Courage Over Comfort: Episode 4
2026-04-30 08:30 - 10:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Join us for a compelling conversation rooted in courage. They shared personal truths, lived experiences, and professional insights, exploring how trauma shapes families and the pathways to healing. This series aims to spark transformative dialogue and disrupt cycles of relationship violence, encouraging participants—whether survivors, providers, or those carrying generational pain—to speak their truths with vulnerability and strength. Through its Courage Over Comfort Series, Human Options is leading the way in fostering courageous conversations and healing.
Join us in April, where we will continue to gather at Courage Over Comfort, a space for courageous conversations that deepen our collective understanding of the impacts of relationship violence on survivors. Our next episode features Tammy Kavathan from our Survivor Advisory Council and B. Robert Farzad, Managing Partner of Farzad and Ochoa Family Law Attorneys, LLP, to explore how legal advocacy helps survivors secure protection orders, navigate custody and divorce, and reclaim independence.
Seats are limited, don’t miss this opportunity to witness and contribute to this important conversation. CLICK TO REGISTER!

2026 Hoag OC Marathon - Run with Purpose
2026-05-02 - 2026-05-03 | OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, United States
Join Team Human Options at the Hoag OC Marathon!
Run, Fundraise, and Volunteer to Create a Safe-Haven for Survivors
Human Options is proud to return as a benefiting charity for the 2026 Hoag OC Marathon! This year, you can join Humanity in Action, our volunteer and community engagement initiative that mobilizes supporters to take meaningful action in creating a safer Orange County.
Whether you run, fundraise, or volunteer along the race route, you’ll be helping survivors of relationship violence find a safe-haven, healing, and empowerment.

Event Details

Dates: Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3, 2026
Location: OC Fair & Event Center

Ready to Become Part of the Movement?

REGISTER as a racer and fundraiser for Team Human Options.
DONATE to support our racers and help provide safety for survivors.
VOLUNTEER with Humanity in Action to cheer on the team. Email Sarah D’Agostino (humanity@humanoptions.org) for details or to sign up.

There Is a Place for You
Run & Fundraise with Team Human Options
Racing on behalf of Human Options is an opportunity to turn your miles into impact. Runners will create personal fundraising pages and invite friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, and others in their network to sponsor their race.
There’s a race for every level:

Hoag 5K Run or Walk – Saturday, May 2, 2026 AT 5:30 PM
Half Marathon – Sunday, May 3, 2026 AT 6:30 AM
Hoag OC Marathon – Sunday, May 3, 2026 AT 5:30 AM

Volunteer through Humanity in Action

Not running? You can still make a powerful difference.
This year, Humanity in Action volunteers will help Human Options cheer on runners and raise awareness about our mission. It’s a high-energy, high-visibility way to stand with survivors and support our team. There are several ways to get involved and support our racers–please email Sarah D’Agostino (humanity@humanoptions.org) for details or to sign up.

Our Goal: Safety for Survivors & Their Families

This year, we’re making fundraising more accessible, more community-driven, and more impactful.
We aim to recruit at least 10 dedicated racers, each inviting 100 people in their networks to give $100.
Why $100? Because $100 provides one night of immediate safety for a survivor and their children through our emergency shelter or hotel voucher program.
One gift = one night of safety.
One racer’s network = 100 nights of safety.
Ten racers = 1,000 nights of safety for families escaping violence.
Every ask matters. Every donation matters. Every mile matters. Every dollar raised—and every step you take—will support survivors seeking housing, legal advocacy, counseling, and transformation. Every racer plays a role in ending the cycle of relationship violence in Orange County.

Join Us in Creating a Safer Community
Lace up, show up, and stand with survivors.
Be part of Team Human Options at the 2026 Hoag OC Marathon and help build a community where everyone can live free from fear. We can’t wait to see you there.

Questions? Please contact Sarah D’Agostino, Community Engagement Coordinator, at humanity@humanoptions.org.

2026 Serious Fun Gala: Under the Stars
2026-05-16 17:30 - 22:00 | Balboa Bay Resort, 1221 West Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA, 92663
To purchase sponsorships, learn more, and join the celebration, please click the button below to visit the Serious Fun 45th Anniversary Gala website.

For questions about sponsorship opportunities or donations to our live and silent auction, please contact:
Jonathan Forbes
Senior Development Director
jforbes@humanoptions.org

For all other event inquiries, please contact:
Claire Otterbein
Development Operations Coordinator
cotterbein@humanoptions.org

Serious Fun Gala Committee
Nikole Kingston, Co-Chair
Kim Grimm, Co-Chair
Diane Biagianti
Brenda Donaldson
Sara Kerrane
Wendy Peterson
Brian Ruttencutter
Amber Tran

Courage Over Comfort: Episode 5
2026-07-09 08:30 - 10:00
Join us for a compelling conversation rooted in courage. They shared personal truths, lived experiences, and professional insights, exploring how trauma shapes families and the pathways to healing. This series aims to spark transformative dialogue and disrupt cycles of relationship violence, encouraging participants, whether survivors, providers, or those carrying generational pain to speak their truths with vulnerability and strength. Through its Courage Over Comfort Series, Human Options is leading the way in fostering courageous conversations and healing.
Join us for our July episode, where we will continue to gather at Courage Over Comfort, a space for courageous conversations that deepen our collective understanding of the impacts of relationship violence on survivors.
Seats are limited, don’t miss this opportunity to witness and contribute to this important conversation. CLICK TO REGISTER!

40 Hour Domestic Violence Advocate Training (DVAT)
2026-08-10 - 2026-08-13
Looking to work with domestic violence survivors or just expand your knowledge?

Register for Human Options’ 40-hour state-mandated workshop! Offered biannually in the Spring and Fall, this domestic violence series is ideal for those seeking employment or volunteer experience with a domestic violence organization in California.
Emergency hotline volunteers help answer calls to our 24-hour hotline and document each call. Emergency hotline volunteers are asked to do at least one, 3 hour shift per week. All hotline volunteers are mandated by the State of California to complete a 40-hour domestic violence awareness training before being eligible to volunteer.
Upon completion you will receive a certification as mandated California Evidence Code Section 1037.1.
Join us for our virtual 40-Hour Domestic Violence Advocate Training in August 2026! Click for flyer.
Monday, August 10th
Tuesday, August 11th
Wednesday, August 12th
Thursday, August 13th
REGISTER HERE
