Orange County Community Housing Corp.

My family is fortunate to have been introduced to SteppingUP by a family friend (shout out to Roberto "Bob" Lopez and his wife, Caroline). My family used to think it was impossible to go to college. When my brother joined SteppingUP's academic program in high school, he understood the importance of education and learned about available resources. When my brother was admitted to CSUF, my entire family was shocked. He had achieved the impossible. My two eldest brothers followed in the footsteps of their younger brother and later graduated from UCI and CSUF. I joined SteppingUP's academic program when I was in middle school, inspired by my brother. I joined because I saw how he valued the program for its community and willingness to help. Fast forward to the present, and I have also graduated this Spring 2024 with a B.A at CSUF! I came back to OCCHC/SteppingUP as an Events and Marketing intern. As a child, I could tell that the staff were very passionate about the program. Now, as an intern, I observed the same. They continue to help me, even as an alumni of the program. SteppingUP proved to be pivotal in my family’s life, and I’ve witnessed the same impact on many other students in the program. I've recommended OCCHC/SteppingUP to friends and family and will continue to do so. I'm very grateful! Thank you so much!!!

-Leslie Pineda

Hi I’m Alondra Meza and I’ve been in the steppingUP program for 2 years. The staff is super nice and friendly! This program helped me throughout my college application process providing workshops, fields trips, and weekly advising meetings!

Great program! It had helped my family very much! My kids joined when they were in 6th grade and our lives have been forever impacted. They’ve given them the opportunity for my kids to travel up north to visit colleges! Thanks to them my kids toured their dream school!

Ha sido una experiencia muy bonita para mi hija ser parte de este programa durante los últimos 6 años ella a aprendido mucho con ellos

Este programa para nuestra familia fue una gran bendición porque oriento a mi hija en cada uno de los pasos que tenia que seguir para conseguir su objetivo de llegar a la Universidad. Gracias a ustedes por esta gran labor de acompañamiento, este país tienen grandes beneficios pero sin personas como ustedes, que ayudan y orientan, es muy difícil para personas que llevan poco tiempo en el país conocer de estos programas. Gracias por todo!!!

Es un buen programa para nuestros hijo y para nosotros como padres para guiarlos a cumplir sus metas como profesionales muchas gracias a todos y cada uno de los q asen posibles este programa mil gracias.

Best college prep program! This program has helped not only my daughter achieve many goals but has enabled me to also find ways to support her through panels and workshops given by Stepping up.

This is a great program for parents and children everywhere. I have had the privilege of watching my nieces go through the program and see how muchnit helped them in their endeavors in life. And fast forward to today, I have now had two children go through the program. And currently have one enrolled. Stepping up does so much for these kids and prepares them for college and makes it fun and exciting for them.

SteppingUp has not only equipped me with the tangible tools that I needed to attend a four year institution, but it also provided me with the courage and with a support system that I would not have found otherwise. SteppingUp provides a home to students who navigate the higher education system for the first time. I am certain that this organization was vital to my progress and growth through my education journey.

Hello, I'm Julian Palacios, and I'm excited to share my reflections on my involvement in the program. This upcoming fall, I'll be enrolled at Cal State Fullerton, and I'm looking forward to what lies ahead. Being a part of this program has been impactful, not just for me but for my family as well, motivating us to aim high. Stepping Up has instilled in me a passion for learning and personal growth. The weekly advisor meetings and career day were such a great experience. I'm deeply grateful for the guidance and opportunities provided by Stepping Up.

SteppingUP en verdad es un paso adelante para los estudiantes. Les ayuda tener oportunidades de continuar con la escuela.

Both my students have joined this program when they were in 6th grade and I cannot thank this program enough! They’ve helped my daughter get into Johns Hopkins University. We would not know how to navigate the college application process or the financial aid application without this program. This is truly such an amazing program and I can’t thank them enough for the great change they’ve caused in my family!

Amazing organization that truly serves the community. This organization not only helps with affordable housing but also helps students in underserved communities attend a university.

Although I have recently joined they helped me so much with my piqs without them I wouldn’t have been able to do it. They helped me write them as best as they could be, they are the reason I’m going to the college of my dreams.

My name is Abraham Sanchez. 6 years ago from 7th Grade Doig to 12th Grade Santiago High, I was invited to be part of the team while I was struggling with goal setting & work and wasn’t used to my school’s environment. I explored my dream schools and their environment with tours to make sure I know exactly what to expect in the future. I loved how these tours reoccurring event because it made sure I never forget their environment and to not get lost there. SteppingUp has helped me overcome my obstacles mentally and emotionally to help me understand my life’s smartest decisions. Till this day I still firmly believe that this is the best decision ever made.

