By: Maricela Rios-Faust, Chief Executive Officer
As I look back on the past year, I remain deeply grateful to each of you, our community of caring for individuals and partners for your steadfast commitment to igniting social change in service of victims and survivors of relationship violence.
Because of you, Human Options keeps healing at the heart of our mission. Your support makes it possible for us to listen deeply, learn, and evolve our services so survivors and their families can heal. This year, your generosity empowered us to learn from survivors and center their voices, helping us create tools and services that truly meet their needs. We are grateful for your partnership in keeping healing, hope, and transformation at the core of all we do.
Celebrating Community and Honoring Champions
Our annual Serious Fun Gala, “A Night At the Disco,” was a vibrant celebration held at the Balboa Bay Resort. We were thrilled to honor Wendy Peterson as our Dove Honoree, recognizing her unwavering dedication to our mission. The evening was filled with disco-inspired energy, live entertainment, and the generosity of our guests, raising vital funds to support Human Options’ life-saving programs.
At our Fall Luncheon, attendees were inspired by guest speaker April Hernandez Castillo, whose powerful story of resilience and hope resonated with all. Her message reminded us of the importance of community and the strength found in shared experiences.
Launching New Initiatives for Change—and Their Impact
In 2025, Human Options unveiled three transformative initiatives, each igniting remarkable change and setting the stage for our future impact:
- Survivor Advisory Council: Human Options launched the Survivor Advisory Council, empowering survivors to guide program development, policy, and advocacy. The Council’s members have driven real change, including advocating for restored funding and sharing their stories to inspire action.
- Courage Over Comfort: This live podcast series creates space for honest, courageous conversations led by survivors and experts. By sharing experiences and insights, the initiative fosters understanding and challenges of stigma around relationship violence.
- Humanity in Action: A volunteer-driven movement; Humanity in Action brings the community together to end relationship violence. Through service projects, outreach, and collaboration, it empowers individuals to support survivors, strengthen families, and build safer communities.
Together, these initiatives place survivor voices at the center, deepen empathy, and mobilize collective action to address relationship violence. They represent a shift in Human Options’ approach to prevention, community education, and survivor advocacy. By prioritizing courage, empathy, and the lived experiences of survivors, we are building a foundation for lasting change. As we move into the new year, these efforts will continue to guide our work, helping us reach more survivors, engage more partners, and create a safer, healthier Orange County for all.
Expanding Our Reach
This year, the Shine the Light Walking Vigils in Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Santa Ana stood as powerful symbols of remembrance and resilience. Partnering with local police and community leaders, each city demonstrated that supporting survivors and raising awareness about relationship violence is a shared community value. These gatherings honored lives lost, celebrated survival and healing, and transformed public spaces into safe havens where survivors, advocates, and community members united to demand lasting change.
Looking Ahead
Thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to ensuring survivors have a safe place to heal from abuse. We remain steadfast in our vision: that every person and family in Orange County can experience healthy relationships and live free from fear.
Wishing you all a safe holiday season and a very Happy New Year!
