ANAHEIM HILLS, Calif., Jan. 8, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- CANYON ACRES CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, a charity organization committed to providing homes, care, treatment and supportive services for abused, neglected and emotionally troubled children and their families, today announced that its 25th Anniversary Campaign has reached its goal of raising more than $4 million. Funds will significantly reinforce the agency's ability to serve children well into the future, and the agency can now set its sights on raising an additional $1.5 million in endowment funds.
"We have been amazed at the support given to our campaign by so many of the caring folks of Orange County and surrounding areas," said Clete Menke, executive director of Canyon Acres. "I would especially like to thank Mrs. Erin J. Lastinger for being our general campaign chair, and Mr. Patrick Dirk, who served so well as our campaign cabinet chair. Without their efforts and the efforts of so many other generous supporters, we would have never been able to reach this important milestone in the history of Canyon Acres."
In 2005 Canyon Acres kicked off the 25th Anniversary Campaign, entitled "Discover Canyon Acres; Help Us Help Our Kids," to address a widening funding gap for facilities, new program development and ongoing care for children. In the two years following the campaign's launch, the agency witnessed an outpouring of support -- from unprecedented board participation to substantial contributions from individuals, families, corporations and foundations. The result is a dream come true for Canyon Acres; the campaign has made the agency stronger, more vibrant, and better able to achieve its mission of caring for the most severely abused, neglected and emotionally troubled children. Canyon Acres has provided services to abused children and their families for more than 27 years, and every day, over 200 children receive some type of care from the agency.
"It has been exciting to chart Canyon Acres' growth and development, especially over these past few years," said Erin Lastinger, general campaign chair, Canyon Acres board member and president of the A. Gary Anderson Family Foundation. "I was honored to help lead the campaign and am thrilled with the life-changing results. I know that hundreds of children and their families will be able to heal and grow from the community's support."
"We are pleased to have reached this significant high-watermark and want to thank our outstanding board of directors, who were 100% committed to the success of the campaign as well as our many contributors, who we hope will now continue to support us as we develop our endowment program," said Patrick Dirk, cabinet chair. "'Discover Canyon Acres' served to highlight the high-quality work being done for kids and has given us a platform for getting the word out that we are here helping hundreds of children and families each year. We look forward to our next task of planning and developing the quality child and family-related programs that will be needed in the next 25 years."
"In addition, we wish to thank Erin Lastinger not only for spearheading our campaign efforts, but also for encouraging the A. Gary Anderson Family Foundation to make a one million dollar 'lead gift' donation," Menke continued. "To honor both the successful completion of the $4 million goal and the thousands of children who have been helped during these past 25 plus years, we are pleased to announce that the Erin J. Lastinger Children's Garden, in memory of A. Gary Anderson, is nearly complete at our Children's Treatment Center in Anaheim Hills. The garden will serve as the centerpiece of facility rejuvenation, and will be an extraordinary center of activity and healing for the entire Canyon Acres family."
Funds raised from the campaign will help the agency pay off long-term mortgage debt and complete many important facility upgrades and improvements. Facility upgrades have included multiple kitchen remodeling projects, window and exterior painting projects and new vehicles to transport children.
"The successful completion of the campaign shows what a community committed to its children can accomplish," said Bryan Gadol, president of the Canyon Acres board of directors. "The board looks forward to further implementing the agency's vision of helping thousands more of the abused, neglected and abandoned children who will come to us. The sad truth is that there continues to be an ever-increasing need for the types of high-quality programs and services we provide. The good news is that a stronger Canyon Acres will be there for these kids."
ABOUT CANYON ACRES
Canyon Acres Children and Family Services is the only facility in Orange County or the surrounding counties serving the most severely abused and emotionally troubled children between the ages of 6-17. Since 1980, Canyon Acres has been providing the highest level of care, therapeutic treatment and most importantly a home to children throughout Southern California who suffer from a variety of emotional and psychological disorders. Canyon Acres gives children nurturing, treatment, and opportunities that they need to grow up in safe, loving, and stable families. For more information about Canyon Acres Children and Family Services, contact Bock Communications at + 1-714-540-1030 or canyonacres@bockpr.com or visit the Canyon Acres Children and Family Services Web Site at www.canyonacres.org.