Excelente programa y siempre estaré agradecida por todo el apoyo que nos dieron

Hello, my name is Luis and I received my bachelors degree from Cal State San Bernardino. I have been apart of Stepping Up ever since I can remember. Stepping Up was a big part of not only my life but all of my family’s life. Stepping Up definitely encouraged me to attend college and to overall achieve a successful future. I have learned many valuable life lessons through Stepping Up. Events that made an impact would be weekly advisor meetings and career day. I will always be grateful for Stepping Up

SteppingUp was honestly a great experience, esp for professional development. Working as a Academic Advisor, I was able to get in depth hands-on experience working and guiding students for college and career readiness. My supervisors Monica, Mayra, and Steph were such a supportive team and I do appreciate all the help they gave me. I definitely recommend SteppingUp for those that plan on working with students and parents who want to support their children's college journey. The topics SteppingUP provides is much more in-depth and are new experiences students don't typically get in the classroom.

I have been interning at SteppingUP for the past few months as an academic advisor. I've had the opportunity to work directly with teens and support them both academically and personally. SteppingUP prioritizes the connections they make with their students and gives them the tools needed to achieve their goals. Everyone at SteppingUP is so personable, thoughtful, helpful, and knowledgeable. Not only did I feel supported as an intern but as a student as well. I feel incredibly lucky that I got to be a part of such a meaningful and impactful program. If you have the chance to get involved in SteppingUP it will be an experience you won't forget!

I have been interning for OCCHC/SteppingUP for the past three and a half months, and it has been nothing short of an amazing experience. The staff here are so kind and professional, and the organization itsef offers valuable financial, educational and housing resources for at-risk communites in Orange County.

Thanks to OCCHC/SteppingUP, I have gained practical knowledge and skills that I hope to take with me further in my career. I truly could not reccomend this organization enough.

Hello everyone. Me and my wife are seniors and we have to move out of the house apartment above the garage rental, the landlord said that the police came over to her house said she can not rent the people that are not family of her home because there not family to your home. The police said I have to a permit you can not part car on the street. I told the Police came and said that I can not rent here at the house above the garage. but landlord said you are not family to live here. I've been here for 14 years and she never said anything about it? Now I have two months to move out. Can someone help us me my wife I seniors we had to look for another apartment something for $2,000 or less. Also that's 5 months ago she's been opened up our letters me and my wife are accounts in the bank. And I told her that it's against the law to do this but her son said it's not. But my son-in-law told me doesn't federal offense you cannot open people's letters.
What can I do about it please help?

My experience with the SteppingUP program as an academic advisor was great and I learned a lot. Every staff member was welcoming, supportive, and they were invested in the success of their interns as well. The program was organized and focused on the success of students throughout the community.

I truly enjoyed my time as an intern for SteppingUP. Everyone is so welcoming, supportive, and friendly. The staff at SteppingUP truly enjoy what they do, and their love for helping others is nothing short of amazing.

My experience with SteppingUP was beyond enjoyable. With the assistance of program leaders such as Mayra and Monica, everything was clearly operated and led with students at the center of it all. They are certainly a great non-profit organization that cares about the success of our youth and providing interns with the tools to be successful!

Being an intern with SteppingUp has been an incredible experience, I would like to express. I have become a better advisor and leader as a result of the program's excellent methodology, committed coordinators, and emphasis on personal development. I am appreciative of this community's concern for its patrons, employees, and students. For those seeking a unique and enlightening experience, I strongly advise applying for an internship. To anyone who might require SteppingUp's services, I heartily recommend it as a reputable organization that genuinely makes a difference.

Recomiendo Stepping up por que es un programa que ayuda mucho a nuestros hijos a orientarlos en su progreso académico y todos los trabajadores son muy buenos y ayudan tuve el privilegio de tener a mis dos hijos que se graduaron y gracias por apoyo

Quiero dar las gracias a este pograma esta super bien que le an ayudado a mi hijo seguir creciendo en sus metas muchas gracias estoy muy contento

As parrent I think stepping up has many great methods for young teens, as they guide both of my teens through school and out to college. There is many questions about high school and college, and I think Stepping up did a great job on answering all question and concerns. Thanks for supporting the Latin community!.

