the gap between students' dreams and the reality ahead for pursuing their career goals through conversations with professionals from a variety of fields. Upcoming Career Day topics include Nonprofit and Community work as well as Law and Public Policy.

ANAHEIM DUCKS SHOPPING SPREE DECEMBER 2020 For the 13th year in a row, Anaheim Ducks players and management, Anaheim Ducks Foundation, and TCL Electronics joined together to make holiday dreams come true for some special students of The Wooden Floor.

Although we could not gather in person this year, the team ensured that our students were reminded that they are important and that their community supports them. Our students had a virtual hang-out with Ducks team members, played games, and had their Target wish lists fulfilled before being surprised with a free TCL 40” television for each participating family!

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THE WOODEN FLOOR

SNYDER LANGSTON BIKE DONATION DECEMBER 2020 For the 23rd year in a row, the employees of Snyder Langston donated over 50 bikes to students of The Wooden Floor to help make their holidays brighter. Snyder Langston employees lovingly assembled all the bikes and provided helmets and locks for each one.

VIRTUAL TUTORING JANUARY 2021 Our virtual tutoring has continued to provide excellence within an online learning environment for our students. Screen sharing has allowed students and tutors to walk through assignments together while providing greater interaction.

Instead of talking through a problem, a tutor can use the whiteboard as “scratch paper” to work through the problem with the student. Students have been arriving to their tutoring session prepared and excited to learn, with attendance averaging over 90%.

ALUMNI SOCIAL HOUR DECEMBER 2020 This December we instituted a virtual alumni social hour. This virtual format has allowed our alumni living away and enrolled in colleges and universities as far away as Boston College to join their fellow The Wooden Floor graduates for camaraderie, learning, and to visit with staff.

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In the First Person:

Daniela, Class of 2021

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THE WOODEN FLOOR

W

hen my mom had to leave, the only help we had was The Wooden Floor. I don’t know how different my life would have been without the

help I received. We got a lot of emotional support, and I was reminded often that none of it was my fault. I was 9 or 10 when it happened, so I didn’t really understand what was going on. When my grades dropped, The Wooden Floor gave me academic help. My dance teachers were understanding, and going into the studio allowed me to express my emotions.

Dance helps me have normalcy. I really enjoy it even if it is virtual now. One of the good things about being online is that I was able to do my school in Mexico, so I could see my mom for 6 months. It is the longest time I’ve gotten to be with her since I was 10. While I was away, The Wooden Floor supported me by checking on my grades and keeping me on track with college applications. I was able to apply to 35 schools. My top choices are the University of Rochester, Yale, Stanford, Tufts, and Boston University.

I want to go into computer engineering because I really like coding. Dance taught me to be creative, so I didn’t want a job where I couldn’t be creative, and engineering allows you to do that. I coded my own website and I want to be able to create technologies because tech can help society.

The Wooden Floor showed me that there was help everywhere, and now that I’m older, I look for help when I need it. If I have a challenge, I look for who can help me. I also try to look for ways to help others.”

-Daniela, Class of 2021

Daniela is a senior at Segerstrom High School and has a weighted GPA of 4.5. She serves as President and Co-President of three clubs at her school, including the National Honors Society and co-founding Girls Who Code.

This year, she was a finalist for the prestigious National College Match Questbridge Scholarship. In addition, she is very active at The Wooden Floor and has been in 10 Annual Concerts. Her sister Alejandra graduated from The Wooden Floor in 2013 and was the first in their family to attend college. Her younger brother Juan Carlos is in The Wooden Floor's Class of 2023.

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IN MEMORIAM:

The Loving Legacy of Virginia “Ginnie” Hunsaker and Richard C. Hunsaker The Wooden Floor is saddened by the passing of Board Emerita Virginia “Ginnie” Hunsaker on January 3, 2021, followed just days later by her husband, The Wooden Floor Board Emeritus Richard C. Hunsaker on January 12, 2021. Students, staff, fellow board members, and supporters of the organization over the past two decades all crossed their paths, as they were a steadfast presence at almost every event The Wooden Floor hosted.

