CREER Food & Diaper Distribution Holidays Fundraiser
Dear Friends of CREER,
Greetings! We hope this note find you and your families doing well and you are looking forward to an amazing Holiday Season! All of us at CREER would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who has contributed to our services and programs. We would not have been able to make it this far without your support. We also want to thank all our volunteers for their dedication and hard work; you are the heart that makes us beat!
As many in our community, we have been severely affected by the aftermath of the COVID-19 Crisis not only financially, but more importantly, it has forced us to restructure our organization and limited resources to accommodate the reimplementation of the 2023 CREER summer programs as well as to continue to implement our food and diaper distribution efforts to continue to help more than 450 families with their number one concern which is food insecurity. Unfortunately, in April of this year, and due to the ending of most government programs, lack of food at the food banks, and limited funding, we were forced to change our food distribution schedule to bi-weekly instead of weekly.
We are requesting your help this Holiday Season to raise the $20,000.00 that we need to continue with our food and diaper distribution efforts next year. It is of vital importance that we raise these funds in the next sixty days. We know that with your help and generosity, we will be able to achieve our goal.
“No one can measure the effects of a single act of giving, for its repercussions are beyond our limited imagination.” -Taitetsu Unno.
The CREER Food Pantry has completed 171 weeks (42 Months) of food and diaper distribution to families affected economically by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, and by Tuesday, October 17th, 2023, we have distributed more than 2,829 pallets, 152,878 boxes/bags of food, 191 pallets of diapers, and more than $168,898.00 in emergency funds and goods. The food boxes represent 611,512 meals distributed in 42 months. During the last 171 weeks, the average number of families served is 109,578 with an average of 4 individuals per family, the average number of people served by the pantry is 438,312.
During the last three years, we also distributed more than 2,500 Christmas Presents to the most vulnerable families at the CREER Pantry. In 2023, and in coordination with OTHENA and Latino Health Access, we conducted a Vaccination Clinic and six COVID-19 Testing Clinics at the CREER facilities where members of our community were vaccinated and tested for the disease. In addition to these partnerships, a newly developed and close partnership with The Outreach Program Services of America, allowed us to distribute hundreds of FREE Android SKY PAD 10 Tables with free internet access for 5 years from the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to qualifying candidates during the first six months of the year. We were also able to implement the CREER Summer Programs this year, and thanks to the long partnership with Emerald Cove Day Camps, we were able to send all the CREER Summer Programs participants to their Summer Camps on full scholarships as well as send two CREER volunteers to the Yosemite Sierra Summer Camps.
Additionally, CREER Comunidad y Familia was part of the Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF), a statewide initiative to help local regions develop new, community-centered, and sustainable economic development plans. We supported the CERF effort here in South Orange County and interviewed hundreds of our parents at the CREER Food and Diaper distribution for this process.
We are looking into the future with hope, and with your help, the continued support of the OC Food Bank, the City of San Juan Capistrano, and the generosity of so many members of our community, we will make sure our children and their families continue to have food on their tables and much needed access to quality educational programs.
Please help us celebrate this Holiday Season by donating to any of our programs and sending your check to CREER Comunidad y Familia at P.O. Box 1347, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693 or using the donate now button below. Any funding consideration will be heartedly appreciated by all of us at CREER, but more importantly our children and their families. We thank you again for your continued support and dedication to the CREER Mission. Have an amazing Holiday Season!
With All Our Gratitude,
Angeles, Rosario, The CREER Board of Directors,
Our Children, & their Families.
CREER Food Distribution Photo Gallery
About Us
Who We Are
CREER a 501 (c) (3) non-profit based in San Juan Capistrano, CA was founded in 2004 and in 2007 became a non-profit. The number of children, youth and families served by CREER’s combined programs is approximately 10,080 a year.
CREER develops positive programs to guide our youth in productive, self-sufficient life paths. We are one of the most effective providers of educational programs, parent education, community / youth leadership and gang prevention programs for at risk children and families in South Orange County.
CREER’s Primary Geographic Area is South Orange County: San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, San Clemente, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Rancho Santa Margarita, Ladera Ranch and adjacent cities.
Although 95% of the families that CREER serves live in poverty, all of our programs are universal, inclusive, and will never be discriminatory to anyone. In fact, by default, we work with a large number of children with learning disabilities that are benefiting from our homework club, tutoring and summer programs.
Our Commitment
We would like to emphasize that all members of CREER believe in the development of academics, fine arts and leadership programs and that with the help of these programs CREER strives to instill a strong sense of community in the lives of the most vulnerable and underprivileged children and their families in our community.
CREER aims to give our children and youth academic success leading to higher education and an artistic base as alternatives to the negative influences that surround them. Our cultural and performing arts program specially aims to give the children and youth of our community the opportunity to develop a strong sense of belonging and also to understand that hard work and commitment will help them achieve their goals in life. We at CREER believe that if we give children and youth the means to express themselves in a positive way it will help to deter future crime, thus making our community a safer place for all.
