Olive Crest May

Among the fine wines and elegant dishes, thousands of dollars are being raised for Orange County’s youth in need. It is the third annual Harvesting Hope for the Olive Crest Kids, and the goal is to raise funds and bring hope to victims of child abuse in Orange County.

Harvesting Hope is an event put on by Santa Ana charity Olive Crest. It focuses specifically on Olive Crest’s Project Independence, which is dedicated to their fostered youth, ages 15-24—getting them on their feet with proper training and life skills that will help them become responsible adults, despite their difficult backgrounds.

Though this was only the third Harvesting Hope event, Olive Crest is not a new organization. It’s history in Orange County starts in 1973 when Dr. Donald and Lois Verleur founded the organization with the goal of preventing child abuse, treating and counseling at-risk children, as well as preserving the family. “Olive crest” means “peaceful family,” and those who are involved with Olive Crest are dedicated to creating just that—a peaceful family life for those who have never known one.

I had the opportunity to speak with Donald Verleur, CEO of Olive Crest and son of the original Olive Crest founders, at this year’s event. It’s clear that his passion for Olive Crest is not based on a goal to impact others; rather, his passion is based on the impact the kids of Olive Crest have had on him. “I was pre-med. I wanted nothing to do with Olive Crest, but I spent some time with these kids, and they [were] amazing. They changed my entire life.”

Based in Orange County, Olive Crest knows the needs that exist in our community. Donald tells me just how many kids Olive Crest has the opportunity to serve: “Nationally, about a thousand [children] every day are served. And when I say ‘served,’ I mean we are raising children here. We’re feeding them, clothing them, giving them a home, everything. Six hundred of that thousand served are easily Orange County [children] alone.”

I spoke with the Harvesting Hope event chairwoman, Debbie Ferrée, who shared her views about the growing need for taking action against child abuse. “The United States is in a serious crisis—child abuse is constantly on the rise.” According to Childhelp’s national child abuse statistics, a report of child abuse is made every ten seconds.

Since 1973, the Olive Crest organization has spread to fifteen different communities in three different states. There is no possible way to express the lasting impact that Olive Crest has had on the communities it has had the opportunity to serve, specifically where it all began: here in our own community in Orange County. “Alumni groups have been formed,” Donald told me. “There are forty-year-old women, who Olive Crest practically raised, counseling girls in our programs today.” Not only has Olive Crest provided for thousands of children in need and at risk, but these children are growing up to be living examples of the positive impact Olive Crest has made in their own lives, proving that Olive Crest will be serving victims of child abuse in Orange County and beyond for many years to come.

As I stroll through the entrance of Newport's esteemed Big Canyon Country Club, I hear the sound of laughter and applause and see a crowd of well-dressed Orange County residents enjoying fine California wines and gourmet food. This may just seem like a normal night at the Big Canyon Country Club in upscale Newport Beach, but behind the scenes, big things are happening.

{ BY MARITZA SKIDMORE } { PHOTOS BY BLYTHE HILL }

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OliveCrest CEO Donald Verleur with Vice Chairman and Chief Merchandise Officer of DSW Inc Debbie Ferrée, the Event Chair, and Mike Donnelly, President of Ralphs Grocery.