CECO Grant Awards

Last week, ECS was honored to attend the San Diego County Employees’ Charitable Organization (CECO) Grant Awards luncheon, where we were recognized as a grant recipient.

With CECO’s generous support, Para Las Familias is able to strengthen mental and behavioral health support for children ages 0–12 through the continued use of Comfort Cubs, a therapeutic resource that brings healing and emotional care to children in need.

We’re incredibly thankful to CECO for investing in the wellbeing of our community and the families we serve.

ECS VP of Strategic Engagement Adrienne Wilkerson (left) at the luncheon. April 2026.

ECS is proud to be a recipient of a grant award at the luncheon. April 2026.

A New Beginning

CERRC helped Taylor achieve a fresh start.

Taylor’s journey to sobriety was not a linear journey. His path came with ups and downs, challenges that caused him to take steps backwards after months of fighting to get ahead. He found himself caught in a cycle of homelessness and addiction that continued for a decade. Sometimes it was the pressure of working as many as four jobs at once, sometimes it was codependency, and other times it was the well-meaning attempt to go back to the streets to try and help others that ended up pulling Taylor back into that cycle. 

Taylor found comfort and strength in his faith during his recovery.

Taylor was homeless for a year and a half before finding help at ECS. He hit rock bottom and decided that enough was enough. “My last three weeks of using were very depressive,” he said. “I was addicted to heroin and I was using on an everyday level for so long: for probably six months to a year to where I was dependent on it.” In that time, Taylor turned to God. He relinquished the reins, trusting that he would be guided on the right path. Soon enough, Taylor found himself at a residential men’s treatment facility and upon graduation, found ECS Central East Regional Recovery Center (CERRC) as his next step. 

At CERRC, Taylor gained valuable perspective, relapse prevention skills, and supportive community. CERRC placed him in a sober living community and surrounded him with a group of counselors and peers that helped him remain focused and steady on his journey to recovery. He felt that the staff were intentional and compassionate; they took the time to truly know him and create a family feeling within his group. “That group that was established and that kind of camaraderie really was what helped get me through,” he said. “While we were doing painting or whatever activity it was, we'd be talking about discovery and getting to know each other, you know, celebrating each other's successes.” 

The supportive community of CERRC and the sober living uplifted Taylor on his journey.

After graduating from the program at CERRC, Taylor remained in his sober living community. “One of the things I've lost in my past was, I get so focused on my life and my direction that I would just lose connection with everyone else,” he shared. Now he has people to hold him accountable. He enjoys the communal support at the sober living and continues to attend meetings regularly. 

Taylor also found community beyond CERRC. Work in particular brought a special connection. A devout employee, Taylor would be the first person on site every day. The superintendent of the site would also arrive early. During those early mornings, they began to share their life stories with each other. As fate would have it, the superintendent was also sober and saw qualities in Taylor that reminded him of his own recovery journey. The superintendent, recognizing Taylor’s effort at work, recommended him for a position at the property management company of the building they were constructing. 

The interview went well and Taylor was hired, but a few weeks later the company contacted him after examining his criminal record. “They were like, ‘we just wanted to let you know that we never hire anyone who has a felony on their record, but we're going to give you this opportunity, please don't mess it up,’” he said. They gave him a three-month probationary period which he breezed through. “I'm now a supervisor; I'm making more money than I've ever made in my whole life.”  

Taylor now owns a car, his credit score is improving, and he has inner peace. “If you would have asked me a year ago if I would be where I am today, I would have said ‘no.’ I thought I was going a completely different direction,” he said. He shared that he used to be scared to have control of his life, but now he feels he has the guidance he needs from CERRC, his peers, and – above all – God. 

Taylor’s advice for new CERRC clients, or just other people recovering from substance use, is “to give themselves a chance, be open minded, and take that first step.” Taylor hopes they can trust that God has a plan for them. 

ECS’ outpatient treatment program at CERRC helps people like Taylor recover from substance use and begin again.

CERRC was a powerful part of Taylor’s journey, and he shared that it was the people there that made the difference for him. “What I felt with everyone here [at CERRC] was so beautiful,” he said. “It just tells how much everyone cares.” No matter how busy the counselors got, they always had time for him and cared for him in a real way. “I felt like my life was worth it. And I know everybody else did, too.” In a letter to ECS, Taylor wrote, “Through hard work, both on my inner self and on the job, I have been blessed with an opportunity to begin a new life.” 

ECS CERRC helps people like Taylor reclaim their lives and start over, but that help is not possible without generous support. Your donation can provide toiletry kits, food, bus passes, and more for clients, supporting their needs as they take the first steps of recovery. To give your support to CERRC and other ECS programs visit www.ecscalifornia.org/donate.  

Enterprise Women in Leadership Luncheon

Last week, ECS CEO Elizabeth Wilberg shared valuable leadership insight with other women at The Power Within: Women in Leadership Luncheon, hosted by Enterprise Bank. The event featured lunch at the San Diego Country Club, a keynote address from Wilberg, and a conversation between Wilberg and other women community leaders about the importance of speaking out with confidence and sharing ideas.

Through meaningful connection and shared wisdom, women help build one another up as leaders in their fields, whether that be in the nonprofit world, banking, or another sector.

Wilberg (second from left) and other luncheon attendees pose for a picture. March 2026.

Wilberg and a panel of other women discuss leadership. March 2026.

Building a Love for Learning

Head Start students pose with their art projects and friends. March 2026.

Love for school and knowledge begins with our littlest learners. High school students from The Bishop’s School have embarked on a mission to help build love of learning in ECS Head Start students through a variety of volunteer activities.

So far, The Bishop’s School students have visited Highland Head Start and Harbison Head Start. They plan to also bring the fun to Castle Park Head Start and Zamorano Head Start in the coming months.

A student volunteer guides a Head Start student in creating his project. March 2026.

At Highland, the student volunteers did yoga with the Head Start students, teaching them healthy movement. At Harbison, they assisted Head Start students in an art activity, encouraging hands-on creativity.

“Student volunteers bring more than just their time to our Head Start classrooms — they bring mentorship, creativity, and joy,” said Harbison Site Supervisor Denise Trejo. “Through fun activities and positive interactions, they inspire our young learners, helping them build confidence, curiosity, and love for learning.” 

ECS is thankful to The Bishop’s School volunteers for giving their time and talent to Head Start — from one student to another. Their friendship and mentorship create meaningful impact in the education of ECS Head Start students.

The Bishop’s School students enjoy outdoor activities with Head Start students. March 2026.

Student volunteers bring joy and learning to ECS classrooms. March 2026.