Newsletter Spring 2023

Dawn S. Reese Chief Executive Officer @DawnSReese

Pioneering Spirit

As The Wooden Floor enters our 40th Anniversary year - we want to first pause and say thank you! We are grateful for your continued support and encouragement over the past 40 years which has led to our tremendous outcomes for the nearly 100,000 children we have served since our founding.

At our recent Annual Board of Directors Retreat this January, we focused on our Why: Our Students, and how they are navigating their lives during the waning 3-year pandemic. You would be so proud of the four high school students who shared with us their poignant reflections. Some of what we heard:

■ The Wooden Floor was their stability in the midst of enormous change and uncertainty.

■ They became even more agile during remote learning, and learned to adapt to new and changing circumstances.

■ Several students noted that they moved ahead technologically, and one student remarked about learning to communicate via email to her teachers, at only 11 years old.

■ Sadly, they have seen their peers outside of The Wooden Floor suffer due to isolation and disconnection, and they are thankful for the deep connections within our organization with friends and staff members.

■ They spoke about how proud they are of their generation’s resilience and perseverance.

As one of The Wooden Floor’s guiding principles states, “We are pioneers: past, present and future.” We shared with our students that they are the true pioneers as they have navigated the pandemic and ventured into new terrains of remotely learning, digital access, and overcoming immense challenges at such a young age. When they look back on this time their lives, while difficult, they will appreciate their own internal strength to move forward.

As we look ahead to celebrating our 40th Anniversary during this entire year, let’s reflect upon the inspiration and hope we provide to our students, our legacy of impact, and how we can ready ourselves to uplift future generations of students so they know: from here you can step anywhere.

That future is bright for our students, with you walking by their sides.

With gratitude,

The Wooden Floor’s Mission is to inspire and transform the lives of young people through the power of dance and access to higher education.

Mission Moment

We have a new look!

Our new logo is visually emblematic of the connection of our students, families, supporters, and staff coming together as “one community”. It is contemporary and shows our uniqueness, which aims to represent a supportive and welcoming environment with a variation of circles intertwined. The icon and font choice also reflects movement, evoking dance partnering techniques and a sense of trust, asking “Where do I end, and WE begin?”

The Wooden Floor’s updated mission statement is now, “to inspire and transform the lives of young people through the power of dance and access to higher education.” It is an aspirational statement to reflect the outcomes for our students, which we want to help each of them to achieve. It is important to note that while the mission statement may change, our mission remains the same. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on our brand refresh, as well as celebrating our 40th Anniversary with you in the new year!

THE WOODEN FLOOR’S LOGO:

THE WOODEN FLOOR’S MISSION STATEMENT:

DANCE FREE WEEKS SEPTEMBER 2022

Dance Free Weeks, our free community engagement program, once again took place in Orange County elementary schools this fall. Our instructors spent the three weeks with 3rd and 4th grade students sharing the benefits of dance and movement. A teacher from a previously participating school commented, “One of my really shy students really came out of her shell and opened up during Dance Free Weeks. ” The Wooden Floor’s approach to dance values exploration, discovery, and innovation, which leads to the success of our students in school and in life.

ANNUAL AUDITIONS OCTOBER 2022

Our Annual Auditions welcomed many children and their families to The Wooden Floor for the opportunity to join our 10-year journey to inspire and transform young people through the power of dance and access to higher education. We were so proud of every single child who joined us and bravely tried something new. Thank you to our Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, student leadership, and community partners who made our Annual Auditions a success.

ANAHEIM DUCKS SHOPPING SPREE DECEMBER 2022

For the 15th year in a row, the Anaheim Ducks provided a shopping spree for several of our students during the holiday season! We extend a heartfelt thank you to The Anaheim Ducks, The Lady Ducks, The Anaheim Ducks Foundation, TCL Electronics, and Target for making this event possible. Our students not only received a shopping spree, but each student was also surprised with a free 43” Smart TV from TCL! We are so grateful to have such loving community partners that help our students know that their community supports them during the holiday season and all year long. "These children are going to be our future leaders of our community. These players took the time out of their day to be with them for an hour and a half and give them that joyful experience. That's going to last with them for a lifetime, " The Wooden Floor CEO, Dawn S. Reese.

FAMILY OPEN HOUSE

JANUARY

2023

During our family Open House, loved ones joined their students in the studio to witness the growth they have developed in their dance classes since September. Families were invited onto the dance floor to participate in a regular class activity as well. We are so proud of what our students have accomplished!

“It is an absolute honor to serve as The Wooden Floor’s next Artistic Director. I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity and am deeply cognizant of the significance of this role in our organization as well as in our students’ lives. Our “super-humans,” in addition to the faculty, accompanists, and staff have taught me a great deal over the past 16 years, and I look forward to applying that knowledge to my new role. I am also extremely excited to work in partnership with our dedicated senior leadership team and artistic collaborators to continue propelling our students toward success through the power of dance and access to higher education.”