Liliana Coronel, mi hija consigo su primer trabajo y eso amistades.

Mi hija Liliana, gracias a este program agarro su primer trabajo.

Este es un gran programa donde encontré ayuda para mis hijos,los consejeros, magníficas persona. Todos dispuestos brindar apoyo siempre que necesitamos.

SteppingUp has help me through so much since 6th grade. They helped me how to get into college and the steps to even apply. I remember when we went on the Northern Trip which was the last so far and it was very fun. I learn how college life is especially being able to form with other SteppingUp students. I love the whole journey I had with this program even though at the beginning I didn’t choose to be in it but I’m glad I was. -Monica Morales

Hola Mi nombre es Adela Jiménez, y estoy muy contenta ya que tengo inscrito a 3 de mis estudiantes y estamos agradecidos por el gran apoyo informativo que nos brinda el programa y la experiencia con el programa a sido de lo mejor muchas Gracias Stepping Up

keyla bello, marina high school, senior i have been part of stepping up since 10th grade am event that helped me was the trip to colleges showing me my options

The Stepping UP Program I can proudly say has helped me get into UCSD!! With the help of Mayra, as a scared senior she helped me navigate the process of applying to college as well as with my FAFSA application as a first generation student which I can say was not the easiest journey but she helped me feel comfortable enough to share my story with colleges as well as with her. -liliana coronel

This program helped me throughout the college application process and helped me get connected to so many great opportunities that helped me build my resume.

-Katie

My sister, Lily, was in stepping up during her senior year and I loved seeing how she was able to gain friendships that included her first official job. She has been passionate about all her involvement especially this one.

Steppingup has been an outstanding program that has offered various benefits and support. Being first generation, I was never very aware of the college process and so they helped make it very clear. It is cause of them i felt that I too can succeed.

-Anthony Santana

Enrique Sarmiento, Samantha Sarmiento
Stepping Up has helped Samantha keep up with her college deadlines during the application process. Thanks to Stepping Up, Samantha had no trouble filling out and understanding her FAFSA form which will help her pay school at UCSB in the fall.

My name is Huy Ta, and I'm Dylan Ta's father. He studied at Santiago high school. it's an honor that my son was part Stepping Up.
Thank you.

Gracias “ por su apoyo que nos a brindado stepping up, son grandes seres humanos cumpliendo su trabajo, yo si le recomiendo a todos los Padres para que involucren a sus hijos a participar, en lo personal han sido unos grandes escalones para mis Hijos . Dios los siga bendiciendo.

My name is Osiris Sosa and I’m very thankful to SteppingUP for helping my son Isaac during his high school years at Garden Grove HS. As a parent who didn’t study in the the US you want to make sure your children know what to do. He always listened to his counselors and I’m very thankful to them. Personally I enjoyed and learned from the workshops. A thousand thank yous.

SteppingUP is truly an amazing non-profit organization as they make a great difference within the community. I had the opportunity to be an academic advisor in the College Awareness Program, and got to work hands on with the students. Being an intern for this organization was an amazing experience because it was truly fulfilling and you are supported along the way. This organization helps with finances and college awareness, so I would highly recommend this organization to members in my community. I would also recommend this organization as a hands-on internship where one can learn and flourish. I am thankful for the the experiences I had as intern, and have grown immensely thanks to SteppingUP Orange County Community Housing Corp.

Stepping Up is by far the best internship cite I have ever been an intern for. They truly give you hands on experience and are there to guide you every step of the way. All their staff is extremely nice and welcoming. The experience as an academic advisor was great because it became such a full-filling experience helping and guiding students through education. Truly thankful for this opportunity and this organization for helping the community in so many different ways.

If you have ever stepped into OCCHC's office, you would know how warm and welcoming everyone is. The work they do is life changing! I have been recommending this office to all my friends and family that want to work on their financial knowledge and would one day like to be homeowners.

I'm very grateful to have been apart of the academic advising internship team at SteppingUp by Orange County Community Housing Corp. The program is well designed and organized for new advisors. In this college awareness program there is always room for growth, as an advisor and as a student. I have definitely grown as a leader with SteppingUp. They take their interns step by step before they are given their own caseload of students. The coordinators here really care about their team and students. I would definitely recommend others to take an internship at SteppingUp. In addition, I love that they share their resources and advice with their interns and the community.

