Newsletter Fall 2023

Marking

Alumna Sophia Sáenz gives back, pg.

In the First Person: Alumnus Vincent Perez, pg. 6

40 years of success, pg. 12

Dawn S. Reese Chief Executive Officer

The Alumni Story

As I was reflecting on the culmination of our 40th Anniversary Year, we have had so many incredible experiences with our students, alumni, supporters, and staff to celebrate all that we have accomplished together.

One of the goals within our current Strategic Vision 2021-2031 to Drive Social Innovation, Grow Impact and Uplift Our Community has been to increase our efforts for alumni engagement to connect and learn from our alumni, create opportunities for alumni to serve as role models and mentors for our current students, and also to share with you more of their stories of personal successes. I can happily say that we have made quite a bit of headway in seeing more alumni return to where they call their “second home” and make a difference in the lives of the students we serve today, who are following in their footsteps.

Many alumni have said that they attribute their success today, like alumnus Vincent Perez (story on page 6), to what they learned during their formative childhood years at The Wooden Floor…especially the courage to strive for their highest potential, both in school and in life.

Today, The Wooden Floor has alumni serving in various capacities within the organization including:

■ Presenting on Career Day panels and special workshops on important career topics driven by alumni and student feedback, as seen in the Mission Moment (story on page 3)

■ Serving as ambassadors and keynote speakers at our special events such as the Step Beyond Annual Breakfast, where Dr. Sarah Lopez, MD, MBA, spoke, and the Keep the Promise Wine Tasting Benefit, as well as inviting guests to events to learn about our mission, and volunteering for Annual Concert, Annual Auditions, Keep the Promise, and Eat & Wrap each year.

■ Becoming supporters of The Wooden Floor, either through their employers and/or individually.

■ Mentoring by becoming faculty members and tutors to encourage students to seek their highest dance education and academic goals for themselves.

■ Joining the growing Alumni Professional Network, with two alumni serving on The Wooden Floor’s Board of Directors.

I thought you would like to see this poignant video from our 40th Anniversary Celebration Dinner to launch our Step Forward Endowment Campaign, which includes remarks from Board Emerita Sharon Hartshorn, Former Board Member Terry Hartshorn, Board Emerita Socorro Vasquez, and Board Member Ernesto Vasquez. Alumna Alejandra Salazar, Class of 2013, shares her story of triumph, which is emblematic of the influence The Wooden Floor has made in her life as well as in the lives of her two siblings, Daniella, Class of 2021, and Juan Carlos, Class of 2023.

As we look ahead to our next 40 years, there will be countless inspiring stories of success thanks to supporters like you, whose steadfast commitment and loving hearts ensure our students have the hope and opportunity to pursue their big dreams for their bright futures ahead. On behalf of our students and alumni, I thank you!

With gratitude, Dawn

S. Reese

@DawnSReese

WATCH: The impact of The Wooden Floor’s Endowment

Mission Moment

Sophia Sáenz, alumna from the Class of 2014, developed curriculum and volunteered to lead a three-part “Express Your Excellence” workshop for our high school seniors as well as fellow alumni of The Wooden Floor. Topics included identifying your professional “superpowers,” developing your personal brand, professional meal etiquette, and the art of humblebragging. Sophia earned a BS in Management Information Systems from DePaul University’s Driehaus School of Business. Prior to graduation, she worked as a Program Management Intern for HERE Technologies, an international location intelligence company. During her internship, she developed a language-identifying software concept for her company’s smartphone application, granting her a U.S. Patent in December 2020.

Newsfeed

SUMMER STEAM AND READING WORKSHOPS JUNE 2023

For five weeks this summer, students in third through eighth grades participated in fun activities that meet Common Core State Standards for reading as well as Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). The STEAM workshop guided students through inquiry, discussion, and problem-solving skills using hands-on learning projects. The reading program encouraged creativity, critical thinking, and communication, as well as emphasizing the idea that reading is fun!

SUMMER DANCE MASTER CLASSES JULY 2023

Annually, our summer dance curriculum includes master classes, giving students exposure to a wide variety of dance genres. This year’s master classes included Cumbia, Quebradita, and Latin Shines taught by Dr. Irvin Manuel Gonzalez. Dr. Gonzalez received his PhD in Critical Dance Studies from the University of California, Riverside and is from Primera Generación Dance Collective.