Jennifer Bassage Bonfil

The Wooden Floor announced the promotion of Jennifer Bassage Bonfil as our Artistic Director in December. Jennifer, originally from Washington State, is a respected Southern California-based modern dancer, dance maker, and dance educator. She has been an integral part of The Wooden Floor since 2006, as a faculty member from 2006-2017, and since 2017 as the Dance Education and Curriculum Specialist. In addition to overseeing the organization’s faculty, accompanists, curriculum design, and evaluation, she continues to work directly with students as she has since the start of her 16-year tenure with the organization, demonstrating her passion for The Wooden Floor’s mission by being a sought after mentor to countless students and alumni. This leadership role is a natural progression in her career and caps an extraordinary year for Jennifer, who was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from Chapman University and recognized at California State University, Fullerton’s annual Honor an Educator ceremony, both in 2022.

The Wooden Floor's New Artistic Director

Save the date for an exciting series of events 40 Years in the making!

Join us for a weekend of festivities marking our 40 years of impact, aptly centered around our 40th Annual Concert Performances.

40th Annual Concert

June 1-3, 2023 | Performances 8:00pm nightly plus 2:30pm Saturday matinee.

IRVINE BARCLAY THEATRE

Individual tickets to performances and celebration dinner on sale April 3, 2023.

Opening Night Toast & Dessert Reception

Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 7:30pm reception; 8:00pm performance

Free with paid performance tickets

IRVINE BARCLAY THEATRE LOBBY

Join us as we toast to an exciting Opening Night Performance of our 40th Anniversary Concert with a free family-friendly reception before the curtain rises including sparkling cider and desserts.

Arts Night Out!

Saturday, June 3, 2023 | 6:45pm-7:30pm; 8:00pm performance

Free with paid performance tickets

IRVINE BARCLAY THEATRE

Make it an arts night out! Explore the pieces in our 40th Anniversary Concert with the cast and choreographers Keely Garfield and John Heginbotham at a free pre-concert chat moderated by Jennifer Bassage Bonfil, The Wooden Floor’s Artistic Director.

We look forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary with you!

For more information contact Tianna Haradon at 714-541-8314 ext. 124 or email Tianna@TheWoodenFloor.org.

40TH ANNIVERSARY Celebration Dinner & Concert

Friday, June 2, 2023 | 5:00pm – 10:00pm

IRVINE BARCLAY THEATRE ARRIVAL TERRACE

Join us for a special evening to celebrate The Wooden Floor’s 40 years of changing lives!

Festivities include:

■ Black-tie optional, al fresco pre-performance dinner

■ Premier seating for 40th Annual Concert

■ Honoring the stalwart leadership and legacy of Board Emerita Sharon Hartshorn and past Board Member Terry Hartshorn as well as Board Emeriti Socorro and Ernesto Vasquez

Tickets included with sponsorship! Sponsorship levels:

2022-2023 Board of Directors

Theresa Allen,* Board Chair

Managing Director and Wealth Manager, First Republic Private Wealth Management

Judith F. Posnikoff, PhD,* Immediate Past Chair Managing Director, Martlet Asset Management, LLC

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

Sasha Ayloush,* Director of Sales & Marketing, Hydraflow

Wendy Arciero Director of Community Relations, Anaheim Ducks

Seán Curran, Chair, Department of Dance, NYU Tisch School of the Arts

Michelle Dean,* Community Leader

Brent Funston, Chief Executive Officer, Wind River Group, LLC

Elizabeth Gonzalez, Alumni Representative Community Leader

Raquel Gonzalez, Parent Representative, Community Leader

Bryan Green, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones

Jehan Jayakumar,* Founding Partner, Carlson & Jayakumar, LLP

Naveen Jonathan, PhD, LMFT, Community Representative Clinical Associate Professor of Marriage & Family Therapy, Chair, Marriage & Family Therapy, Crean College of Health & Behavioral Sciences, Chapman University

Laura King, Choreo Advisory Council Chair Account Director, Financial Services, Salesforce

Jeremy Krout, President/CEO, Environmental Planning Development Solutions, Inc.

Richard Lee, Market President, Retired, Aetna, Southern California

Catherine M. MacIver, Community Leader

Dana McCollum, General Manager, American Funds/Capital Group Companies, Inc.

Arthur Ong, Executive Vice President, Retired, Deputy General Counsel, PIMCO

Alix Portillo, Assistant Vice President, Compliance Monitoring Officer, Genesis Bank

Dawn S. Reese, CFRE, Chief Executive Officer, The Wooden Floor

Jim Slaughter, Partner, Slaughter & Slaughter, LLP

Ernesto M. Vasquez, FAIA, NCARB, Partner & CEO, SVA Architects, Inc.

Fabiola Velazquez, Parent Representative Community Leader

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.

2014

2008

THANK YOU

11th Step Beyond Annual Breakfast®

UNDERWRITERS

Bank of America Foundation

The Beall Family Foundation

Capital Group Companies

Carl and Roberta Deutsch Foundation

Suzi Chauvel / Chauvel Foundation

NAMED ORANGE COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL’S

TOP 5 FUNDRAISING BREAKFASTS FOR 9 CONSECUTIVE YEARS!

