Women’s Center-Youth & Family Services Launches Fall Fundraising Campaign

Women’s Center-Youth & Family Services is launching its 2014 Major Gifts Campaign “Hope for the Future.” The campaign continues through the end of December, and income generated will help sustain Women’s Center-YFS’ free, confidential services and shelters for the thousands of runaway homeless youth and victims of domestic violence and sexual assault served by the agency each year.

“We want people out there – victims, families, youth – to know that they are not alone and that there is hope for a better future. This campaign is about raising funds to support our services, but also about raising awareness, letting victims know where to go for help, and getting people involved in making our community a safer place. Our supporters’ generosity helps us change and save lives every day. We need the community’s help to keep providing that safe haven where people can go when they’ve lost hope,” said Women’s Center-YFS CEO Joelle Gomez.

This annual campaign brings education and awareness to the community, renews donor commitments and establishes new partnerships. The committee will be challenged to raise $100,000 between now and the end of the year.

Leading Women’s Center-YFS’ fundraising efforts is Kate Macek, the agency’s Marketing and Development Director. Serving as the 2014 Major Gifts Campaign Chairperson is Judith Buethe, President/CEO and founder of Judith Buethe Communications.

Mrs. Buethe has more than 30 years of private and public sector experience in public outreach and community involvement, consensus building, event coordination, public relations and government affairs. Mrs. Buethe and her team have also helped Women’s Center-YFS with branding, creating the agency’s logo and organizing public outreach and awareness campaigns.

Mrs. Buethe will chair the committee of seventeen outstanding community leaders, including:  

Donna Anderson, Medical Social Worker, Lodi Health

Mary Bava, retired State Legislative Consultant

Libby Gaedtke, Child Welfare Division Chief, San Joaquin County Human Services Agency

Angie Guzman, Director of Sales & Catering at University Plaza Waterfront Hotel

Gabrielle Hartzler, CPA, DeGregori, Gormsen & Ringer

Teresa Mandella, retired Financial Advisor

Bonnie Mansfield, Grant Professional

Debbie Morris, CPA, DeGregori, Gormsen & Ringer

Jesse Pataria, Vice President Commercial Account Officer at F & M Bank

Heather Rubino, Attorney at Harris, Perisho & Ruiz

Jackie Sahargun, Vice President of TJAS Consulting, Inc.

Bill Trezza, CEO, Bank of Agriculture & Commerce

Dave Tygett, Retired VP of Sales and Marketing, Valimet, Inc

Lita Wallach, President of Wallach and Associates

Caryn Willet, retired from San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office

Debra Yeager, Administrative Assistant, DeGregori, Gormsen & Ringer