River Oak Center For Children

Roots and Wings - A Campaign to Rebuild Lives

We couldn’t have picked a more beautiful day for the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the last 2 buildings on the Residential Campus at River Oak. A large group of supporters, friends, and staff of River Oak gathered at the construction site on October 23, 2007 to pay tribute to the past and celebrate the new vision for the Residential Campus. Equipped with 2 residential cottages (opened in 2003 and 2007), classrooms for special education instruction, a gymnasium, therapists’ offices, a nursing facility, and an Art Therapy room, the new Campus will significantly enhance the program serving severely emotionally and behaviorally challenged children needing intense services and constant supervision and care.

Wearing hard hats decorated by the children living and receiving services at the Campus, the individuals who are the driving force behind the project gathered for the ceremonial dig: (from left to right) Nina Besne, Brown Construction, Laurie Clothier, Director of the Residential Program at River Oak, Scott Hanson, Hanson McClain & Chair of the Capital Campaign Committee, Mary Hargrave, President & CEO, River Oak Center for Children, Sherman Haggerty, Special Representative of Lennar Corporation, Renee Snider, Member of the Board of Directors & a Long-standing friend of River Oak, Don Russell, Founder, Vanir Construction Management & Member of the Board of Directors at River Oak, Susan Peters, Supervisor, Third District, Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and Mark Vasquez, Nacht & Lewis Architects.

An ambitious $6 million Capital Campaign is under way to rebuild the Residential Campus on Laurel Hills Drive where 36 girls and boys ages 6-12 live and receive educational and treatment services. They are among the most severely emotionally challenged children who have found in River Oak a safe place to regain their hope for the future.
The vision for the new campus includes 2 residential cottages, an Administrative/School/Clinical Building and Multi-Purpose facility that will provide adequate space for Art Therapy, Adapted Physical Education and training, all significantly enhancing the quality of care provided to the children served by the Residential Treatment program.

River Oak Received a $1,000,000 Grant from the Lennar Foundation

The Lennar Foundation based in Miami, Florida has selected River Oak to receive the highly competitive “September 11th” grant given to one non-profit organization across the nation in honor of the victims of this tragic event. In a touching ceremony on September 11, 2006, the Chairman of the Lennar Foundation, Mr. Alan Pekor, awarded the grant to River Oak. The funding will greatly contribute to the on-going Capital Campaign (please click here to read the Press Release).

“River Oak is extremely fortunate and honored to receive this generous grant from the Lennar Foundation”, Dr. Mary Hargrave, President and CEO of the agency, remarked. “Its symbolism is touching and its practical implications are far-reaching. We hope it will inspire other community members to step forward and make a wonderful difference in the lives of the children we serve”.

For a complete list of all Capital Campaign donors, please click here. Our deep gratitude goes to all of you - you are making a wonderful difference in vulnerable children's lives!

(from left to right) Eric Stafford, Republic Electric West, Inc., & Chair, Board of Directors, HomeAid Sacramento, Mary Hargrave, Ph.D., President & CEO, River Oak Center for Children, John Orr, Executive Director, HomeAid Sacramento, Jeff Panasiti, Division President, Lennar Sacramento, Sherman Haggerty, Lennar Sacramento, and Pam Herman, Program Director, HomeAid Sacramento.
Campus Rebuilding Project - Phase One: Completed!

We are excited to announce that the Ron and Darin Mittelstaedt Cottage opened its doors for its impatient residents on June 12, 2007. Together with the Ivey Cottage built in 2003, it provides a home-like environment for 36 severely emotionally challenged children. We thank all our supporters and partners who made this possible, especially Ron and Darin Mittelstaedt, Lennar Sacramento, HomeAid Sacramento and Dennis Calmes and Jeani Buckmaster.

To see more pictures of the dedication ceremony, please click here.

5030 El Camino Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608, (916) 609-5100, fax (916) 609-5160
info@riveroak.org
Click here for contact info for our other program sites.