Newsletter Summer 2024

Dawn S. Reese Chief Executive Officer

Multiple Pathways of Higher Learning

At our recent 12th Step Beyond Annual Breakfast, I shared that our year has kicked off on an incredibly positive note, with all our students putting forth their best effort while demonstrating the strength and outcomes of our year-round programs. Particularly noteworthy is the success of our Class of 2024, some of whom are still receiving college acceptance letters, affirming our Value of Excellence in the programming we offer, thanks to our steadfast community of supporters. (See our Class of 2024 and the colleges and universities they have been accepted to on page 5!)

As we look ahead to our future classes of graduates who are following in the footsteps of the Class of 2024, we are seeing the landscape of K-12 education undergoing significant advancements, especially in the Santa Ana Unified School District, where over 60% of our students attend. I have been a strategic advisor in the development of the SAUSD Graduate Profile since 2021, creating an education framework to provide key youth development and academic competencies in the areas of reading literacy, math numeracy, social-emotional wellness, life skills, and workforce development.

As we collaborated on the SAUSD Graduate Profile, we learned through the National Center on Education and the Economy with a community collaborative of administrators, teachers, parents, and nonprofit community leaders, whom we met with over the past three years. Our recommendations have also been informed by the research on high performing international education systems in the countries of Singapore, Estonia, and Finland. One of the key takeaways was that today’s US education system needs alternate higher education pathways to include not only 2-year and 4-year degree attainment but also include Career Technical Education (CTE) certifications at community colleges as viable and valuable forms of higher learning.

While The Wooden Floor continues to be a beacon of hope and opportunity to help each child and their families set a bold vision for their highest educational pursuits of a 4-year degree, we believe that we can help our students choose which higher education pathway will be right for them. Our The Next Step© program, supported by our Class Partner program, foundation partners, as well as individual supporters, ensures that each child has monthly one-on-one College and Career advisement with long-term mentorship from 6th through 12th grade. We are focused on helping our students develop the life skills necessary to compete in a 21st century workforce, especially one that is technology-driven with artificial intelligence, for careers and jobs that have yet to be created.

The progress we're witnessing at The Wooden Floor, as seen by our 20th consecutive class on track to enroll in higher education, is a testament to the collective effort of our community to adapt to changing times and prepare our students for a range of future opportunities, broadening their horizons and possibilities. At this year’s Step Beyond Annual Breakfast, 58% of our graduates declared STEM majors such as Biology/ Pre-Med, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, and Computer Sciences. (See Student Speaker Jazelle Ruiz’s Step Beyond remarks on page 6.)

We know that Dance is the Answer™. Join us and help spread the word about our evolving mission to ensure more children, like our graduates, will benefit from what we call the 6Cs: Critical thinking, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Character and especially Courage — in all parts of their lives.

With gratitude,

Mission Moment

Inside the Studio

Inside the Studio invited supporters and attendees to an inside look at the work of Momar Ndiaye, one of three esteemed choreographers for our 41st Annual Concert: Onward. Momar and students showcased elements of their performance, which they co-created through variations of improv and partner work. Guests were impressed by the thought-provoking art, student to choreographer collaboration, as well as our poised student speakers. It was an interactive evening that allowed guests to get to know the student performers and see how Annual Concert pieces take shape.

SMALL ISLAND BIG SONG FEBRUARY 2024

We partnered with the Chapman University Musco Center for the Arts to bring internationally acclaimed dance company Small Island Big Song into the studio for Master Classes with our students. It was an enlightening and uplifting experience, in which our students learned the traditional dances and songs of the native tribes of Madagascar, Taiwan, and other island nations.

BUSINESS CAREER DAY MARCH 2024

The Wooden Floor partnered with Roxanne Goodman of Mountain View Services, as well as our Board Members Milton J. Acosta of Ingram Micro and Alix Portillo of Genesis Bank to inspire students to explore careers in business. Students learned about starting their own venture and navigating entrepreneurship through real stories and advice.

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP APRIL 2024

A partnership with Concordia University Irvine has been providing tutors for academic support to our students at no cost. Generously, Concordia University Irvine granted The Wooden Floor two more years of partnership, ensuring quality mentorship for our students. Concordia’s dedication and expertise have been invaluable in ensuring the success of our tutoring initiatives and the academic growth of our students. Additionally, The Wooden Floor students visited the Concordia University campus as part of our spring college tours.