ALUMNI PROFESSIONAL NETWORK RECEPTION

JUNE 2023

As a part of The Wooden Floor’s 40th Anniversary Celebration Weekend, a reception was hosted to engage with our alumni from throughout our four decades. Alumni enjoyed networking before our Arts Night Out as well as our 40th Annual Concert performance.

SUMMER COLLEGE TOURS

JULY 2023

Our high school students spent a part of their summer attending college tours at University of Southern California, Chapman University, and California State University Los Angeles. As part of our College and Career Readiness program, we ensure our students are able to experience different types of college campuses to help prepare them for the college application process.

BEST PLACES TO WORK 2023

JULY 2023

The Wooden Floor celebrated the honor of being named one of Orange County Business Journal’s Best Places to Work for 2023 at a staff lunch. The OC's Best Places to Work is the result of months of surveying employees and management at hundreds of Orange County businesses. The final list of 100 companies represents those that scored highest on a proprietary ranking done for the Business Journal by Houston-based Workforce Research Group.

STANFORD UNIVERSITY GRADUATION

JUNE 2023

CEO Dawn S. Reese traveled to Palo Alto to attend the graduation of Monica Tavassoli, The Wooden Floor’s first alumni to graduate from Stanford University. Monica received a Bachelor of Science in Management Science and Engineering with a minor in Sociology. She is now enrolled in Stanford’s Masters in Sustainability Science and Practice program.

In the First Person:

"At The Wooden Floor, dance taught me the foundations of experimentation, collaboration, giving weight, and utilizing space. Through experimentation, I knew things of beauty and calm could be created from spontaneity. From collaboration, I learned how to work and partner with others to reach an end goal. Through giving weight, I learned that I could lean on people who I knew would serve as a foundation in my life. I could command a stage by utilizing space and letting those around me know I am here and willing. Dance taught me many life lessons that translated into my academic career and life.

Growing up in a family that did not have the tools to support academics created a gap that The Wooden Floor was able to fill. The Wooden Floor gave me the tools and the reinforcement so that I could go to college and be surrounded by a community of others who would go on to do the same. Seeing my peers at The Wooden Floor enter their universities provided a drive I never knew I needed. When I needed academic advice or supplemental financial aid, The Wooden Floor supported me.

I wish everyone knew how impactful and transformative dance could be for young people. The Wooden Floor is the epicenter of change for many lives in Orange County. My life would have been entirely different if it had not been for The Wooden Floor. I would not have learned my most vital life lessons. The Wooden Floor has shaped me into the person I am today."

Vincent Perez, Class of 2018 Alumnus of The Wooden Floor

Vincent is currently a Senior Creative Strategist at Salesforce. After graduating from The Wooden Floor, he attended San Francisco State University, where he earned both a BA in Dance and a BA in Liberal Studies. He worked with the San Francisco State Dance Department, Joffrey Ballet School West, American Dance Festival, and others. Vincent then went on to graduate from the University of Southern California in 2021 with a Master of Science in Integrated Design Business and Technology. He was the commencement speaker for both his undergraduate and graduate ceremonies and is on track to earn an AA in Creative Coding and Immersive Technologies from Portland Community College. His career highlights include fabricating a physical prototype that used light to reset the circadian rhythm of patients with PTSD; participating in OpenIDEO’s Education (Re)Open, which reimaged passion finding for students; as well as conducting ethnographic research with Apple Education to reimagine the in-classroom experience.

THURSDAY, September 28, 2023 at 6:00pm

Big Canyon Country Club Newport Beach, California

17TH ANNUAL

▫ A fun, strolling wine tasting competition

▫ Signature small plates

▫ Sharing of student success stories

▫ Silent auctions and opportunity drawings

▫ Giving opportunities

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

2023-2024 Board of Directors

Theresa Allen,* Board Chair

Managing Director, RBC Wealth Management

Judith F. Posnikoff, PhD,* Immediate Past Chair Managing Director, Martlet Asset Management, LLC

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

Milton J. Acosta, Corporate Finance Manager, Ingram Micro

Wendy Arciero Executive Director of Anaheim Ducks Foundation, Anaheim Ducks

Sasha Ayloush,* Director of Sales & Marketing, Hydraflow

Seán Curran, Chair, Department of Dance, NYU Tisch School of the Arts

Michelle Dean,* Community Leader

Christina Di Rocco, Business Solution Design Manager, Capital Group Companies, Inc.

