The desire to foster a deep sense of care, safety, and community has guided me both through my career in Real Estate and as a mother. This has led to partnerships with several remarkable Pasadena organizations over the years, including Hillsides, a nonprofit I’ve worked with through our biannual Bike Build Event. Hillsides has been providing essential care to children and families for over a century, and I believe their story deserves to be known by everyone in our community.

“Hillsides is 112 years old,” says Stacey Roth, CEO of Hillsides. “In 1913, we began as an orphanage, and I’ve had the privilege of being part of this journey for almost thirty years. Our mission has always been to help children, youth, and families heal, grow, and thrive.”

“What makes this place special is our setting,” says Casey Meinster, Division Chief of Campus-Based Services. “We have 17 beautiful acres where Pasadena meets Highland Park. When families first arrive, they’re often in crisis, but you can see their shoulders relax when they see the campus. It doesn’t feel clinical or institutional at all.”

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“That’s exactly it,” Roth jumps in. “Over the years we’ve never lost sight of creating that sense of safety. Traditionally, we served children from the child welfare system. These are often kids who have experienced trauma and couldn’t safely stay in their homes. But a few years ago, we noticed something troubling.”

“These families needed us.”

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“We were getting calls from desperate families who had commercial insurance,” Meinster explains. “These parents were trying everything to help their children who were experiencing mental health crises. They were falling through the cracks by not qualifying for public assistance yet were also unable to get the intensive services they needed through their insurance.”

Roth’s eyes light up, “That’s when we created Hillsides Cares in 2021. It was about expanding our circle of care to embrace more of our community. These families needed us, and we found a way to be there for them.

“Those are the moments that stay with you.”

“The transformation we see is remarkable,” Meinster says with a smile. “Our campus feels like a summer camp: we have a pool, music studio, art programs. I remember a six-year-old who came to us after years of struggling. At the end of treatment, watching that child laugh with their parents… the mother told me she had hope for the first time in years. Those are the moments that stay with you.”

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“Hope is so powerful,” Roth agrees. “Ten years ago, we introduced trauma-informed care, which completely changed our approach. Instead of asking ‘What’s wrong with you?’ we ask ‘What happened to you?’ I like to say that we ‘strike when the iron is cold.’ That simple shift creates understanding instead of judgment and leads to a much quicker de-escalation of behaviors.”

“And then we build relationships that last,” Meinster adds. “Continuity of care is everything in mental health treatment. When a child moves from residential treatment to our day programs, they keep continuity amongst their treatment team. That consistency makes all the difference as they learn to grow and thrive.”

“It truly takes a community to support these children.”

Roth nods enthusiastically. “Access and continuity guide everything we do. We open our doors to everyone and figure out how to help them. If for some reason we can’t, we make sure they find the right services elsewhere. No one leaves without a path forward.”

“What many people don’t realize,” Meinster says, “is that while our work depends on trained professionals, it truly takes a community to support these children. The local businesses and individuals who donate their time, resources, and even simple items like clothing or school supplies are part of every success story.”

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“Absolutely,” Roth agrees. “We’ve built wonderful relationships with local partners, including your team, whose events have brought so much joy to our kids. We’ve seen such generosity from local businesses and we’re always looking for more community partners who want to be part of this work.”

Working with Hillsides over the past several years has given me a deeper appreciation for the truly profound impact they have on the children and families they serve. I continue to be inspired by the breadth of their work and am grateful for the chance to help share the story of this remarkable Pasadena institution as they transform lives, one child at a time.