INTRODUCING THE CLASS OF 2024

THE CLASS OF 2024 HAS BEEN ACCEPTED TO THE FOLLOWING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES:

Allegheny College

Azusa Pacific University

Biola University

California Polytechnic University, Humboldt

California Polytechnic University, Pomona

California State University, Bakersfield

California State University, Channel Islands

California State University, Chico

California State University, Dominguez Hills

California State University, Fullerton

California State University, Long Beach

California State University, Los Angeles

California State University, Northridge

California State University, San Marcos

Chapman University

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine

Concordia University Irvine

Cypress College

Dominican University

Earlham College

Gonzaga University

Grand Canyon University

Irvine Valley College

Loyola Marymount University

Marquette University Morningside College

Mount St. Mary’s College

Northeastern Illinois University

Orange Coast College

Rosemont College

San Diego State University

San Francisco State University

Santa Ana College

Santa Clara University

Santa Monica College

Santiago Canyon College

University of California, Davis

University of California, Irvine

University of California, Merced

University of California, Riverside

University of California, San Diego

University of California, Santa Barbara

University of California, Santa Cruz

University of Kentucky

University of La Verne

University of Oregon

University of the Pacific

University of Redlands

University of San Diego

Vanguard University

Whittier College

Daniela Alegria Ashley Bollas

Danna Coria Alexa Diaz

Emily Flores

Jazmin Gutierrez Veronica Hernandez

Ashley Herrera

Zuri Islas Brian Lopez

Emma Lopez James Lopez

Mia Martinez

Sarah Montiel Lenilson Morales Emily Morfin

Chelsie Ochoa Kate Pineda

Brisa Rodriguez Dulce Romero

Jazelle Ruiz

Marysol Sanchez

Stephanie Segura Valentina Serrano

Emma Tassev Diego Teran

Ximena Valdez

Alexander Vargas

Valezka Vega

Evelyn Vergara

Mia Villalpando

In the First Person: Jazelle CLASS OF 2024

“The Wooden Floor is a place that is committed to supporting and developing its students through the power of dance and guidance to higher education. Through a 10-year commitment, I am lucky to have been able to grow not only as a student and dancer, but most importantly, as a young woman. My foundations in movement were built here, yet my journey has always been about more than just learning to dance; it’s been about learning to use dance to explore my individuality. The faculty that I have had the privilege of learning from, have taught me to commit to my own ideas and learn from myself, taking each movement and creating it into something that is uniquely my own. There is always a chance that I will think of a creative choice as a mistake or that I will dislike something I have made myself, but I have learned to accept my own ideas and decisions as things that could lead me to a more meaningful outcome. This mentality has given me the courage to live without fear of failure, knowing that each decision I make is an opportunity for me to learn something new and will lead me to a bigger purpose if I allow it to.

The Wooden Floor’s impact extends heavily beyond just the opportunity to dance. The goal for all the students here has always been to pursue higher education, but I did not realize The Wooden Floor would uplift me in other aspects of my life beyond that target alone.

This support has continued to exist throughout my time here and was the most meaningful during the fall semester of my junior year, when I suffered a moderate concussion. This injury left me with feelings of doubt and anxiety about my future — I could not honestly see myself succeeding beyond my junior year due to the toll that it had taken on me mentally and academically. Despite my challenges, I regularly met with my academic advisors to create a plan to regain my academic and personal momentum. In doing so, I found support from people who reminded me that it was still possible to achieve my dreams of going to a 4-year university and majoring in a STEM-related field.

Despite my injury, I maintained a 4.3 GPA in both the fall and spring semesters of my junior year. This upcoming fall, I will be attending my first-choice school, Santa Clara University, majoring in biology, with plans to pursue medical school and become an OB/ GYN or pediatrician. I aspire to positively impact women and children’s healthcare in my community, inspired by the positive impact the Wooden Floor has had on this community. I am deeply grateful to The Wooden Floor staff for their unwavering support, our dedicated supporters for enabling its mission, and my classmates for being my support system throughout the past 10 years. Your belief in us, the opportunities you provide, and your encouragement have paved the way for our success.”

JAZELLE, CLASS OF 2024

Jazelle has been dancing at The Wooden Floor since she was 8 years old. She was chosen as the Step Beyond Breakfast Student Speaker, representing her Class of 2024. At the event, she shared the stage with Keynote Speaker Ambassador Gaddi Vasquez.

CONCERT

A powerful, must-see contemporary dance performance featuring the nation's top artists, designers, and choreographers working in collaboration with young people who are change agents and beacons of hope within our world. These young dancers harness their distinctive points of view to consistently produce poignant, groundbreaking dance pieces that have drawn national accolades.

