Casa Pacifica Kicks Off Annual Holiday Giving Drive

Cherished Community Tradition Brings Holiday Joy to At-Risk Youth and Families Across Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties

Camarillo, Calif., October 14, 2025 – The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration. Unfortunately, for many youth and families facing mental health challenges, it can also be a time of emotional and financial stress.

To provide vulnerable children, young adults and families with holiday cheer, Casa Pacifica is hosting its annual Dove Wishes holiday giving campaign. The community can help youth and families who are receiving Casa Pacifica’s mental health services have a festive and memorable experience by granting kids’ holiday wishes and purchasing much-needed items like bedding or clothes.

Casa Pacifica is the largest non-profit provider of children’s and adolescent mental health services in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties and serves approximately 350 youth a day in residential, outpatient and community-based settings.

“The need this year is greater than ever,” said Carrie Hughes, Chief Development Officer, Casa Pacifica. “As more and more youth struggle with mental health challenges, our Dove Wishes program brings comfort and connection to children, young adults and families who are facing difficult times. Every gift reminds our youth that they are seen, cared for, and not alone this holiday season.”

The Dove Wishes program offers several ways to get involved. The community can purchase items from children’s holiday wish lists, adopt a family, purchase essential items or make a financial contribution. Participants can involve their workplace, school, church or other groups by hosting a gift card drive to help youth and families purchase gifts or essential items including clothing and household necessities.

Items can also be purchased through Casa Pacifica’s Amazon and Target registries, which are updated frequently to reflect the needs of youth who are in the agency’s care.

For more details on how to get involved with the Dove Wishes holiday giving campaign, view the holiday wish list or make a monetary donation, email wishes@casapacifica.org, visit casapacifica.org/holiday-giving/ or call 877-445-WISH.

# # #

Casa Pacifica Mission: Casa Pacifica inspires hope and nurtures mental health and well-being of children, young adults, and families to realize their full potential.

Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families provides assessment, clinical, medical, residential, and educational services to foster and at-risk children/youth struggling with complex mental health disorders due to past trauma and/or mental illness. The agency is the largest non-profit provider of children’s and adolescent mental health services in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties and administers 17 campus- and community-based programs and services designed to give youth, and their families, the tools they need to heal, rebuild and strengthen relationships, reengage with their educations, and overcome their negative emotional and behavioral challenges. The agency’s Camino a Casa program, available to clients with private insurance, provides behavioral health care to support youth ages 12 to 17 with emotional and behavioral issues, along with their families.

For more information about Casa Pacifica visit its website www.casapacifica.org or call the Development Department at 805-445-7800.