Brea Junior High School Teacher Inspires His Students to Think About the Needs of Others

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell, where his influence stops.”
-Henry Brooks Adams – American Writer


John David Williams, 8th grade Language Arts Teacher at Brea Junior High School inspires his students to look beyond themselves and beyond their immediate classroom. He challenges them to look at the greater issues in the world and to think about the needs of others. For nearly ten years, John has shared with his students the issues of homelessness and the work HomeAid Orange County does to provide housing for homeless families and individuals.

Their call to action is to raise funds in support of HomeAid Orange County. Each year they create a silent auction fundraising event. These incredibly bright and resourceful kids use their business letter writing assignment to solicit donations. Their enthusiasm and dedication has been contagious and now two other teachers (Catherine Bott and Denise Palczewski) and their classes have joined the cause.

Many of the communities’ local businesses are facing a challenging economy and although willing a lot of companies were unable to contribute. The students didn’t give up and were rewarded for their perseverance. A $500 donation from Wal-Mart Brea, a parent donating a cherished autographed Joe Montana jersey, donations from Embassy Suites, a luxury suite (for 20 people) at a Clipper game in addition to many more items and cash donations helped these spectacular kids break their own fundraising record. They raised more than $3,600!!

When the students were asked why they were so determined to make this event successful Josh (an 8th grad student) shared, “Some kids have other things to worry about other than homework and school. They’re worried about if they’re going to have food to eat and where they are going to sleep at night. I realized how fortunate we are.”

John has planted the seed of philanthropy in the lives of these students. This has already proven to be an enduring legacy. One of his former students shared with him that she is now leading fundraising efforts at high school in support of community needs.

“I really want my students to realize that the tools they use in the classroom can make a tangible difference in someone’s life, and what a great feeling it is to help others…who in turn can return the favor to someone else. “ John David Williams

Laura's House Partners with HomeAid Orange County to Celebrate Groundbreaking its New Emergency Shelter for Families Impacted by Domestic Violence

To meet the growing need for emergency shelter and long-term transitional housing services for families impacted by domestic violence, Laura’s House, a non-profit organization whose mission is to change the social beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence, while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse, recently embarked on a $4.5 million Cornerstone Capital campaign to re-build its emergency shelter, and expand its transitional housing facility.

To commemorate the groundbreaking of the new emergency shelter facility, Laura’s House, in partnership with HomeAid Orange County, will host a ceremony on Thursday, March 10, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Portobello Road Resale Boutique, located at 23635 El Toro Road in Lake Forest.

“We are proud to partner with HomeAid Orange County in celebrating such an important milestone in our shelter re-build project,” said Margaret Bayston, CEO and Executive Director, Laura’s House. “For many years now, this project has been a dream for our organization, and we are grateful to all of the individuals and businesses who are committing both their time and financial resources to make this dream a reality.”

In 2010, 269 individuals, including 152 children, received services through the Laura’s House emergency shelter program. The new emergency shelter will nearly double the number of beds, from 28 beds to 44 beds and 10 cribs, effectively increasing the shelter’s annual capacity by 93%, and enabling the organization to serve 175 additional clients annually. By expanding its emergency shelter, Laura’s House will also increase countywide capacity for serving individuals impacted by domestic violence by 15%.

The groundbreaking ceremony will begin with a light breakfast, followed by a flag salute from a local Boy Scout Troop, and then an inspirational invocation. The program will include comments by Margaret Bayston; Scott Larson, Executive Director for HomeAid Orange County; Laura Khouri, Chair, Laura’s House Board of Directors; and Wayne Pinnell, Chair, Laura’s House Cornerstone Capital Campaign. City and government officials from Lake Forest and surrounding cities are expected to attend the event.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, development and building partners for the shelter re-build project will be recognized and receive certificates of appreciation for their contributions to the success of this project. Among the more than 20 companies partnering with Laura’s House in the shelter re-build are Lutzky Associates Development, LLP; William Hezmalhalch Architects, Inc.; Huitt-Zollars, Inc.; GMU Geotechnical, Inc.; Option One Engineering; Salehi Engineering, Inc.; Western National Group Contractors; Style Interiors Design, Inc.; Fidelity National Title Company; Land Concern Ltd.; Focus 360; Friedmann & Friedmann Insurance Services; and, Philips & Associates.

“Through the Laura’s House shelter re-build project, HomeAid is excited to be a part of helping to fulfill the growing need for shelter services for families devastated by domestic violence,” said Scott Larson. “The strong partnerships that we have established with builders, contractors, developers and service providers will help to ensure that at the outcome of this project, women and children will be welcomed into a space that is both comfortable and conducive to helping them build lives that are free of domestic violence.”

Following the groundbreaking ceremony, Portobello Road will be hosting an open house to celebrate its move, a few doors down from its original location, and its second anniversary in Lake Forest.

About the Cornerstone Capital Campaign
The Laura’s House Cornerstone Capital Campaign was officially launched in September 2010 to raise $4.5 million to fund the shelter re-build project and expansion of transitional housing for shelter graduates. The campaign committee is chaired by Wayne Pinnell, who most recently served as the chair for Laura’s House board of directors. Honorary chairs of the Cornerstone Campaign are Bette and Wylie Aitken. Campaign committee members include Beth Adkisson, Chris Aitken, Jennifer Boyer, Laverne Friedmann, Randy Harmat, Wayne Pinnell, Casey Wolin and Brenda Zalke. The capital campaign has the full support of the Laura’s House Board of Directors..

For more information on the Cornerstone Campaign please call the Development Department at (949) 361-3775.

About Laura’s House
Annually, Laura’s House provides residential shelter services to more than 200 women and children, counseling to more than 300 clients, legal services to more than 300 clients and assists with more than 1,700 crisis hot-line calls. The mission of Laura’s House is changing social beliefs, attitudes and the behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.