Sharon & Terry Hartshorn

Yvonne & Damien Jordan

Linda and Tod White Charitable Fund

Cath MacIver & Jim Slaughter

Marilyn McIntyre

Judith F. Posnikoff

Robyn & Dave Stauffer

CONCERT PARTNER

Theresa & Jonathon Allen

Michelle & Timothy Dean

Carole & Rich Lee

CONCERT SUPPORTERS

Hydraflow — Ayloush Family

MVS Foundation

MEDIA SPONSOR

of 04/05/2024

Step Forward:

BUILDING UPON 40 YEARS OF IMPACT

The Wooden Floor Endowment Campaign

Last year, we launched a special fundraising campaign called Step Forward, which is designed to further grow our Endowment Fund to ensure future generations of students can reach their full potential, both in school and in life.

One of the ways you can contribute is through planning for your charitable legacy through a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF), which can help you pass on your values and uphold your commitment to The Wooden Floor’s mission and the impact we have in our community.

It is important to note that all gifts of any size matter to this special campaign in the form of direct cash gifts, pledges, and planned legacy commitments.

Please contact Dawn S. Reese at Dawn@TheWoodenFloor.org to discuss ways that you can make a difference.

Point your phone’s camera here to watch a video about our supporters and why endowment giving means so much to them:

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, Anaheim Ducks Foundation

Sasha Ayloush,* Director of Sales & Marketing, Hydraflow

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

Michelle Dean,* Community Leader

Jen Dibble, VP, Corporate Counsel, Edwards Lifesciences

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

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

Richard LeBrun, Managing Director and Head of Alternatives Business Management, PIMCO Investments, LLC

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

Jerry Thode, Chief Executive Officer, J Paul Group, LLC

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

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 at 6:00PM

Big Canyon Country Club Newport Beach, California

▫

From Left: Susan Painter, Annual Concert Guest Choreographer Momar Ndiaye, and Associate Underwriter Helena Lea

"I am a passionate supporter of the Wooden Floor’s Annual Concert. Why? It gives students the experience of performing works from renowned choreographers of diverse dance styles while challenging their selfperceived limitations through the high demands of performance and illuminates the unique power of dance to express one's inner spirit."

Supporter Sightings

Inside The Studio

March 2024

The Wooden Floor hosted a demonstration of Momar Ndiaye’s creative process as he and his students prepare for our 41st Annual Concert. Supporters gathered to watch the various elements of his piece and were encouraged to ask questions about the process and the students’ perspectives, moderated by Artistic Director Jennifer Bassage Bonfil. We are honored to showcase the hard work and dedication of our students and are proud to learn how the power of dance has instilled positive changes in their lives.

12th Step Beyond Annual Breakfast™ April, 2024

We are grateful to the loving and compassionate community of individuals, foundations, corporations, and community partners who are generous underwriters and supporters of our students’ success at our 12th Step Beyond Annual Breakfast, helping us raise nearly $300,000. We were also moved by the strong presence and commitment to our graduating class by civic leaders, education partners, and alumni who attended. Congratulations to the Class of 2024, who are all headed to higher education!

Helena Lea, Annual Concert Associate Underwriter

From Left: Board Member Richard Lee, Annual Concert Guest Choreographer Momar Ndiaye, Artistic Director Jennifer Bassage Bonfil, Board Secretary Joseph Chatelle, and Roy McCord.

From Left: Keynote Speaker Ambassador Gaddi Vasquez, Student Speaker Jazelle Ruiz, and The Wooden Floor's CEO Dawn S. Reese

1810 North Main Street

Santa Ana, CA 92706-2727

714.541.8314

TheWoodenFloor.org

Follow us @TheWoodenFloor

Please Save the Date!

Please gather with us at the following events to help propel our students and our mission forward.

41st Annual Concert: Onward

May 30 - June 1, 2024 | 8:00pm nightly plus 2:30pm Saturday matinee

IRVINE BARCLAY THEATRE

Be inspired by our young dancers as they perform new dance works co-created with leading contemporary dance choreographers, reflecting the organization’s reputation for artistic excellence.

More information at TheWoodenFloor.org/AnnualConcert

Arts Night Out

May 31, 2024 | 6:45pm

IRVINE BARCLAY THEATRE

Free bonus for Friday Annual Concert ticket holders! Make it an Arts Night Out! Explore the work in Onward with the cast and choreographers Tristan Koepke and Momar Ndiaye at a free pre-concert chat moderated by Jennifer Bassage Bonfil, The Wooden Floor’s Artistic Director.

More information at TheWoodenFloor.org/AnnualConcert

18th Annual Keep the Promise Wine Tasting Benefit™

September 19, 2024 | 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

Photography by

Sargeant

The Wooden Floor.