Dhont Family Foundation

Emily and Jeremy Krout / EPD Solutions, Inc.

Larry and Helen Hoag Foundation

Linda and Tod White Charitable Fund

New York Life Insurance Company

O.L. Halsell Foundation

PIMCO Foundation

Segerstrom Foundation

Sun Family Foundation

Ueberroth Family Foundation

Willette Charitable Foundation

CLASS PARTNER

Charles and Mildred Schnurmacher Foundation, Inc

11th

THURSDAY

APRIL 27, 2023

AT 7:30AM

HILTON ORANGE

COUNTY/COSTA MESA

3050 BRISTOL ST, COSTA MESA, CA 92626

■ Celebrate and support the Class of 2023, The Wooden Floor’s 18th consecutive graduating class to have 100 percent of students on track to finish high school on time and enroll in higher education

■ Join us in recognizing Class Partners who help underwrite the college and career readiness journeys for each of our graduating classes

■ 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.

The Wooden Floor is honored to be selected as nonprofit partner with Target Circle™. Target will translate your votes into funding to help serve our students. Place your votes for us in the Target app before March 31. Here’s how:

Step 1: Open your Target App and change your store to Brea Step 2: Choose “My Target” in the lower right corner Step 3: Tap on “Target Circle”

Step 4: Scroll down and select “Vote for nonprofits”

Step 5: Find The Wooden Floor & cast your votes!

Charleys Kids Foundation

Croul Family Foundation

Don Yoder Foundation

Edwards Lifesciences Foundation

Nancy & Brian Hunsaker

Keith and Judy Swayne Family Foundation Fund

Robert J. Mairena / Office Solutions

US Bank

INNOVATION

UNDERWRITER

Crean Foundation

Michelle & Timothy Dean

Fletcher Jones Foundation

Yvonne & Damien Jordan

Michelle & Robert Kargenian

Joanne & Dennis Keith

Carole & Rich Lee

Trish O'Donnell

CREATIVITY UNDERWRITER

Janet & Walkie Ray

11th LEAD CLASS PARTNER

ENCOURAGEMENT UNDERWRITER

Cath MacIver & Jim Slaughter

O'Neill Financial Management

Judy & David Threshie

As of February 7, 2023.

Snyder Langston Bike Donation

December 2, 2022

For 25 years in a row, real estate construction company Snyder Langston has been generously donating bicycles to our students. Their employees lovingly assembled and delivered the bikes, which come with helmets and locks, and are gifted to our students to make their holidays bright. We are so grateful for this long-time partnership and appreciate everyone that comes together to deliver such a meaningful gift to our students!

Supporter Sightings

Eat & Wrap

December 5, 2022

Board Member and Eat & Wrap Chair, Sasha Ayloush hosted supporters and friends at our annual Eat & Wrap event. Thank you to the guests who joined us to help wrap nearly 500 gifts - one for every student of The Wooden Floor! We’re grateful for the collective efforts of our generous underwriters, supporters, and guests for helping us to provide gifts, trees, and programming support for our students and families most in need during the holiday season.

The Wooden Floor CEO Dawn S. Reese with Snyder Langston and The Wooden Floor team members.

From Left: Theresa Allen, The Wooden Floor Board Chair and Managing Director and Wealth Manager, First Republic Private Wealth Management with Suzanne Ellingson, Board Chair, Child Creativity Lab.

From Left: Andrea Arcilla, Vice President of Development and Construction and Norah Jaffan, Senior Project Manager, Environmental Planning Development Solutions, Inc.

1810 North Main Street Santa Ana, CA 92706-2727

714.541.8314

TheWoodenFloor.org

Please Save-the-Date!

Please gather with us at the following events to help propel our students and our mission forward.

Inside the Studio®

Thursday, March 16, 2023 | 6:00pm THE WOODEN FLOOR MAIN STREET LOCATION

Spend time with our students and guest choreographer John Heginbotham as they demonstrate works-in-progress and take your questions on our innovative dance-making process.

More information at TheWoodenFloor.org/InsidetheStudio

11th Step Beyond Annual Breakfast®

Thursday, April 27, 2023 | 7:30am HILTON ORANGE COUNTY/COSTA MESA

Gather for an inspiring morning to celebrate our 18th consecutive graduating class on-track to have a 100 percent college enrollment rate and support our college and career readiness programs.

More information at TheWoodenFloor.org/StepBeyond

40th Annual Concert

June 1-3, 2023 | 8:00pm nightly plus 2:30pm Saturday matinee

IRVINE BARCLAY THEATRE

Be inspired by our young dancers as they perform new dance works co-created with leading contemporary dance choreographers, reflecting the organization’s reputation for artistic excellence. (Details inside on page 8.)

More information at TheWoodenFloor.org/AnnualConcert

Photography by Sargeant Creative, Sarah Delgado, and Tony Lattimore. ©2023 The Wooden Floor.