Over 100 people celebrated 76 years of HFS Adoption and Foster Care at the Circle of Hope on May 18th, 2025. Thank you to Los Angeles Episcopal Bishop John H. Taylor and his wife, Kathy O’Connor, for their hospitality in hosting the gathering at their home in Pasadena. As the committee considered moving forward with…
In the heart of HFS, transitions are not just moments of change but opportunities for growth and renewal. This season, we mark the retirement of our esteemed Clinical Social Worker, Leticia Lopez, LCSW, as well as the arrival of a new face in our team, Clinical Social Worker Xenia Valle, MSW. Additionally, we joyously welcome back Lisa Espericueta, MSW, from her maternity leave. These milestones are not just events; they embody the evolving spirit of compassion and dedication that defines our agency’s mission.
We would like to thank our honorees, Bishop Bruno, Dr. Robert Ross, and the Mozillo Foundation, to everyone who attended the Circle of Hope event at the San Gabriel Club in Pasadena on April 28, 2024, as well as everyone who supported HFS by donating.
Thank you to those who helped make the Circle of Hope event possible through their generous help and support: Marianne Wright, Mary Hatton, Lydia Johnston (pictured with evening volunteers Viki and daughter Phyllis Battaglia), Mary B. Bruno, Joseph Zanetta, Elaine Tumonis, and David Mascarina. Volunteering for the evening were Viki Battaglia, Phyllis Battaglia, Emily Wright…
Thank you to the current Board of Directors for their support and hard work on behalf of HFS: President, Marianne Wright (pictured with fellow board member Mary Hatton); Vice President, Elaine Tumonis (pictured with her husband Ed); Board Secretary, The Rev. Nathan Bjornstad (speaker during the program); and our treasurer Joseph Zanetta (pictured with his…
In a recent article from Gallup.com, Sarah Fioroni, and Andrea Malek Ash discuss the fears of discrimination LGBTQ+ adults and families wrestle with when they consider whether to foster and adopt children. The authors report that more than a third of LGBTQ+ adults “say that discrimination they may face due to sexual orientation or gender…
On May 23, 2024, HFS will celebrate seventy-five years of creating forever families. It’s an amazing accomplishment, and a testament to the agency’s resilience, that HFS has continuously provided high-quality adoption services to birth parents and adoptive parents for almost eight decades. HFS’s origin story began when Dr. George Piness, then associated with St. Anne’s…
We are excited for Phil and Mary, as they bring history and energy to our board.