Brent Funston, Chief Executive Officer, Wind River Group, LLC

Elizabeth Gonzalez, Alumni Representative Community Leader

Raquel Gonzalez, Parent 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

Laura King, Choreo Advisory Council Chair

Account Director, Financial Services, Salesforce

Jeremy Krout, President/CEO, Environmental Planning Development Solutions, Inc.

Richard Lee, Market President, Retired, Aetna, Southern California

Catherine M. MacIver, Community Leader

Alix Portillo, Assistant Vice President, Compliance Monitoring Officer, Genesis Bank

Morgan Ratcliffe, Executive Director, Chief Communications Officer, Providence Health Plan

Dawn S. Reese, CFRE, Chief Executive Officer, The Wooden Floor

Jim Slaughter, Partner, Slaughter & Slaughter, LLP

Shervin Vadood, Vice President, Branch Manager, Farmers & Merchants Bank

Ernesto M. Vasquez, FAIA, NCARB, Partner & CEO, SVA Architects, Inc.

Fabiola Velazquez, Parent Representative Community Leader

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

Step Forward:

BUILDING UPON 40 YEARS OF IMPACT

As part of our 40th Anniversary celebration year, The Wooden Floor is launching a special fundraising campaign, Step Forward. This campaign is specifically designed to further grow The Wooden Floor’s Endowment Fund to ensure future generations of students have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential both in school and in life.

What is the impact of Endowment resources to The Wooden Floor?

■ Serve hundreds more students each year through our community engagement efforts

■ Reach those students least likely to be able to afford the programs and services we offer

■ Maintain our connected-campus model plus potential new spaces, and so much more.

Why now? The past three+ years of the pandemic have shined a light on the increased significance The Wooden Floor has had in the lives of our students and families and in our community. We had to pause our efforts to build upon the Endowment Fund, as our organization worked tirelessly to ensure that even in the midst of the pandemic and its aftermath, our students will have the social, emotional, and academic well-being to propel their lives forward and towards their big dreams for higher education and beyond. Now it is time to take the next step forward to meet the growing needs of our students:

■ 100% of the students who graduate from The Wooden Floor enroll in higher education. Our goal is to give even more children in low-income communities the same inspiration through the expansion of programming, including increased academic, social, and emotional wellness support to remediate pandemic learning losses.

The Wooden Floor Endowment Campaign

■ The Wooden Floor graduation class sizes are growing, which will require more staffing and financial resources. Our goal is to support the transitions between high school to higher education through increased mentorship, career exploration, workforce development and scholarship awards.

■ The Endowment Fund will help us to sustain the high impact and quality programs and services that we are known for by our students, our families, and our community. When a student makes a commitment to The Wooden Floor, we must be prepared to make a 10-year financial commitment to their journey towards higher education and beyond. Our goal is to provide longterm financial sustainability for today, and future generations of students to come.

ENDOWMENT FUND OPPORTUNITIES

There are three main areas of focus where gifts to the endowment can make an impact. For those supporters interested in honoring a loved one, or leaving a special legacy, permanently named funds can be established for gifts above $100,000.

The Wooden Floor Endowment

(in support of greatest need)

Contributions to The Wooden Floor’s Endowment Fund create a legacy of your support and ensure the strength of the organization for years to come. The Wooden Floor Endowment supports areas of greatest need such as inventive artistic and performance opportunities; strategically integrated wrap-around services including increased mental health support, academic tutoring, and technology; college and career readiness; individualized mentoring beginning as early as 6th grade; family support services, and much more.

The Wooden Floor Scholarship Endowment

Since 2000, The Wooden Floor has provided $1.8M in college/university scholarship awards to our graduates. Today, the organization has over 120 alumni in colleges and universities across the nation, and its graduation class sizes are growing each year. Direct gifts or planned gifts towards The Wooden Floor’s Scholarship Endowment create long-term sustainability for the College Scholarship Awards program, to support more tailored college scholarship awards to keep pace with students’ access to higher education, and help ensure our students graduate. The Wooden Floor alumni graduate with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree at rate of 55 percent, as compared to 12 percent* of their socioeconomic peers.

*Postsecondary National Policy Institute 2020.

Build Upon the Future Endowment

Direct gifts or planned gifts in support of The Wooden Floor campus locations will ensure that we will be able to grow prudently with our focus on financial sustainability; support the infrastructure and staffing required to sustain services; and update and improve upon our beautiful facilities for our students, such as building maintenance and technology upgrades, including personal laptop computers.