In 1994, Ginnie and Rich began their journey as supporters of The Wooden Floor, previously known as Saint Joseph Ballet, and they immediately made an impact. Rich served on the Board of Directors from 1994 to 2015 and Ginnie from 1994-2017. Together, they served as Co-Board Chairs from 1996 to 1999, and along with The Wooden Floor Founder Beth Burns, Joan and Don 8

Beall, and Ernie and Socie Vasquez, Ginnie and Rich led efforts to raise funds and build our Main Street location from 1997-1998. This began the evolution towards our place-based, creative youth development model, which continues to this day.

Again in 2016 Ginnie and Rich served as Honorary Chairs of our Lift Campaign from 2016-2019. Their multi-million dollar lead gift helped us realize our vision to serve more, deepen our services, as well as build upon our Endowment Fund. Their generosity to our Endowment Fund will especially help create long-term financial sustainability for our organization, which has always been among their foremost goals.

Ginnie and Rich both brought their unique gifts and strengths to the Board of Directors. For Ginnie, a former school teacher and ballet dancer, it was her love of children, education, and the arts.

2020-2021 Board of Directors Judith F. Posnikoff, PhD,* Chairwoman Managing Director, Martlet Asset Management, LLC Arthur Ong,* Immediate Past Chair Executive Vice President, Retired, Deputy General Counsel PIMCO Saar Swartzon,* Vice Chair Principal Attorney, Cohn & Swartzon, a Professional Law Corporation Yvonne O’Neill,* Treasurer Certified Public Accountant, O’Neill Financial Management Joseph Chatelle,* Secretary Principal, Mercer Theresa Allen,* Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, First Republic Private Wealth Management Meg Appelgate, Vice President and Managing Director, Gochnauer Family Foundation Sasha Ayloush, Director of Sales & Marketing, Hydraflow Falon Baltzell, MFA, Artistic Director, The Wooden Floor

Rich’s laser focus on financial stewardship is a hallmark of his legacy at The Wooden Floor.

Ginnie and Rich provided scholarships to any student of The Wooden Floor accepted to their alma mater, the University of Redlands, covering all unmet financial need for the students’ entire 4-year university tenure.

Ginnie and Rich’s stalwart support and love for our mission and the students we serve cannot be understated. They will be remembered for their excellence, commitment and stewardship, as well as their kindness and sense of humor. They are dearly missed.

Michelle Dean,* Community Leader Brent Funston, Chief Executive Officer, Wind River Group, LLC Elizabeth Gonzalez, Alumni Representative Community Leader Bryan Green, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones Jehan Jayakumar, Founding Partner, Carlson & Jayakumar, LLP Naveen Jonathan, PhD, LMFT, Community Representative Clinical Associate Professor of Marriage & Family Therapy, Chair, Marriage & Family Therapy, Crean College of Health & Behavioral Sciences, Chapman University Jeremy Krout, President/CEO, Environmental Planning Development Solutions, Inc.

THE WOODEN FLOOR

Richard Lee, Market President, Retired, Aetna, Southern California Iris Lopez-Guevara, Parent Representative Community Leader Catherine M. MacIver, Community Leader Dana McCollum, General Manager, American Funds/Capital Group Companies, Inc. Dale A. Merrill, MFA, Dean, College of the Arts, California State University Fullerton Linh Nguyen, Vice President, Advance Beauty College Alix Portillo, Compliance Analyst, Commercial Bank of California Dawn S. Reese, CFRE, Chief Executive Officer, The Wooden Floor Rossi Staynova, Parent Representative Community Leader Mary E. Tolar, Vice President and Senior Strategic Program Manager, American Funds/Capital Group Companies, Inc. Ernesto M. Vasquez, FAIA, NCARB, Partner & CEO, SVA Architects, Inc.

Board Emeriti Joan Beall, Community Leader Beth A. Burns, Founder of The Wooden Floor and Artistic Director (’83-’05) Sharon Hartshorn, Community Leader Richard C. Hunsaker,** President, Hunsaker Management Virginia Hunsaker,** Community Leader Damien M. Jordan, General Manager, Retired, American Funds/ Capital Group Companies, Inc. Yvonne M. Jordan, Community Leader Socorro Vasquez, Community Leader * Executive Committee Members. ** In Memoriam.

