'Angels' spread their wings for charity
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com
 

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers ANGELS BALL- Kay Rich of Oxnard smiles at a friend as, in the background, David Cruz and Lonnie Love auction off items to benefit Casa Pacifica, a crisis-care facility for abused or neglected children in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. The 18th annual Angels Ball was held at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks on Saturday.

Saturday night's rain didn't keep local supporters and famous faces from attending the 18th annual Casa Pacifica Angels Ball at Sherwood Country Club.

The Camarillo crisis care and residential treatment facility is the largest nonprofit provider of children's mental health services in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, serving more than 5,000 children and families each year.

"This is the biggest event in terms of money raised," said Steven Elson, Casa Pacifica's chief executive officer.

This year, there are more corporate and individual sponsors than ever before, Elson added.

Former NBC-TV reporter David Cruz was the master of ceremonies for the evening, which featured dinner, dancing and a live auction. More than $150,000 was expected to be raised for Casa Pacifica, which treats abused, abandoned and neglected children in the two counties.

To maintain a high standard of care, the agency needs $33 a day for each child treated, said Patricia Cordover, Angels president.

The auxiliary group of more than 300 volunteers raises money to supplement the agency's nearly $20 million operating budget, filling the gap that public funds don't cover. Their goal is to raise $2 million a year in private donations.

KEYT-TV anchor Paula Lopez said a Casa Pacifica campus is needed in Santa Barbara County. It's difficult to reunite children living at the Camarillo facility with their families miles away in Santa Barbara County, she said.

Her husband, Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge Frank Ochoa, has been a supporter of Casa Pacifica since his days as a Juvenile Court judge.

Ochoa said, "It's an incredible, incredible resource for abused and neglected kids. I want that resource in Santa Barbara. You're lucky to have it in Ventura County."

"My husband's favorite quote is, 'Hurt people hurt people,'" Lopez said, "so we all have a stake in helping abused and neglected children."

The change Casa Pacifica can effect in a child's life became apparent in a letter written by a former resident and read by Cordover.

By the age of 10, the girl was involved in drugs and gangs. Three years later, having failed in one group home after another, she was on the run. She stole a car at age 14 and was arrested. The Juvenile Court judge ordered her to be treated at Casa Pacifica.

Now, after graduating from high school at Casa Pacifica a year ahead of schedule, she's enrolled in college to pursue a career as a nurse practitioner.

"I've always had somebody at Casa Pacifica to help me up," the young woman wrote.

Casa Pacifica operates a number of crisis and therapeutic programs at the Camarillo campus for children up to age 18, including a temporary shelter and residential treatment for children with severe emotional problems.

In addition, the agency provides outreach programs for highrisk youth and their families in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

For more information on Casa Pacifica, call (805) 445-7800.