JOIN US IN CELEBRATING

Please consider joining The Wooden Floor in celebrating our 40th Anniversary with a gift to our Step Forward Endowment Campaign, which aims to strengthen our important mission to inspire and transform the lives of young people through the power of dance and access to higher education. We are happy to share more and discuss your thoughts on how you can make a difference today with a direct gift, and/or through your estate planning as part of The Wooden Floor Legacy Society. Please contact CEO Dawn S. Reese at 714-541-8314 or at Info@TheWoodenFloor.org. With you walking by our side, we will step forward together.

THANK YOU FOR 40 YEARS OF IMPACT AND BEYOND

As we reflect over the past 40 years, we are heartened by the collective efforts of our Board of Directors, staff, and supporters—those who came before us, those who are with us today, and those who will follow us in the years ahead—for upholding the promise we make to our students: from here you can step anywhere. Together, we are making an incredible difference in the lives of young people, our mission, and our community. Thank You!

Step Beyond Annual Breakfast™ April 2023

We honored our Class of 2023 at the 11th Step Beyond Annual Breakfast. Attendees heard moving remarks from our keynote speaker, Dr. Sarah Lopez, MD, MBA, an alumna of The Wooden Floor, along with Class of 2023 student speaker Kimberly Escalante who shared about the lasting impact of her 10year journey at The Wooden Floor. We thank all of our supporters and guests who gathered together to recognize our students’ accomplishments and help support The Wooden Floor’s College and Career Readiness program.

From left: Alumna Dr. Sarah Lopez, Board Vice Chair Saar Swartzon, Class of 2023 graduate Kimberly Escalante, CEO Dawn S. Reese.

From left: Board Emeriti and Dance Partners Yvonne and Damien Jordan, with Class of 2023 graduate Amy Morales

The Wooden Floor Graduating Class of 2023

40th Anniversary Celebration Weekend

June 2023

Board members, supporters, staff, alumni, students, and their families marked The Wooden Floor’s 40 years of impact aptly centered around our 40th Annual Concert performances, including at an Opening Night Toast, Alumni Reception, and an alfresco pre-performance gala dinner with special honors to Board Emerita Sharon Hartshorn and past Board Member Terry Hartshorn, as well as Board Emeriti Socorro Vasquez and Board Member Ernesto Vasquez for their legacy, leadership, and love for our mission and students. As our CEO Dawn S. Reese said, “Over our 40-year history, we have been blessed with wonderful students, families, and staff, as well as the generosity of a community of supporters who have made an indelible footprint on our organization.” We look forward to the next 40 years and everything we will accomplish together.

The Wooden Floor Founder and Artistic Director ('83-'05) Beth Burns (far right) with Board Members and supporters of The Wooden Floor

From left: Alumna Daniela Salazar, CEO Dawn S. Reese, Alumna Alejandra Salazar

From left: CEO Dawn S. Reese, Board Emerita Sharon Hartshorn and past Board Member Terry Hartshorn

From left: Jaqueline Fede and Concert Underwriter Emily Krout

The Wooden Floor students

From left: CEO Dawn S. Reese, Board Emerita Socorro Vasquez and Board Member Ernesto Vasquez

1810 North Main Street Santa Ana, CA 92706-2727

714.541.8314

TheWoodenFloor.org

17th Annual Keep the Promise Wine Tasting Benefit

September 28, 2023 | 6:00pm

BIG CANYON COUNTRY CLUB, NEWPORT BEACH

A fun, strolling blind wine tasting competition featuring twelve spectacular wines from around the world, all rated 97 pts. and above. Proceeds help us keep the promise to each of our students: from here, you can step anywhere.

More information at TheWoodenFloor.org/WineTasting

Annual Auditions

October 21, 2023 | 8:30am

THE WOODEN FLOOR MAIN STREET LOCATION

Know a child who needs us? Spread the word throughout our community about the opportunity to join The Wooden Floor.

More information at TheWoodenFloor.org/Auditions

Eat & Wrap

December 4, 2023 | 11:00am

THE WOODEN FLOOR MAIN STREET LOCATION

Join The Wooden Floor as we bring holiday cheer to our 475 students! Enjoy wrapping gifts for each and every child and decorating trees to be sent home with students who would otherwise go without.

More information at TheWoodenFloor.org/Events