Villa Esperanza Services Enjoys a Ride on the Iconic Wells Fargo Stagecoaches

It may have been near freezing the morning of January 1st but the Villa Esperanza Services clients and families received a warm welcome from the cheering crowd at the 2015 Tournament of Roses Parade. Villa Esperanza Services was the featured non-profit on the Wells Fargo stagecoaches in the 2015 Rose Parade.

Villa Esperanza Services, a Pasadena-based agency dedicated to the care and education of children, adults and seniors with developmental, intellectual and other disabilities. For the past 21 years Wells Fargo executives have served on Villa Esperanza Services’ board of directors to help bring hope to families in Southern California.

Riding in the stagecoach on New Year’s Day was Villa Esperanza Services participants Joan Feser and her three children Michael, John and Julianna; Stacy Baskin and her daughter Simone; Margaret Morris and her sister Kathy Hess; and Villa Esperanza Board Chairman Candice Rogers, Board Member and Wells Fargo Senior Executive Rich Byrd and Villa CEO Kelly White.

“We feel privileged to have been chosen to ride in the Wells Fargo stagecoach with these wonderful families who represent the more than 600 families we engage with each year,” said Villa Esperanza Service CEO Kelly White. “We are thankful to have community partners like Wells Fargo that understand Villa Esperanza Services is part of the daily solution for families in need, and one of the only nonprofits extending a full continuity of care, helping children and adults with special needs.”

“Everyone in our community is impressed by the passionate caring Villa Esperanza Services has delivered to families in Pasadena and across Southern California for over half a century,” said Lisa Stevens, Head of Regional Banking Sales and Marketing and Small Business, and Regional Bank Executive for the Pacific Midwest Region. “At Wells Fargo we know we can only be as strong as the strength of the communities we serve, and Wells Fargo’s consistency of support over the past 21 years for Villa Esperanza Services is directly linked to the positive impact that we have witnessed them make in thousands of lives.

Wells Fargo has been a proud sponsor of Tournament of Roses activities and events for the past nine consecutive years. Wells Fargo sponsors Equestfest, a family-friendly event showcasing many of the equestrian units that participate in the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day. And this year they also sponsored the first-ever closing ceremonies in the Tournament of Roses Parade. The inaugural addition to the New Year’s Day tradition told the inspiring story of retired Staff Sargent, and Purple Heart recipient, Dominic Perrotte III. Afterwhich, Tim Sloan, Senior Executive Vice President, Wells Fargo presented Dominic and his family with a key to their new home – the 200th house Wells Fargo has donated to military families.

Villa Esperanza Services wishes to thank Wells Fargo for their commitment to communities and our military across the entire nation.

About Villa Esperanza Services

Villa Esperanza Services is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the care and education of children, adults and seniors with developmental, intellectual and other disabilities. Villa Esperanza Services offers nine programs including a comprehensive education center for children up to the age of 22 years; a speech and language center and occupational therapy clinic providing children, adults and seniors with comprehensive therapies; employment services; day programs for adults; and adult residences in Pasadena and Thousand Oaks. 2012 Tournament of Roses President Sally Bixby is a member of the Villa Esperanza Services Board of Directors. To learn more about Villa’s collaborative approach, log on to www.VillaEsperanzaServices.org.

About Wells Fargo

In 2013 Wells Fargo was named top corporate philanthropist locally and nationally, donating $275 million to nonprofit and community organizations across the country, with $29 million donated in Los Angeles, Orange Counties and surrounding areas. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.6 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,700 locations, 12,500 ATMs, and the internet (wellsfargo.com), and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 29 on Fortune’s 2014 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at Wells Fargo Blogs and Wells Fargo Stories.