I have really enjoyed my time as an academic advisor intern. I have made connections with students while learning how to become more engaging and a better leader. The SteppingUp staff has been very supportive throughout the way. The program emphasizes on helping students by providing college knowledge which makes the transition from high school to college easier. It has been wonderful helping students that stand where I once did.

We have been a supporter of OCCHC for several years now and I have recently had the honor of joining the Advisory Committee. I am proud of our association with and to serve OCCHC to meet the needs of families and youth on their path to self-sufficiency and success.

I have been involved with Orange County Community Housing Corporation since its beginning. It has provided affordable housing and so much more to its tenants. The staff has helped people in dire financial straits, encouraged students to apply for college, trained tenants to become homeowners, and provided decent and affordable housing. OCCHC is open about its finances and operations. I am so proud of what its staff has acomplished!

I am a proud board member, donor and volunteer for OCCHC because I believe in their mission and personally know the true impact they are making in the community. OCCHC / Stepping Up really delivers on the programs and services they provide, meeting the needs of low-income working individuals and families. Their leadership and team know firsthand the challenges the community face because they themselves are community members. This is an organization that over delivers on their goals and truly care about making a lasting change. If you are looking for a community organization to invest your time and/or resources, this is one you can truly depend on.

SVB is a proud partner of OCCHC! We are grateful for OCCHC's affordable housing development work as well as their homeownership and education efforts to help low-income families to greater self-sufficiency by assisting with housing and education. The entire OCCHC team is dedicated and passionate to supporting this very important mission and we are truly grateful for our partnership!

Comerica Bank is a proud supporter of OCCHC/Stepping Up mission to transition extremely low-income families toward greater self-sufficiency by assisting them with housing and education. The organization’s leadership is of the highest caliber, providing effective leadership and support to those families that needed most. At Comerica, we are proud to be long time supporters of OCCHC/Stepping and intend to be supporters of this great cause and wonderful set of individuals for a long time to come.

The OCCHC team is more than dedicated to provide support to low income families towards greater self-sufficiency by assisting them with housing and education and has always been known as one of the leading organizations in the community. My team and I had been hands on in providing financial education and IT career workshops for their Stepping Up Program and from the start of the program, the staff have been always been professional and provided young students with the knowledge and experience to be ready for adulthood. I could not be more honored to have been asked to be an Advisory Board Member of OCCHC.

Nancy Morikawa, Pacific Western Bank

OCCHC / SteppingUp provides critical services to low and moderate income families and individuals, such as affordable housing, promoting higher education and financial education.

The team is passionate in serving the communities in need, we’re truly thankful for their partnership.

- Nora Perez, OCCHC Advisory Board
Enterprise Bank & Trust

I had the opportunity to intern as an Academic Advisor for SteppingUP's College Awareness Program. I'm so glad to have been involved with the program's efforts to encourage student advancement in higher education. I love how the organization understands that many factors influence a child's opportunity to thrive, and they work to make higher education accessible for all students. The program empowers students to believe in their capabilities and provides them with the necessary tools to plan and prepare for college. It has been such a pleasure to witness the team's incredible love and dedication to providing students with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed in the future. Advising and college field trips are just a few examples of how the program helps students reach their goals. I'm happy to have contributed my time to OCCHC/SteppingUP and would highly encourage anyone to support the organization so they can continue the amazing work!

My name is Milly Abazan, I am one of the student advisors from SteppingUp. I did my internship here for two semesters and I gained plenty of knowledge and support from the staff. The workshops they offer for the community and advisors like the home buying workshop is so beneficial for everyone and I found it impactful to have more knowledge about how to prepare for buying a house. I had the opportunity to work with students and I felt I got good hands on experience with building lesson plans and managing the students with the support of Stephanie. I enjoyed how we meet with staff and other interns in our weekly meetings because it made me feel more part of the agency. The information they gave us I found useful for my future and I appreciated how welcoming everyone was. I like that the program of SteppingUp keep students involved with lessons that they might not learn in school that is important as well. I loved what the program does for the students especially because those who would be first generation college students do not have someone who has gone through this process so it could be challenging to do it on their own. This program makes the process better because they are there when there is questions or when help is needed for the application or when looking at financial aid packages. I enjoyed my time as an intern in this agency and the support I got when I needed it.

