News

New members include Jay Jaffin of Verizon Wireless, Helen Timpe of The Timpe Group at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and Matt West of 1^st Enterprise Bank

LADERA RANCH, Calif., May 14, 2012 – Laura’s House today announced that it has expanded its board of directors to include three new members from the Orange County business community. Joining are Jay Jaffin, Vice President, Marketing and Sales Operations for Verizon Wireless; Helen Timpe, Senior Vice President, Wealth Advisor, The Timpe Group at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; and, Matt West, Senior Vice President, the Orange County office of 1^st Enterprise Bank.

Based in Ladera Ranch, Laura’s House is a non-profit organization whose mission is to change the social beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence, while creating a safe place in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.

“We are delighted to welcome Jay, Helen and Matt to our board of directors, and pleased that they have chosen to support Laura’s House and our ongoing efforts to end the silence of domestic violence here in Orange County,” said Margaret Bayston, CEO and Executive Director, Laura’s House. “Each of these individuals brings with them a unique set of talents. We look forward to leveraging these talents as we continue grow our organization and expand the programs and services we offer for individuals and families who are rebuilding lives that are free of violence.”

About the New Board Members
Jay Jaffin serves as Vice President of Marketing and Sales Operations for Verizon Wireless, where he manages the company’s marketing and operations for the 13 western states. His responsibilities include marketing communications, CRM and product management, retail and indirect sales operations, training, and the Telesales and Continuity Marketing Organizations. Prior to his current assignment, Jay served as Executive Director, Customer Relationship Marketing in the company’s headquarters organization where he led Verizon’s efforts to retain and grow its customer base, while laying the foundation for the company’s CRM strategy and vision. Prior to that, he held a number of leadership positions in both sales and marketing.  Jay joined Verizon Wireless in 2003 and brought with him more than seven years of experience in a variety of marketing, sales, strategy, and management roles.  Outside of work, Jay enjoys spending time with his family, helping to coach soccer on the weekends, and serving at a local food pantry. Jay earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

Helen Timpe serves as Senior Vice President, Wealth Advisor with The Timpe Group at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, a position she has held for 11 years, working alongside her daughter and partner, MSSB Vice President Monica Timpe-Godfrey. For more than three decades, Helen has been helping families, professionals and businesses protect and grow their wealth. During her career, she has served as a Wealth Advisor, Portfolio Manager and Certified Financial Planner. Helen was recognized as one of the leading local wealth advisors and financial planners in the “Five Star: Best in Client Satisfaction, Wealth Manager” survey conducted by the Orange County Register in March 2009. Helen is also best known for her ongoing commitment to educating and empowering her clients. For this reason, The Timpe Group was recently featured in Forbes magazine’s May 2010 issue for their expertise as wealth advisors and portfolio managers and also for their quarterly market perspective and strategy sessions, referred to as “Round Table Discussions.” Helen is actively involved in giving back to her community through charitable affiliations, such as United Way’s Tocqueville Society and Women’s Philanthropy Fund of Orange County. She is also proud of her volunteer teaching experience in Malawi, Africa, from 1964 to 1967. Helen holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University, professional credentials including Certified Financial Planner that she earned while studying at University of Southern California; and an Executive MBA from the Wharton School of Business.

Matt West is Senior Vice President with the Orange County office of 1^st Enterprise Bank, located in Irvine. He is a founding shareholder, and was a key member of the initial business development team that helped to successfully launch the bank. Sine 1988, he has worked in both the financial services industry and the commercial banking industry. Prior to joining 1^st Enterprise Bank in 2006, Matt served as the Executive Vice President in charge of the Commercial Banking Group within Orange County-based CommerceWest Bank. He was a founding member of the bank’s senior management team in 2001, and played an integral role in the initial public offering campaign that capitalized the bank. Matt began his banking career with 1^st Interstate Bank and has held various senior positions within other banking organizations over the past 20+ years including Citibank and California Bank & Trust.

The Laura’s House Board of Directors is comprised of a diverse group of 15 uniquely talented individuals who represent a wide cross-section of the Orange County business community.

About Laura’s House
Over the past eighteen years, Laura’s House has provided residential shelter and support services to nearly 3,500 families, and counseling, life skills education and legal assistance to over 40,000 individuals. The mission of Laura’s House is to change the social beliefs, attitudes and the behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.

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Gift baskets include small luxuries to brighten the day for moms who are rebuilding lives that are free of violence; a beauty day at Salon Platinum in Aliso Viejo gives the moms a new summer look while their kids create handcrafted picture frames at Michael’s Arts & Crafts to give to their moms

LADERA RANCH, Calif., May 14, 2012 – This year, in honor of Mother’s Day, the Laura’s House Ladies’ Guild, a group of women from Ladera Ranch and surrounding areas who serve as community ambassadors for Laura’s House, joined together to shower moms living in the Laura’s House shelter with gifts of love.

