Lift: Leave Your Legacy, pg. 8
Celebrate our Class of 2020, pg. 10
SPRING
Marco learns to shine, pg. 6
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Pivot to the Future As we embark on 2020, there has been a lot of discussion on what the next decade will bring to our world, to Orange County, and especially to the young people in our community. As an organization, we have been undertaking a tremendous amount of contemplation and evaluation as we enter the final year of our 2010-2020 Strategic Vision. As supporters and advocates of The Wooden Floor, you have so much to be proud about. Over this past decade, we have achieved: ■ Building upon our rich artistic legacy to become one of the foremost creative youth development organizations in the country by using the transformative power of dance to lift children out of poverty.
Dawn S. Reese
Chief Executive Officer @DawnSReese
■ Creating a 10-year journey for students to succeed both in school and in life throughout elementary, middle, and high school. ■ Growth and expansion of our programs, which includes college and career planning, now beginning in 6th grade through 12th grade. ■ 15 consecutive years of 100% of our graduates enrolling in higher education with over 165 in colleges and universities around the country in 2019. ■ A successful name change and rebrand to The Wooden Floor with our tagline: From here you can step anywhere, which has become a call of action for our students and our organization. ■ Bold action by our Board and staff to grow our impact both locally and nationally: ■ Opening a second location in Santa Ana to serve 100 additional students, now totaling 475 students served year-round by 49 full- and part-time staff members. ■ Adding our first Licensed Partner, City Dance DREAM in Washington, DC, which is now implementing The Wooden Floor’s model to benefit young people across in our nation. ■ Lift: Inspiring Young People. Building Our Community. This incredible 4-year comprehensive campaign is in its final phase to raise $27.2M including growth of our Endowment Fund (See pg. 8) and for campus expansion to serve more children who need us. As a high performing organization, it is easy to already look ahead to implementing our next Strategic Vision 2021-2031; however I would be remiss not to pause, and say thank you. We could not have had these major accomplishments without your steadfast support and love for our children and mission. On behalf of our Board of Directors, staff, students, and families, let’s pivot to the future together to ensure we lift our students today, as well as those who will follow in their footsteps. With gratitude,
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THE WOODEN FLOOR
Mission Moment
The Wooden Floor kicked off our 2019-2020 Career Night Speaker Series with the topic: Law and Order. Launched in 2010, the speaker series bridges the gap between our students’ dreams and the reality for their future career paths by giving firsthand perspectives of experienced professionals in a variety of fields. Class of 2014 alumnus Jossue Murillo spoke about his career path before and after his recent graduation from Long Beach Police Department Academy. Students asked about his experiences in higher education at Northern Arizona University and Irvine Valley College, as well as his enlistment with the Marine Corps Reserve. Our students were eager to learn about all of the choices that led him to his career as a police officer and his desire to help people and give back.
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Newsfeed DANCE FREE WEEKS October 2019 The Wooden Floor was on the front page of the Orange County Register local section highlighting Dance Free Weeks, our 37-year-old community engagement program that brings free dance education to local elementary schools in Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Anaheim, and Tustin.
CAREER NIGHT December 2019 During the second session of our Career Night Speaker Series 2019-2020, students had the opportunity to meet business administration professionals from Kingston Technology and Edwards Lifesciences. As part of our college and career readiness programs, students learned about networking, internship opportunities, resume building, interviewing, job responsibilities, and much more.
ANAHEIM DUCKS SHOPPING SPREE December 2019 For the 12th year in a row, our students were reminded that they are important and that their community supports them during a Target shopping spree sponsored by the Anaheim Ducks and their players. Each student shopped alongside Ducks players, and also received a free 40-inch Roku TV and wireless headphones. We are grateful to the Anaheim Ducks, Anaheim Ducks Foundation, TCL Electronics, Target Irvine-Spectrum, and all of the volunteers for making our students’ holidays merry and bright.
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MAIN STREET BUILDING 20TH ANNIVERSARY October 2019 Twenty years ago, The Wooden Floor moved into our flagship location on Main Street where we’ve seen hundreds of children transform through the power of dance and access to higher education. Students and staff celebrated the milestone with cupcakes at both the Main Street and new Depot locations.
ANNUAL AUDITIONS October, 2019 During our Annual Auditions, children and their families took the first step towards their bright 10-year journeys at The Wooden Floor! Thank you to everyone in our community—parent leadership, student leadership, volunteers, supporters, staff, and alumni—for coming together in order to make our Annual Auditions a fun and successful experience for everyone.
