F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
CASA PACIFICA CENTERS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
A California Non-profit 501(C)(3)
Contact: Karisa Lim
Phone: 805-366-4021
Email: klim@casapacifica.org
For: Assignment Editor
Casa Pacifica CEO Gets Dunked By Assistant Sheriff
Camarillo, CA – On Wednesday, February 14th Casa Pacifica hosted its annual employee appreciation town hall. The grand finale of the town hall was the much-anticipated meeting between Casa Pacifica CEO Dr. Steven Elson and the dunk tank. Dr. Elson’s date with the dunk tank was the result of Casa Pacifica’s successful Giving Tuesday campaign in November, which raised more than $15,000 for the nonprofit. On the short list of esteemed “throwers” was Ventura County’s own Assistant Sheriff Bill Ayub, currently running of Sheriff in the 2018 election. Along with Ayub, chosen employees including Steve’s own Executive Assistant Cindy Dombrowski had the privilege of sending Steve into the water. Steve ended up getting dunked three times, to the cheers and howls of staff. “In the moment, I felt some firings coming on – but, although not great career moves for my employees who threw, ultimately I value them and their generous spirits in donating to the campaign. It was a fun way to celebrate our Giving Tuesday success,” said Elson of his dunking finale.
For Casa Pacifica’s Giving Tuesday Challenge, two “teams” competed to either “Dunk Steve” or “Save Steve,” whichever team brought in the most donors would win. Ultimately, team “Dunk Steve” was victorious. Chosen employees and community donors who participated in the Giving Tuesday Challenge will have the honor of throwing the balls that will send Dr. Elson into the water. Longtime Casa Pacifica supporter Ventura Rentals donated the dunk tank for the festivities. “Mike and I highly respect the work that Casa Pacifica does for the children. We never thought Steve getting dunked would create such a big deal in the community, but we are so excited to see this happen!” said Heidi Whitcomb, owner of Ventura Rentals.
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Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families is a crisis-care and residential treatment facility for abused, neglected, or at-risk children in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. The agency is the largest non-profit provider of children’s mental health services in both counties and administers a number of community-based programs designed to strengthen families and keep children in their homes and communities. For more information about Casa Pacifica visit its website www.casapacifica.org or call the Development & Public Relations Department at (805) 445-7800.
Giving Tuesday is an international movement of giving that was started in 2012 by the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact in New York City. Giving Tuesday is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized retail shopping sprees Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Since its inception, Giving Tuesday has grown exponentially each year, raising almost 170 million last year alone for organizations all over the world.
Photo 1: Dr. Steve Elson awaiting his fate
Photo 2: Assistant Sheriff Bill Ayub throwing the ball
Photo 3: Dr. Steve Elson’s executive assistant Cindy Dombrowski making a grand entrance
Photo 4: Community partners showed up to see the much anticipated dunking of Dr. Steve Elson. (From L to R) Casa Pacifica Director of Development and Public Relations, Carrie Hughes; VC Assistant Sheriff Bill Ayub; Pattie Braga from Ventura County Credit Union; Emily Barany from Visionality
