Families Forward Executive Director Elva Sandoval and Honoree California State Assemblymember Chris Holden at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Monica Shaffer and Andrea Huicochea at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Tyler Zengler, Talin Misak, Sonia Jaramillo, Griselda Gomez, and Trisha Phermsangngam at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Paola Rodriguez and Florinda Ramirez at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Harvey Knell, Ellen Knell, and California State Assemblymember Chris Holden at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Fred Marki, Susan Marki, and Mary Freeman at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
John Hammond, Ruth Ann Hammond, Abel Ramirez, Rosalia Ramirez, and Linda Lopez at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Elisa Hernandez, Miguel Loza, and Honoree Sylvia Paz at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Scott and Marisa Magana at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Paul Watson, Anne Marie Pieczarka, and Kristin Bacon at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Sandy Esserman and Stephen McCurry at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Michele Ferroni and Jeannine Bogaard at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Andy and Julia Gaskill at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Margaret Kleveland, Dede Smith, Katherine Kleveland, and Sarah Lanni at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Jessica Lau and Amish Majmundar at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Maricela Viramontes, Cristal Morse, and Doug Nyland at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Ashok and Meera Boghani at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Steven and Rosalyn Jones at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Julia Gaskill and Nurit Kotick at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Scott and President of the Board of Directors of Families Forward Julie Ward at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Gary Jimenez and James Jimenez at Families Forward Annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
The Families Forward Learning Center recently held its annual Soirée at the Altadena Town and Country Club on April 20, where Assemblymember Chris Holden and Sylvia Paz were honored for their contributions to the center and the community.
The event, a staple in the community’s calendar, brought together about 180 supporters, volunteers, and community leaders to celebrate and fundraise for the center’s ongoing mission. This mission focuses on offering free educational and social services to low-income families with children up to five years old, a critical period for early childhood development.
Assemblyman Holden, a key figure in local and state politics, has been a fervent supporter of Families Forward for more than ten years. His work in the legislature, particularly in youth mental health, aligns closely with the center’s goals of supporting the holistic development of children and aiding families in need. Holden’s efforts have been instrumental in bringing attention and resources to initiatives that foster safe and nurturing environments for children both locally and across the state.
Sylvia Paz, meanwhile, has been a dedicated advocate for the center, bringing her extensive experience in medicine and healthcare from her time as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA to bear. Her tenure as past president of the board of directors is marked by significant progress in the center’s approach to family and child wellness. Over her 12 years of service, Paz has been a pivotal part of the center’s expansion and enhanced capability to serve the community.
The soirée not only recognized these key contributors but also served as a reminder of the community’s united effort to address the needs of its most vulnerable populations. The funds raised during the evening will support the center’s diverse programs, which include early education classes, parenting workshops, and access to resources essential for healthy development.