Last Modified: February 4, 2021

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NAMED IN

ORANGE COUNTY BUSINESS J O U R N A L’ S TOP 5 FUNDRAISING B R E A K FA S T S FOR

7 CONSECUTIVE YEARS!

THA N K

YO U

9th Step Beyond Annual Celebration®

UNDERWRITERS LEAD CLASS PARTNER Suzi Chauvel / Chauvel Foundation Linda and Tod White Charitable Fund Gail & Peter Ochs Drs. Donald & Constance Sperling

9th

CLASS PARTNER Environmental Planning Development Solutions, Inc. / Emily & Jeremy Krout Gochnauer Family Foundation Office Solutions Nicholas Pardon TROY Group, Inc. / The Dirk Family

A n n u a l Ce l e b ra t i o n ®

INNOVATION UNDERWRITER

Thursday, May 27, 2021 3:00pm Online Celebration

Advance Beauty College Michelle & Tim Dean Myra & Peter Duncan Fletcher Jones Foundation Golden Eagle Foundation Yvonne & Damien Jordan Michelle & Bob Kargenian Carole & Richard Lee Trish O'Donnell CREATIVITY UNDERWRITER

Celebrate and support the Class of 2021, The Wooden Floor’s 17th consecutive graduating class to have 100 percent of students on track to finish high school on time and enroll in higher education.

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Participate in an inspiring afternoon that will leave you filled with hope for the future leaders of our community

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Indulge in a delivered box of gourmet bites during the event

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Opportunities to join a personal online gathering with students from The Wooden Floor Class of 2021

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Recognition of Class Partners who help underwrite the college and career readiness journeys for each of our graduating classes

Michele & Joe Chatelle Ruth Ann S. Moriarty ENCOURAGEMENT UNDERWRITER Theresa & Jonathon Allen

As of February 21, 2021.

Sponsorships and individual tickets available now at TheWoodenFloor.org/StepBeyond

THE WOODEN FLOOR

Supporter Sightings “Since being introduced to The Wooden Floor, we have seen, heard, and felt the meaningful connections the students have with the dance instructors, mentors, and staff. It is these connections that consistently inspire The Wooden Floor’s students’ self-confidence and intrinsic desire to expand one’s own horizon and influence in this world, which makes The Wooden Floor a truly special and impactful organization.”

Emily and Jeremy Krout

BUILDING BLOCKS TOWARD A BRIGHTER FUTURE As part of The Wooden Floor’s year-round programs, our family services and mental health workshops have made a tremendous impact in the lives of our students and families throughout the pandemic. Despite being virtual, our students and families feel connected, heard, and supported through student Empowerment Workshops, Coffee with The Wooden Floor, and mental health workshops.

Supporters Emily and Jeremy Krout are focused on helping further The Wooden Floor’s mental health services because they believe mental wellness should be recognized as a fundamental building block toward a bright future. Impressed by the self-assurance and clarity of vision our students hold, Emily and Jeremy believe that our proactive attention to mental health will have a positive and lasting influence on our students and their families throughout their 10year journeys at The Wooden Floor and beyond.

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SANTA ANA, CA PERMIT NO. 949

1810 North Main Street Santa Ana, CA 92706-2727 714.541.8314 TheWoodenFloor.org

Please Save-the-Date!

We remain hopeful that we will be able to gather in 2021 to celebrate our students and their accomplishments as well as show them how proud we are of their resilience and determination.

9th Step Beyond Annual Celebration Thursday, May 27, 2021 | 3:00pm ONLINE CELEBRATION New date and virtual location!

Join us for a virtual gathering to support our college and career readiness programs and celebrate the seniors of our 17th consecutive graduating class on track to have a 100 percent college enrollment rate.

38th Annual Concert July 15-17 & 23-24, 2021* THE WOODEN FLOOR MAIN STREET LOCATION New dates and location!

Be inspired by our young dancers as they bring to life a new sitespecific work centered on the architecture of The Wooden Floor’s Main Street Location and reflect the organization’s history and reputation for artistic excellence.

More information at TheWoodenFloor.org/AnnualConcert

15th Annual Keep the Promise™ Wine Tasting Benefit Thursday, September 23, 2021* BIG CANYON COUNTRY CLUB New date!

Sample highly-rated wines from around the world while helping us keep the promise made to each of our students: from here, you can step anywhere.

More information at TheWoodenFloor.org/WineTasting *These dates are tentative, based on community health conditions at the time.

DanceUp is a trademark of The Wooden Floor.

More information at TheWoodenFloor.org/StepBeyond

Photography by Timothy Agler, Christine Cotter, Sarah Delgado, and Tony Lattimore. ©2021 The Wooden Floor.

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