New Spaces, New Possibilities

The Balay Ko Foundation’s generosity creates welcoming places for connection and healing at Casa Pacifica

Casa Pacifica recently celebrated the completion of two campus improvement projects made possible through the generosity of The Balay Ko Foundation. Designed to foster connection, recreation and healing, the new outdoor spaces provide youth, young adults and families with welcoming places to build relationships, spend time outdoors and simply enjoy being together.

One of the new spaces serves young adults in Casa Pacifica’s Transitional Youth Services (TYS) program, including young parents working to build stable, independent lives. Designed as a park-like gathering place, the area features a sports court, play equipment and comfortable spaces where residents can connect with one another, spend time with their children and create positive memories.

A new park-like gathering space for young adults in Casa Pacifica’s Transitional Youth Services program offers opportunities for play, connection and family time

The second project provides youth in Casa Pacifica’s Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) with a dedicated sports court—an amenity they specifically identified as something they wanted and needed. The new space offers opportunities for recreation, teamwork and healthy physical activity while supporting the therapeutic work taking place every day on campus.

Youth in Casa Pacifica’s Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program now have a dedicated sports court, a space they identified as a priority for recreation, fun and connection

For many of the young people Casa Pacifica serves, safe and inviting outdoor spaces are much more than amenities. They offer a chance to build confidence, strengthen relationships, reduce stress and experience the simple joy of being a kid.

For Angel, a 19-year-old mother participating in the TYS program, the new park means something even more personal. With city parks located a distance from campus, finding opportunities for her young son to play wasn’t always easy.

“As a mom, I want my son to have a happy childhood. Having this space on campus means we can walk, play and spend time together without having to leave. Seeing him smile and explore in a safe place gives me so much peace. It may seem like a small thing, but for us, it’s a place where we’ll make memories we’ll always cherish,” she says.

The projects reflect The Balay Ko Foundation’s commitment to supporting non-profit organizations across California that work to solve housing and food insecurity.

“Our name,Balay Ko, means ‘my home’ in Tagalog. We believe every young person deserves to experience the safety, belonging and hope that those words represent,” said The Balay Ko Foundation team. “A safe, stable home is the foundation for a brighter future, but home is about more than a roof overhead. It’s also about feeling connected, supported and part of a community. We’re honored to partner with Casa Pacifica to create spaces where young people who are at risk of homelessness can build those connections and be reminded that they deserve a place where they belong—a place they can call ‘my home.'”

“We’re incredibly grateful to The Balay Ko Foundation for believing in this vision and helping us bring these long-held campus dreams to life,” said Shawna Morris, MPA, President and Chief Executive Officer, Casa Pacifica. “For years, we imagined creating dedicated outdoor spaces where young adults, children and families could connect, play and heal together. Thanks to the Foundation’s generosity, those wish-list projects are now vibrant gathering places that will create beautiful memories and remind every young person who spends time here that they belong.”

For Angel and so many others, the Foundation’s investment is measured not in new playground equipment or basketball courts, but in simple everyday moments: a child enjoying a swing, friends gathering for a game, a young family making memories together. Those moments help strengthen relationships and remind every young person at Casa Pacifica that they are never alone on their journey toward healing.