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In the First Person:
Marco, Class of 2027
“I used to never leave my room. I would do my homework, go eat dinner, and come back to my room. Now that I’m at The Wooden Floor, I am dancing in the living room in front of everyone, and just connecting with my family. Since starting at The Wooden Floor, my confidence has gone up. I’m not as nervous to talk in front of other people. My shyness left. The first year and a half at The Wooden Floor, my happiness level raised a lot. The Wooden Floor is an incredible place. I am proud to be here. It is filled with amazing people and lots of opportunities.”
Turn this page into a special behind-the-scenes video with Marco by downloading the FREE Pixpand mobile app!
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Marco is known for embodying The Wooden Floor’s four core values of Respect, Excellence, Stewardship, and Community. He has had nearly perfect attendance since starting his 10-year journey at the organization in 2017. His dream is to study entrepreneurship at Harvard University.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please request more information with the enclosed envelope or contact Dawn S. Reese, Chief Executive Officer at 714.541.8314 ext. 136 or Dawn@TheWoodenFloor.org.
A gift that provides for generations AND BEGINS MAKING A DIFFERENCE TODAY
Bequests and other planned gifts to The Wooden Floor are important to the future of our mission. Contributions to The Wooden Floor’s Endowment Fund ensure the strength of our organization today and for years to come. On day one, when students join The Wooden Floor, they make a 10-year mental commitment to our organization, and we need to be prepared to make a 10-year financial commitment to them. Our Lift Campaign goal of $10 million in endowed fund investments will provide a more sustainable future for these students' journeys and ensure high quality outcomes, as well as scholarship awards for future generations of deserving students.
YOU CAN GIVE TO OUR ENDOWMENT FUND IN A NUMBER OF WAYS TODAY: A gift of cash or other assets. A gift of stocks, bonds and/or mutual funds. A gift of your required minimum IRA distribution, up to $100,000 annually. JOIN THE WOODEN FLOOR LEGACY SOCIETY: A gift of a percentage of estate assets or a set sum specified in your will or trust. This information is general in nature. The Wooden Floor is not engaged in rendering legal or tax advice. We recommend discussing your endowment gift with an attorney or tax advisor. We are happy to refer you to a trusted advisor if needed.
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2019-2020 Board of Directors Judith F. Posnikoff, PhD,* Chairwoman Managing Director, Martlet Asset Management Company, LLC
8th
Annual Breakfast
®
Thank you to our 2020 Underwriters L E A D C L A S S PA RT N E R S Bank of America Capital Group Carl and Roberta Deutsch Foundation Suzi Chauvel/Chauvel Foundation Don Yoder Foundation Gochnauer Family Foundation Green Foundation Ginnie & Rich Hunsaker Michelle & Robert Kargenian Emily & Jeremy Krout/EPD Solutions, Inc. Linda and Tod White Charitable Fund O.L. Halsell Foundation PIMCO Foundation Rudolph J. and Daphne A. Munzer Foundation Sharon D. Lund Foundation Drs. Donald & Constance Sperling Sun Family Foundation Ueberroth Family Foundation Willette Charitable Foundation
C L A S S PA RT N E R S Charles and Mildred Schnurmacher Foundation Croul Family Foundation Edwards Lifesciences Foundation Keith and Judy Swayne Family Foundation Fund KNU For Kids Foundation Carole & Rich Lee Gail & Peter Ochs Office Solutions Pacific Life Foundation Nicholas Pardon Judith F. Posnikoff Target TROY Group, Inc./The Dirk Family Wells Fargo
I N N O VAT I O N U N D E R W R I T E R S Crean Foundation Golden Eagle Foundation Ruth Ann Moriarty Trish O'Donnell US Bank Foundation
Arthur Ong,* Immediate Past Chair Executive Vice President, Deputy General Counsel PIMCO Saar Swartzon,* Vice Chair Principal Attorney, Cohn & Swartzon, a Professional Law Corporation Yvonne O’Neill,* Treasurer Certified Public Accountant, O’Neill Financial Management Joseph Chatelle,* Secretary Principal, Mercer Theresa Allen,* Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, First Republic Private Wealth Management Meg Appelgate, Vice President and Managing Director, Gochnauer Family Foundation Sasha Ayloush, Director of Sales & Marketing, Hydraflow Falon Baltzell, MFA, Artistic Director, The Wooden Floor Michelle Dean,* Community Leader Brent Funston, Chief Executive Officer, Wind River Group Bryan Green, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
C R E AT I V I T Y U N D E R W R I T E R S Ginger & Arthur Ong
ENCOURAGEMENT UNDERWRITERS Theresa & Jonathon Allen Judy & David Threshie Mary & Gary Tolar Jana Turner (As of January 28, 2020.)