My name is Justin Phan, a graduate from Bolsa Grande High School and incoming freshman to Cal State Long Beach. I have had similar expiriences with other preparation programs, the biggest being AVID, and I would like to say that this is by far the best program I have taken. Compared to its contemporaries, Stepping Up delivers the information in a more efficent and engaging manner. While other programs would have taken months to explain topics like the differences in between colleges, interview preparation, and study habits, Stepping Up has completed similar lessons in a few weeks at most. And while the clubs I have been to would have explained this through a dull lecture, Stepping Up is one of the few programs to set up events like fieldtrips, in person interviews, and meetings with professionals to further ingrain the lesson. I especially like the one-on-one meeting with advisors which has really helped me through the college admissions process and without them, I probably would have procrastinated and missed numerous deadlines and scholarship opportunities. There were a few lessons which failed to engage me like scrapbooking, and goal setting but I reconize that that probably reflects more off my learning preferences than the program. The fact is, if you are looking for a program to help you through the transition from student to adult and need an entity to keep you in line, this is by far the best program you could take.

Hi my name is Omar Sosa-Garcia, I am an alumni at Loara High School. I graduated in the year 2021 and am currently enrolled at Cal State Long Beach, where I will be pursuing my degree in Aerospace Engineering. I've been apart of SteppingUp since sophomore year of my high school. Although my class did not take the SAT test for college, the preparation that SteppingUp provided me with was absolutely outstanding. Giving me lectures on all topics covered within the exam and really helping me step out of my comfort zone. I got to meet a lot of new people and make a few friends on the way. Just recently I won a printer from a raffle I didn't even know about! how crazy is that am I right?? One of the items I still needed to acquire and the program gave it to me for free with no interest. I am genuinely glad and honored to apart of this program and would recommend it to any of my friends and family.

Hello, my name is Melanie Salgado and I am an incoming freshmen at CSUSB. I was involved in the program SteppingUp for my whole high school career. the program motivated me to keep up my grades throughout all my 4 years and allowed me the opportunity to explore different college campuses. During my senior year of High School my advisor provided me with many resources and assistance in order to make my transition from High School to College easier. I will definitely recommend this program to any younger family members I have because I believe that without it, I would have struggled and would have be lost on my journey to begin college.

Hello my name is Bridget this coming fall I will be attending UCI as an incoming freshman. I’ve been in stepping up for my entire senior year of high school. This program helped me apply to Universities and fill out all my financial aid applications . As a first generation and while in the middle of a pandemic this program helped me a lot with overall support. Even though I never really had to opportunity of meeting them in person I felt comfortable speaking with them. This program does an amazing job offering assistance towards ones senior year. Thank you for your sweet words Myra

Hello, my name is Rafael Bravo and I’m an incoming freshman at the University of California, Berkeley. I’ve been a part of SteppingUP for the last 4 years. During my time with SteppingUP, I was fortunate enough to be involved in multiple events including Career Day, Major Mania, and the Northern California Trip. Out of those three major events hosted by SteppingUP, the Northern Trip significantly helped me because it was a major factor in deciding where I wanted to attend college. I was given the privilege to visit multiple universities across Northern California. During that trip, we visited UC Berkeley; visiting the campus and seeing firsthand the student life heavily influenced my decision to attend UC Berkeley. Without SteppingUP, I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in today. Through the countless hours spent with advisors on college-related topics, to the many events hosted by Stepping UP; without it, I wouldn’t have reached my full potential as a student. I’ll always be grateful for the passion and ambition they have towards helping every single student in their program. I want to thank SteppingUP for helping me reach one of my dream schools, they’ve changed not only my life but my family’s life for the greater good.

My name is Kahel Zedekiah, I just graduated from Santiago High School and I've been in SteppingUP since my 10th grade year. SteppingUP has helped tremendously in the way that it has provided resources, opportunities, and connections for me that only benefitted me and my journey to college. I have gotten help with homework, college work, studying, test preparation, etc. SteppingUP will continue to provide and advocate for their students until they succeed and that is what I love most about the program. During distance learning, we all had to adapt to a whole new environment and having a SteppingUP advisor here for me to continue offering what they can helped so much with my school and college prep work and also with my mental health and I appreciate that SteppingUP overcomes barriers to help provide their students with the best help possible.

I am Sergio R and I am a senior at Ocean View High School. I have been in the College Awareness program through SteppingUP for seven years. SteppingUP helped me improve my network skills and meet new students from different communities. This has helped me not be so nervous when it comes to meeting new people. SUP had such an important impact in my life this year as high school senior with all the applications and questions I had. Otherwise, I wouldn't know what to do. One of my most fondest memories what the College Northern Trip because I was able to learn about the experiences and how life is different for students in different universities. Thank you SUP!