As part of the Mother’s Day celebration, the women prepared gift baskets filled with handmade note cards, make-up, nail polish, spa slippers, perfume, jacket pins, eye masks and other small luxuries for moms residing at the shelter. The Ladies’ Guild arranged for a beauty day at Salon Platinum in Aliso Viejo, where the moms received haircuts, color, mini facials and paraffin wax hand treatments. Stylists from the salon also brought in clothes and jewelry to create a new summer look to match their beautiful features. The women were also given hair products, donated by Salon Platinum customers during a donation drive that was held in April. Ladera Ranch-based catering company, Rolling Sconze, provided treats for the moms to munch on during their day of beauty.

While the moms were at Salon Platinum, their children had a fun morning at Michael’s Arts and Crafts in Aliso Viejo, where they got to create beautiful handcrafted picture frames to give them on Mother’s Day. Afterwards, they were treated to a delicious lunch donated by Sharkey’s Aliso Viejo.

Jena Schuster, a Coto de Caza resident, heads up the Laura’s House Ladies’ Guild. “We are so excited to be able to give moms living in the Laura’s House shelter all the love and pampering they deserve this year on Mother’s Day, and we are grateful to Jeff Wacker, owner of Salon Platinum and Rolling Sconze for helping us make this Mother’s Day a very special one for these women,” she said. “The women residing in the shelter have been through so much, and because their first priority is to ensure that their children are safe and taken care of, they often push their own needs aside. The gift baskets and beauty day at Salon Platinum is our way of demonstrating that they are not alone, and that we are here to support them as they rebuild their lives, free of violence.”

The mission of Laura’s House is to change the social beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence while creating a safe place in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse. Founded in 2010, the Laura’s House Ladies’ Guild is, hosting events and gatherings, and donating their time and resources to brighten the lives of the women and children who reside in the Laura’s House shelter.

In addition to the Mother’s Day event, the Laura’s House Ladies’ Guild hosts a Back-to-School clothing drive for Laura’s House in the August, and the annual Alumni Holiday Party, which is held in December.

The Laura’s House Ladies’ Guild is currently looking to expand its membership. For more information on becoming a member of the Ladies’ Guild, please call Laura’s House at (949) 361-3775. A schedule of Ladies’ Guild events will be posted on the Laura’s House Website at www.laurashouse.org/events.

About Laura’s House
Annually, Laura’s House provides residential shelter services to more than 200 women and children, counseling to more than 300 clients, legal services to more than 300 clients and assists with more than 1,700 crisis hot-line calls. The mission of Laura’s House is changing social beliefs, attitudes and the behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.

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Chad & Linda Kearns toasting at last year’s event in Giracci

Guests will enjoy a beautiful evening under the stars featuring culinary delights and tastings of more than 30 wines from the Napa Valley, Sonoma Coast, Paso Robles and other wine growing regions in California

Ladera Ranch, Calif. May 9, 2012 – On Saturday, June 9, 2012, more than 125 friends and supporters of Laura’s House are expected to gather at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach for the 1^st Annual “Wine & Dine” event. Proceeds from the event will support the programs and services that Laura’s House provides to families that are impacted by domestic violence throughout Orange County and beyond. The mission of Laura’s House is to change the social beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence, while creating a safe place in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.

The “Wine & Dine” event will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Big Canyon Country Club, located at 1 Big Canyon Drive in Newport Beach. Guests will be treated to a wine tasting, a selection of gourmet menu items, and a silent auction featuring wine tastings and tours, including Newport Beach Vineyards & Winery, as well as more than 100 bottles of wine from the Napa Valley, Sonoma Coast, Paso Robles and other wine growing regions in California. Additionally, guests will have the opportunity to sample more than 30 different wines, and Master Sommelier Steve Poe, of Big Canyon Country Club will be on-hand during the event to share is wine expertise.

“Wall of Wine” from 2011 Gala

Some of the wineries that will be featured during the 1^st Annual “Wine & Dine” event include AmByth Estate Winery, Paso Robles; August West, Central Coast; Beringer Vineyards, Napa Valley; Big Basin Vineyards, Central Coast; DUNSTAN Wines, Sonoma Coast; Etude Estate Wines, Carneros, Napa Valley; Hartigan Cellars, Orange County; Jemrose Wines, Bennett Valley; Levendi Winery, Napa Valley; Loring Wine Company, Paso Robles; Matthiasson, Napa Valley; Poe Wines, Anderson Valley; Sandler Wine Co., Santa Barbara; Sbragia Family Vineyards, Napa Valley; Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Napa Valley; and, Tercero Wines, Central Valley and Santa Barbara. The event will also feature local wines from Giracci Vineyards and Farms, located in Silverado Canyon.

“We are delighted to be able to invite the community to join us for this first annual ‘wine & dine’ event that will both raise much-needed funds for our organization, and shine a light on the programs and services that we offer to families who are impacted by domestic violence,” said Margaret Bayston, CEO and Executive Director, Laura’s House. “We are grateful for the steadfast support that our organization receives from the local community. With their help, we are about to successfully complete our $4.5 million Cornerstone Capital Campaign in July. During the ‘Wine & Dine’ event, attendees will have an opportunity to learn about the ways that they be a part of the history of Laura’s House through the naming opportunities that are still available.”