CREER Programs
In 2012, we at CREER, decided that the fastest and most efficient way for permanent social impact was to concentrate our efforts and limited resources into education. The same year, and with the help of several very talented individuals we co-wrote the CREER Community Education Initiative (CCEI).
Following are the CREER Educational Programs as outlined in CCEI:
1. CREER Homework Club K-12th Grades. School Year-Round Program
2. CREER Afterschool Tutoring Program Pre-K-12th Grades. Five Six-week Sessions Scheduled in 2018.
3. CREER Summer Program Pre-K-12th Grades. One Six-week Session Scheduled in 2018. At the end of every Summer Session we hold a closing ceremony, where all children have the opportunity to share their achievements and art works. This event offers a very unique opportunity for family bonding and community togetherness, while giving children a strong sense of pride and empowerment.
Children enrolled in these programs also learn vital study skills, workmanship and the joy and pride in learning; giving them a sense of empowerment that will help them achieve their academic goals.
CREER's Mission
Our Mission
Our Mission
Our Mission
To develop children, youth and families through educational, cultural, arts, sports and civic leadership programs.
Our Vision
Our Mission
Our Mission
To create inspiring programs that transform lives and generations through education, culture, athletics, civic leadership and community involvement.
Our Values
Our Mission
Our Values
Believing in the power of the human spirit. Believing in the power of community. Believing all goals and dreams are achievable.
Meet the Team
CREER's Board Members
Mrs. Shirley Sauvageau - CREER Board Member - Former Teacher. (Left)
Mrs. Adelita Coronado-Greeley - CREER Co-Founder and Board Member - Former Teacher. (Second Left)
Mr. Ricardo Beas - CREER Board Member - Ricardo's Place Restaurant Co-Owner and Community Leader. (Center)
Mr. & Mrs. Kramer - CREER Supporters & Financial Contributors. (Right)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Mr. Joe Soto,
President
The Soto Company – CEO
Mayor, City of SJC – (2004 & 2008)
Mr. Ricardo Beas,
Vice-President
Ricardo’s Place Restaurant – Owner
Community Leader,
Rotary Club Member
Mrs. Adela Greeley-Coronado,
Secretary
CREER Founder,
Credential Educator – Retired
Former Illinois Teacher of the Year
Mrs. Vera Assanti,
Treasurer
Partner / Office Manager / Accountant
Assanti & Associates, P.C
MEMBERS
Mrs. Shirley Sauvageau
Credential Educator – Retired
Faculty Volunteer Member – CREER
Mrs. Lourdes Gutierrez
Business Owner / Community Leader
Ms. Aurea Florentino
Dental Assistant / Community Leader
Mr. Jeff Singer
Sailor,
Angel for the Art’s-Emeritus – Former
Board Member SJC FOL – Former,
Dr. Bob Manniello,
Neonatal & Pediatric Physician – Retired
Rockin with the Doc Host /
OCRockRadio.com
ADVISORY BOARD
Mrs. Louise Dumais
Credential Educator – Retired,
Faculty Volunteer Member – CREER
Mrs. Rosa Beas
Educator – Retired,
Principal of Head Start – Former
Mrs. Kathy Rowley
Credential Educator – Retired,
Faculty Volunteer Member – CREER
Mr. Javier Martinez
Founding Board Member,
Corazones Alegres Director – Former
Mr. Juan Peña
Founding Board Member,
Director of Atlas SJC Soccer League
STAFF MEMBERS
Ms. Angeles Ceballos
Executive Director
Ms. Rosario Rowell
Director of Education
CREER's Volunteers
Thank you to all our volunteers for your support and dedication. Our Staff and Board Members understand and value your hard work. We know that you are the legs we stand on and the heart that makes us beat so we can continue with our Mission. Thank you Ladies and Gentlemen from the bottom of our hearts...
CREER's Staff
Ms. Angeles Ceballos - Executive Director (Left)
Ms. Rosario Rowell - Director of Education (Right)
Miss. Andrea Romero - Summer Music, Reading & Writing Teacher
(Center)
All CREER Staff, Faculty and Volunteer Faculty are qualified to work with children. We have seven retired credentialed teachers who teach classes in a daily basis and during the Summer Programs. According to Mrs. Dumais, Educator with a Masters in Special Education and former Principal of Prentice School: “Between all of us, we have over 350 years of experience and expertise working with children k-12 Grades, we love it and are overwhelmingly passionate about our programs.” Mrs. Dumais is a CREER volunteer, who developed and currently implements the writing program.
Sponsor a Child Campaign
The CREER Sponsor a child Campaign will give a child the opportunity to learn and close the academic and cultural gaps that poverty creates. Your donation of only $60.00 will sponsor a child for one class for 6 weeks. $360.00 will provide a Full Afterschool or Summer Session consisting of 6 classes for 6 weeks.
Please donate!!
Picture: 2017 CREER Summer Programs - Reading & Comprehension Class - 1st-2nd Grades.