Jehan Jayakumar, Founding Partner, Carlson & Jayakumar, LLP Jeremy Krout, President/CEO, Environmental Planning Development Solutions, Inc. Richard Lee, Market President, Retired, Aetna, Southern California
Iris Lopez-Guevara, Parent Representative Community Leader Catherine M. MacIver, Community Leader Dale A. Merrill, MFA, Dean, College of the Arts, California State University Fullerton Linh Nguyen, Vice President, Advance Beauty College Alix Portillo, Alumni Representative Compliance Analyst, Commercial Bank of California Dawn S. Reese, CFRE, Chief Executive Officer, The Wooden Floor Rossi Staynova, Parent Representative Community Leader Mary E. Tolar, Vice President and Senior Strategic Program Manager, American Funds/Capital Group Companies, Inc. Ernesto M. Vasquez, FAIA, NCARB, Partner & CEO, SVA Architects, Inc.
BOARD EMERITI Joan Beall, Community Leader Beth A. Burns, Founder of The Wooden Floor and Artistic Director (’83-’05) Sharon Hartshorn, Community Leader Richard C. Hunsaker, President, Hunsaker Management Virginia Hunsaker, Community Leader Damien M. Jordan, General Manager, Retired, American Funds/ Capital Group Companies, Inc. Yvonne M. Jordan, Community Leader Socorro Vasquez, Community Leader *Executive Committee Members.
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danceup NAMED
ORANGE COUNTY BUSINESS J O U R N A L’ S TOP 5 FUNDRAISING B R E A K FA S T S FOR
6 CONSECUTIVE YEARS!
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020 AT 7:30AM THE WESTIN SOUTH COAST PLAZA 686 ANTON BLVD. COSTA MESA, CA 92626
Keynote Speaker: THE HONORABLE ELIZABETH G. MACIAS,
8th
JUDGE, SUPERIOR COURT OF ORANGE COUNTY
Student Address: ARLY ADAME, Annual Breakfast®
■
Celebrate and support the Class of 2020, The Wooden Floor’s 16th consecutive graduating class to have 100 percent of students on track to finish high school on time and enroll in higher education
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Join us in recognizing Class Partners who help underwrite the college and career readiness journeys for each of our graduating classes
■
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CLASS OF 2020
Participate in an inspiring morning that will leave you filled with hope for the future leaders of our community
Sponsorships and individual tickets available now at TheWoodenFloor.org/StepBeyond.
From Back Left: Keep the Promise Premier Sponsor Don Beall and Board Emerita and Keep the Promise Premier Sponsor Joan Beall with The Wooden Floor students Alexander Gonzalez and Alondra Gutierrez
“It’s extremely rewarding for me to hear the children’s testimonials about the difference The Wooden Floor has made in their lives. I am able to witness firsthand the meaningful impact my time and resources have had on these families." Theresa Allen, GEPC Board Member, The Wooden Floor Managing Director and Wealth Manager, First Republic Private Wealth Management
THE WOODEN FLOOR
Supporter Sightings Eat & Wrap December 9, 2019 At our annual Eat & Wrap, supporters of The Wooden Floor helped bring holiday cheer to our 475 students by wrapping gifts for each and every child we serve. Supporters also helped underwrite the cost of Christmas trees, decorations, and presents.
From Left: Board Emerita Yvonne M. Jordan and Board Parent Representative Iris Lopez-Guevara
13th Annual Keep the Promise™ Wine Tasting Benefit September 12, 2019
From Left: Board Member and Keep the Promise Bronze Sponsor Theresa Allen, Bronze Sponsor Jonathon Allen, Kerry Eden, Rick Eden, Toni McManus, and Barry McManus
295 guests gathered at Big Canyon Country Club for Orange County’s premier wine tasting benefit, returning for its 13th year. The evening grossed over $385,000. Over the past 13 years, the benefit has cumulatively raised more than $3.5 million to help us keep the promise to our students: from here you can step anywhere.
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RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
NONPROFIT US POSTAGE
PAID
SANTA ANA, CA PERMIT NO. 949
1810 North Main Street Santa Ana, CA 92706-2727 714.541.8314 TheWoodenFloor.org
Come join us! MARCH 12, 2020
Inside The Studio Join our students and guest choreographers as they demonstrate works-in-progress from our 37th Annual Concert and take your questions on our dance-making process.
APRIL 23, 2020
8th Step Beyond Annual Breakfast® Gather to celebrate our Class of 2020, on track to have a 100 percent college enrollment rate and to support our college and career readiness programs.
More information at TheWoodenFloor.org/StepBeyond.
MAY 28-30, 2020
37th Annual Concert: This Way Forward Be inspired by our young dancers as they perform new works co-created with leading contemporary dance choreographers.
More information at TheWoodenFloor.org/ThisWayForward.
Photography by Christine Cotter and Tony Lattimore. ©2020 The Wooden Floor. DanceUp is a trademark of The Wooden Floor.
More information at TheWoodenFloor.org/InsideTheStudio.