Edhat Reader
By CALM
CALM’s annual fundraising luncheon, CALM at Heart, shattered records this year by raising over $510,000 to support childhood trauma prevention and treatment services across Santa Barbara County. On Friday, November 15, 330 guests gathered at Rosewood Miramar Beach to celebrate CALM’s impactful work in the community.
At the event, guests heard from several voices including CALM staff, leaders, former clients and community partners in a video about what makes the organization special. Then, Adolfo Garcia, CALM’s Chief Operating Officer, delivered an inspiring speech reflecting on his experiences during his 20-year tenure with the organization. Sharing stories from his time working directly with clients, Garcia stated, “These stories are why I’m still here. The work is meaningful and rewarding. My experiences at CALM have shown me how crucial it is to work with families as early as possible to prevent trauma before it happens.”
CALM’s President and CEO, Alana Walczak, spoke to the organization’s 54-year history of determining what works to create lasting change for children, families, and communities. Walczak emphasized the power of healing and prevention, saying, “If we can gain the trust of a child today and help them to heal, then that child has the capacity to grow up to become a healthy adult and a positive parent for their own child someday. That is when we change the trajectory of a family forevermore. In so doing, we change our community – by interrupting the intergenerational cycle of trauma. One child and one family at a time.”
Walczak also encouraged the audience to come together as leaders in the community to stand up for what they believe in: “Our community’s children are looking to us. They depend on us. They rely on our strength and our collective action.”
The success of CALM at Heart underscores the deep commitment of CALM’s supporters and community partners to protect children, strengthen families, and build a resilient future. CALM serves as a beacon of hope for thousands of families each year, and the event was a powerful reminder of the impact that can be made when the community comes together. As Walczak said, “It is truly up to us to create the world we want – for ourselves, for each other, and for our children.”
For more information about CALM and its mission to prevent childhood trauma, heal children and families, and build resilient communities, please visit calm4kids.org.
About CALM
CALM is a community-based mental health agency with a mission to prevent childhood trauma, heal children and families, and build resilient communities throughout Santa Barbara County. CALM’s pioneering, evidence-based services represent a continuum of care that interrupts intergenerational cycles of trauma. Each year, 2,500 clients receive individual and group therapy through CALM’s clinics in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and Lompoc, and thousands more receive community-based education and mental health supports. With a 54-year history in Santa Barbara County, a staff that is uniquely qualified to meet the needs of families in the region, and meaningful partnerships with complementary organizations, CALM is a leader in developing a variety of culturally responsive, trauma-informed programs. To learn more, visit calm4kids.org.
Bravo! 👏👏👏👏
CALM’s most important success factor is the purpose of healing, not punishment and vindictiveness. This includes saving family relationships and reconciling the parties which saves so much long term conflict and destruction. This is why I have been giving to them for decades.