Empowering Lives Dinner 2023

Empowering Lives Dinner 2023 Recap

The Annual Empowering Lives Fundraising Dinner, held on March 10, 2023, marked a significant

milestone in Templo Calvario CDC’s 20th anniversary. With a gathering of 120 esteemed guests in

attendance, the event proved to be a resounding success, exemplifying the strong support the

organization has garnered over the years. The occasion commemorated two decades of dedicated service and showcased the profound impact Templo Calvario CDC has had on the Santa Ana community.

The event's main focus was on raising funds to further the organizations mission of empowering the youth and families of Santa Ana. Through its diverse programs, Templo Calvario CDC has become a vital pillar of support for the community. By offering critical resources, mentorship, and educational initiatives, the organization plays a pivotal role in nurturing the younger generation’s potential and strengthening families in need.

The fundraising efforts were met with great enthusiasm and generosity from the attendees, resulting in a remarkable total of $93,000 raised during the evening. These funds will serve as a lifeline for the continuation and expansion of Templo Calvario CDC's essential programs, ensuring that their impactful work can persist and flourish.

The highlight of the Annual Empowering Lives Fundraising Dinner on March 10, 2023, was the

recognition of Dawn Reese, who was honored with The Empowering Lives Award. This prestigious award celebrated her outstanding contributions and unwavering commitment to the betterment of the Santa Ana community. Through her dedication, she embodies the spirit of empowerment that Templo Calvario CDC holds dear.

The events success was made possible through the wholehearted support of numerous partners and sponsors. Notably, Pacific Premier Bank stood as the Title Sponsor, demonstrating their dedication to fostering positive change within the community. Their generosity and commitment were instrumental in making the evening a triumph.

Guiding the proceedings with charm and enthusiasm were the event MCs, Cecy Rivera and Andrew Rodriguez, both distinguished alumni of Templo Calvario CDC's Banking On Our Youth program. Their presence added a personal touch to the event, showcasing the tangible impact of Templo Calvario CDC's initiatives on the lives of the youth.

The evening was further enriched by a captivating performance from the Edward B. Cole Sr. Academy's dance team, comprising kinder through 5th graders. Their spirited and skillful presentation underscored the potential nurtured by Templo Calvario CDC's programs and added a vibrant energy to the event.

Amidst the festivities, the attendees were treated to the humor and motivational insights of comedian Dennis Gaxiola. His call to action, urging each individual to embrace their capacity to create positive change, resonated deeply with the events purpose and left a lasting impact on all those present.

In sum, the Annual Empowering Lives Fundraising Dinner not only celebrated Templo Calvario CDC's 20th anniversary but also reinforced the organizations pivotal role in uplifting the youth and families of Santa Ana. The event showcased the power of collective generosity, dedication, and community spirit, setting the stage for continued growth, empowerment, and positive transformation.

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Multi Generational Impact: The Mejia Family's Story

By yanet • December 25, 2023

Multi Generational Impact: The Mijia Family's Story

Ending The Year With Success

December 28, 2022

2023 is quickly approaching, and before we talk about goals for next year, at Templo Calvario Community Development Corporation (TCCDC) we want to reflect on the big and small successes of 2022 because we know none of it would have been possible without supporters like you. The true success of our programs and services is not in the number of people we serve, but in the impact we have on each individual who walks through our doors. There are so many stories to share, and we are pleased to tell you Diana G.’s story. Diana recently completed our Santa Ana Parent Project (SAPP), a highly effective peer-to-peer educational program designed to help parents raise healthy, highly capable, and responsible children. TCCDC was proud to relaunch SAPP this year with additional curriculum and in new sites in Santa Ana Unified School District to meet the growing needs of our community. To say that SAPP transformed Diana’s life would be an understatement because not only is Diana’s life changed forever, but her children’s lives are as well. Diana is a mother of three, and two of her children currently attend TCCDC’s Edward B. Cole Sr. Academy (EBC) and TCCDC’s Empowered Scholars Afterschool Program. Diana grew up in Santa Ana and unfortunately, lost a brother with whom she was very close to gang violence. When Diana’s youngest child turned one, Diana decided that she wanted to turn her life around not just for herself, but for her children. She started by stepping away from her group of friends who were a negative influence on her life, going back to school to earn her GED, and getting involved in her children’s lives at school. During one of the SAPP Family Fun nights at EBC, TCCDC’s Family Program Coordinator met Diana and encouraged her to sign up for the next session of SAPP. Since Nicole started SAPP, she showed incredible dedication. She didn’t miss a single class, and frequently volunteered to share her story and experiences with the rest of the group. Diana expressed that before SAPP, she was not even aware that there was another way to parent her children. “I am grateful to TCCDC because I was given the opportunity to be part of a wonderful class where I could grow and learn to be a better parent and learn from other parents and their experiences. Thank you for all the support and wonderful things we were taught in this class. We bonded and shared many things. Thank you for all this beautiful experience and the new family.” We are in awe of the progress that Diana made in such a short time, and we are excited to continue supporting her and her family. Diana expressed an interest in continuing her education and our Family Program Coordinator is assisting her with registering for classes at Santa Ana College. In addition, Diana will be participating in our next SAPP Parent Leader training where she will continue to share her story as she helps other families like hers change their lives. We are grateful to supporters like you who helped make stories like this possible. Connect with us to learn more about our work and how to volunteer and/or make a donation to support our core programs. Thank you, Rev. Lee de León President & CEO

The Heart of Volunteerism

December 22, 2022

Being of service to others is at the heart of what we do every day at Templo Calvario Community Development Corporation (TCCDC) and we could not do it without the network of supporters who play a critical role in supporting and sustaining our programs. As we work to advance our vision of Transforming Lives, Transforming Communities we are incredibly grateful for the dedication and support of our volunteers who play a critical role in creating meaningful change for those we serve, whether they serve as Banking on Our Youth (BOY) mentors and instructors, Edward B. Cole Sr. Academy and Empowered Scholars Afterschool Program volunteers, Seguro Financial instructors, or generous donors of the organization. One of these volunteers is Randy B., who has dedicated four years to mentoring students in our BOY program, a highly effective financial literacy and entrepreneurship program that provides high school juniors and seniors in Santa Ana a long-term solution to the systemic challenges of poverty, equity, and economic mobility. Having tutored and mentored within the Santa Ana community for nearly 20 years, Randy was first introduced to TCCDC by a friend and immediately impressed by TCCDC’s holistic approach to educating and empowering families in his community. Randy shared, “I believe in education and TCCDC is providing many different education opportunities for the residents of Santa Ana to be able to achieve their potential.” As a BOY mentor, Randy shares his experiences as a Santa Ana native, business and marketing student, and sales and marketing manager. Randy tries his best to be a servant leader to help others succeed and he does this by helping TCCDC create a safe place for the highly motivated and talented BOY participants to see what is possible beyond high school and college. When asked what piece of advice he would give to others looking to volunteer in their community, Randy shared, “show up and stay positive even if it seems like it isn’t making a difference. It doesn’t always work or go smoothly, but that is ok. We may never know if we made a difference, it is worth the effort.” BOY program director, Michael, shared, “clearly, Randy’s techniques work well considering his groups of students have earned scholarships the past two years. Although there is not one picture of the perfect mentor, Randy sets the example of the mentor that I hope to be to students.” We invite you to join Randy and our incredible team of volunteers and supporters as we work to empower and educate residents of Santa Ana and help make generational, transformational impact in our community. Connect with us to learn more about our work and how to volunteer and/or make a donation to support our core programs. Thank you, Rev. Lee de León President & CEO

Empowering Lives Dinner 2023