Over 100 people celebrated 77 years of HFS Adoption and Foster Care at the Circle of Hope on May 31st, 2026, at the Shakespeare Club in Pasadena. It was a warm, lovely, rose-filled evening, and it was wonderful to gather with so many people whose lives have been touched by adoption!
Since HFS’s first adoptive placement in 1949, over 7,000 children have found their forever families through the agency, making HFS one of the most, if not the most, experienced adoption and foster care agencies in Southern California. My husband and I have a 27-year-old son who is one of those children. I’ve now served on the Board for about 5 years because I believe HFS is necessary. To adopt a child, to place a child for adoption, to become a foster parent, is to embark on a complex, emotional, life-changing experience, and it’s imperative that birth parents and adoptive and foster parents have access to the kinds of services that HFS provides: services that are honest, judgment-free, compassionate, non-discriminatory, non-denominational, welcoming, affordable, and imbued with the values of diversity and inclusion.
Thanks to our generous supporters, we exceeded our goal of raising $60,000 for the event, bringing in over $75,000 through early sponsors; event sales; a silent auction featuring – among other things – a kids’ basket from The Dinosaur Farm in South Pasadena and a Huntington Library and Gardens gift basket; a live auction featuring Dodger Tickets, Pantages Theater Tickets, a $1,000 Gift Card from Bloomingdales, and Hollywood Bowl Box Seats; and an extremely successful paddle raise to support the programs at HFS.
The Honoree for the evening was Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, Glendale. Senior Warden Jay Johnson represented the parish and accepted the recognition stating: “Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Glendale is committed to living out our baptismal promise to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves. In that spirit, the Vestry resolved to support HFS, Adoption & Foster Care, whose ministry reflects the dignity, care, and compassion at the heart of our faith. Through its support of birth mothers, adoptive families, and vulnerable children, HFS, Adoption & Foster Care provides a sacred and practical witness to God’s love in our wider community. The Vestry recognized both the importance of this work and the need to help sustain this essential ministry.” During the Paddle Raise portion of the event, Jay and the table of Saint Mark’s Glendale Vestry Representatives surprised the gathering with the commitment of a generous donation of $10,000 towards HFS’s programs!
The highlight of the evening was the Sausa family, who started their journey with HFS 10 years ago. They are now proud parents of a 7-year-old son and hope to finalize the adoption of their second child, a 5-month old baby boy, by the end of summer. The Sauzas spoke warmly of the support they have received from their HFS Social Workers and the rest of the staff. It’s a wonderful and gratifying experience to help people like the Sauzas create and grow their families!
I want to take this opportunity to thank our terrific Board of Directors for their support and hard work on behalf of HFS: Vice President Phil Bruno, Treasurer Ryan Harlow-Nakano, Secretary Paula Kendrick, and Board members Mary Bruno, John Thies, Jeff Lawson, Mary Hatton, Irene Sharpe, Kelly Kelleher, and Kristine Johnson.
I also want to recognize and appreciate our small but mighty staff: Our Executive Director Julie Brown, who has ably steered HFS through an often-changing adoption and foster-care landscape for 14 years; our Administrative Assistant and post-adoption contact worker Jazmin Gutierrez, and our excellent clinical staff: Program Supervisor Betty Rivera and Social Workers Lisa Espericueta and Xenia Valle, who meet our clients where they are and make an enormous difference in the lives of the families they help. New to HFS this year are Grant Writer Ejiro Ubiedi Morrow and Outreach Coordinator Kylie Urias; we’re glad to have them on our team! And huge thanks to David Mascarina, who manages our website, social media, and all of our graphic needs.
Our gratitude goes out to those who helped make this event possible through their generous help and support. Thank you to Co-Chairs Kelly Kelleher and Marianne Wright and the Circle of Hope Committee members: Mary Hatton, Lydia Johnston, Julie Brown and David Mascarina. Thanks also to those volunteering for the evening: Viki Battaglia, Phyllis Battaglia, Emily Wright, Jenna Gilb, David Mascarina, and Mara Lague. Thank you to Lou Ann Heintz and the Shakespeare Club of Pasadena; Mary Pat Brandmeyer of MPB Catering and her staff; Samantha Jacoby Photography; Eric Zimmermann of Elegant Music; Kevin Mejia and Bevel Coffee, Altadena; and Ms. Dragon Print and Copy, Altadena. A special shoutout to Matt Wright, our MC for the evening.
The event was underwritten in part by Alison and Geoff Rusack, Rusack Vineyards, who donated the wine for the evening; Trader Joe’s, who underwrote the non-alcoholic beverages; Lydia Johnston, who made and donated the flower center pieces for the tables; board member Kristen Johnson, who made and donated the flowers for the entry hall; and finally Robbie Hawkins of Robbie Lynn Bakes, who donated 75 of the most fabulous cupcakes with a rose-themed icing.
And thank you to all of you, for your continued support of HFS’s efforts in creating “Forever Families.” Your belief in the mission of HFS inspires all of us to strive for excellence and compassion when attending to our work.
Thank you to our Silent and Live Auction Donors
All About Word Art, Phoenix AZ
A Noise Within Theater, Pasadena
Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
Bevel Coffee, Altadena
Rancho Capistrano Winery, San Juan Capistrano
Dora Egan
Maria and Tom Horner
Kristen Johnson
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier
Barbara Horowitz and Brent Tufeld
Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, San Marino
Tran Ly and David Mozilo
Daisy Rivas and Pro Image Sports
Nancy and George Rothwell
USS Midway Museum, San Diego
Marianne and Matt Wright
McKinney Family Vineyards, Santa Ynez
The Dinosaur Farm, South Pasadena
Claro’s Italian Markets
Parfaire Medical Aesthetics, Pasadena
Kelly and John Kelleher
Farmers and Merchants Bank
Wild Parrot Brewing Company, Pasadena
Wine for the evening, courtesy of Rusack Vineyards, Solvang
Beverages for the evening were underwritten through a donation from Trader Joe’s
Cupcakes for Circle of Hope donated by Robbie Lynn Bakes
