Villa Esperanza Services will be hosting our Annual Fundraising Gala, known as Blue & White, this year at the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, CA on May 20, 2017. Our goal is to make this our most successful fundraiser ever, grossing $180,000 with about $112,000 going directly back to our programs for children, adults, and seniors with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD).

As part of the evening’s festivities, we are pleased to honor Lisa and Tim Sloan for their exemplary dedication to Villa and heartfelt support of Villa’s mission.  Lisa and Tim have been an integral part of Villa’s hope moves forward capital campaign and a part of the Villa community for many years as Villa donors, committee member, and Board member. Mitch Lehman, Editor of the San Marino Tribune, will be our auctioneer. 

Event proceeds support the wide variety of services Villa provides to individuals with I/DD.  Villa is a unique service provider, offering individualized programs and a continuum of care over the course of a lifetime, with several our clients staying with us for 20-40 years. Our customized and comprehensive programs include the Villa Esperanza School, a comprehensive non-public school for children ages 5-22; a Speech and Language Center; an Occupational Therapy Clinic; employment services for adults; adult residences in Pasadena and Thousand Oaks; three Adult Day Programs, and independent living services for adults.

Our clients have moderate to severe developmental disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, neurological and seizure disorders.  Eighty-seven percent of the children we serve have autism and 85% are non-verbal.  In addition, Villa serves a very vulnerable and economically challenging population; 90% of those Villa serves are low-income based on the federal poverty guidelines. 

Inclusion was a founding principle for Villa, and the organization continues to advocate for the rights of I/DD individuals to be welcomed as a part of the community.  Villa partners with nearly 60 local businesses,and our adults donate 8,000 volunteer hours annually at other nonprofits. These partners have experienced first-hand what our special adults are capable of. Misconceptions about the developmentally disabled have been dispelled and perceptions shifted. 

The need for these services continues to grow as the population Villa serves grows.  In 2014, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the prevalence of autism is on the rise. New data indicates that 1 in 68 children have autism, a 30% increase since 2008 when rates were 1 in 88. As these children transition into adulthood, there is an urgent need to have support programs and services in place that can accommodate this growing population and provide lifelong care.  In addition, the number of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, 60 years and older, is projected to nearly double from 641,860 in 2000 to 1.2 million by 2030.

Villa provides the tools and support necessary for children, adults and seniors with special needs to achieve their goals, live fulfilling lives and embrace a sense of belonging and acceptance. The state funding we receive does not cover the cost of providing these comprehensive services. Additional funds must be raised through fundraising events, grants and donations. This support is vital and allows us to continue to provide these much needed and important programs.