Tickets for the 1^st Annual “Wine & Dine” event are $125 per person, and can be purchased at www.laurashouse.org/lhwineevent.html.

About Laura’s House
Over the past eighteen years, Laura’s House has provided residential shelter and support services to nearly 3,500 families, and counseling, life skills education and legal assistance to over 40,000 individuals. The mission of Laura’s House is to change the social beliefs, attitudes and the behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.

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Interviews with experts address topics that offer advice on how to obtain a restraining order, what to do if you are pregnant and in an abusive relationship, and how to help your teen who is experiencing dating violence

In 2009, Laura’s House set out to create a series of Podcasts that would offer exclusive and informative content for individuals and families seeking information on the trends and issues surrounding domestic violence. Laura’s House currently offers a library of nearly two dozen Podcasts on a variety of topics related to family violence, teen dating violence, elder abuse, legislation surrounding domestic violence, and trends reported by national groups tracking the impact of domestic violence on society.

The Laura’s House Podcast series is available at Podomatic.com. To view the Podcast series, click here. Podcasts can also be obtained via the iTunes store.

Since the Laura’s House Podcast Series was initially launched, some of our most popular topics have been “The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children,” “Healthcare Reform and Domestic Violence,” “Love and Domestic Violence,” “Domestic Violence in the Workplace,” “Pregnancy and Domestic Violence,” and “Texting and Teen Dating Violence.” Each of these topics has received more than 200 downloads from visitors to our Podcast feed at Podomatic.com. Laura’s House also continues to remain in the Top 10 Podcasts on Podomatic under the category of “Non-Profit” organizations.

We hope that you will join hundreds of other individuals who are using the Laura’s House Podcast series as a source for information for trends and issues related to domestic violence. Logon today at http://laurashouse.podomatic.com to learn more!

About Laura’s House
Over the past eighteen years, Laura’s House has provided residential shelter and support services to nearly 3,500 families, and counseling, life skills education and legal assistance to over 40,000 individuals. The mission of Laura’s House is to change the social beliefs, attitudes and the behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.

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Adriane Nada, a Domestic Violence Clinical Educator, will represent Laura’s House in the dance competition that raises money for local nonprofit organizations

LADERA RANCH, Calif., April 16, 2011 – Laura’s House, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to change the social beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence, while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse, today announced that it is one of six beneficiaries of the 2^nd Annual “Dancing for a Cause” event, sponsored by the San Clemente Sunrise Rotary.

Based on the hit TV show, “Dancing with the Stars,” this semi-formal event will pair participants from each beneficiary organization with a professional dance partner from South Coast Dancesport. Adriane Nada, Domestic Violence Clinical Educator for Laura’s House, will take to the dance floor on behalf of Laura’s House to compete for monetary prizes and the coveted “Top Dancer” trophy. Laura’s House will receive 100% of the proceeds from the sponsorship dollars raised in support of Nada’s participation in the event.

Nada has been involved with Laura’s House since 2000, when she started as volunteer while completing undergraduate courses in Human Services at California State University, Fullerton. After completing her graduate studies in 2005, Nada became an intern at Laura’s House, providing therapy to individuals, families, couples and groups through the Laura’s House Counseling and Resource Center, while she pursued a license in Marriage and Family Therapy. She continued to provide Marriage and Family Therapy until becoming a Domestic Violence Clinical Educator for Laura’s House, where she now supervises graduate student trainees and helps to coordinate clinical programs. In addition to her position at Laura’s House, Nada has a private practice in Dana Point.

“I am delighted to represent Laura’s House in ‘Dancing for a Cause’ this year,” said Nada. “This annual event is a terrific way to engage the community in helping local nonprofit organizations like ours, and we are grateful to the San Clemente Sunrise Rotary and San Clemente Rotary Clubs for hosting the event again this year. Laura’s House looks forward to using the event to both raise the much needed funds to support the programs and services we provide to families impacted by domestic violence, and to build greater awareness within the community for our organization.”

“Dancing for a Cause” will take place starting at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 18 at The Hills Hotel, located at 26205 La Paz Road in Laguna Hills. The event will commence with a reception, photo opportunity and silent auction, followed by dinner, the dance competition, live auction and dancing.

Other beneficiaries for “Dancing for a Cause” include South Coast Boys & Girls Club; San Clemente Kiwanis; San Clemente Rotary; San Clemente Sunrise Rotary; and, Women’s Cancer Research Foundation

Tickets to “Dancing for a Cause” are available through the San Clemente Sunrise Rotary Club for $100 each.

About Laura’s House
Over the past eighteen years, Laura’s House has provided residential shelter and support services to nearly 3,500 families, and counseling, life skills education and legal assistance to over 40,000 individuals. The mission of Laura’s House is to change the social beliefs, attitudes and the behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.

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