Hello,
My name is Brenda and I am senior at Ocean View High School. I have been part of the College Awareness Program since I was in 5th grade, so for seven years. One of the activities I like the most were the monthly CAP meetings, where all the student from different communities got together and I was able to met new people and make new friends. Another activity I enjoyed was going on a campus tour to CSU Dominguez Hill because it encouraged me to apply and I was accepted. I will be attending CSUDH Fall of 2021! SteppingUP really was important to me during my senior year because they helped me with me college and financial aid applications. My school and the AVID program I am in really did not help. So thankful for SteppingUP being there every step of the way!

I am a high school senior at Valley Vista and I have been a participant of the College Awareness Program for 1 year and half. Although I have not been involved in the program for long and was not able to participate in the field trips due to COVID, they still have made an effort to make me feel included in our sessions and other virtual activities. Shout out to my Advisor Maggie for always checking up me. I was able to reconnect with friends from previous schools and I really appreciate that. Thanks SteppingUP!!

Have had the best experience with the nonprofit. I love the work that was done to my floors. It makes my place of living feel more like a home.

Hello my name is Darlene Rodriguez I am currently a senior at Bolsa Grande High school I have been in SteppingUP for 6 years stepping up they walked me through the steps into my future thanks to them I am where I am today they are a very good program they take are students to experience the college life they take us on trips, they have career fairs so we can explore what career we want to have and we have a chance to socialize SteppingUp opened up my social bubble and I became a more social person thanks to them I will get far in the future.

Hi my name is Kimberly Torres. I’m a recent graduate from Ocean View High. I was in the SteppingUp Program for over two years. This program has helped me out a lot with my college decision process. They helped prep me for my SATs and for college in general. The academic advisors are sooo great!!! They definitely do care about us. They want us to be successful and I’m super appreciative for everything that they’ve done. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet other students from other schools. SteppingUp puts together different trips for us that are both, beneficial and super fun! If I had the opportunity go back in time and join in middle school, I definitely would’ve!!!!

Hello, my name is Issa Juarez. I have been a part of SteppingUp for a year thanks to my cousin. My cousin was the first to notify me of this program. I am very glad and thankful for the opportunity to have been accepted into the program. Throughout my senior year, I was provided with many useful resources such as SAT testing, guidance through my college and Dream Act application. I met many amazing people and advisors whom are very passionate about the students’ futures and their accomplishments. Students can seek for guidance in a variety of topics and the advisors will surely provide a healthy resource. Again, I’m very thankful for being a part of this program as I have seen the opportunities I am provided with and the achievements I have accomplished.

Hello, my name is Natalia Trejo! I’m currently a senior at Santiago High School and I’ve been involved in SteppingUP for three years. This program has helped my family and I in numerous ways. It is through the weekly meetings with my advisor and senior boot camp that I was able to gain insight into possible career routes for myself and the connections/resources that helped me become the first in my family to attend college. Thank you to this program and its amazing advisors for helping many students like myself!

Hi, my name is Sandra Aviles Gutierrez. I am currently a senior at Santiago High School and have been a part of SteppingUP for three years. Stepping up has significantly helped me because it allowed me to learn the importance of a higher education while exposing me to different universities and different ways of life. My weekly meetings with my advisors greatly helped me in exploring different career paths and what it is I want to do. SteppingUP has been extremely helpful throughout my junior year in helping me prepare for the SAT, and senior year with college applications and scholarships. I would like to give all members in SteppingUP a big thank you for all their work and dedication to help students like myself!

as the retired CEO (40 yrs), it is my pleasure to shine another light on the excellent work by
this non-profit. It combines the talent of a real estate developer with the expertise of motivating students from low income families to aspire to great futures by setting a goal, making a plan and manifesting that plan each and every day. We call our annual event "The Lantern" as we merely LIGHT THE PATH for our students; it is up to them to walk the path and hurdle the bolders as the goal is worth the journey. Our College Awareness Program (CAP) is
the creation of our deputy director, Monica Cardenas, who continues to light that path every day through well-trained and inspired Academic Advisers. Our profit (if we are so fortunate) is committed to hiring talented Academic Advisers who keep their students "on the plan" and "on the path" your donations are a wise investment in this program.

My name is Fernando Pérez and I am a senior at Sunny Hills HS. SteppingUP has been a big help throughout my four years of high school. I came into the program with no clear direction of what I wanted to do in college. I learned about different careers and what would be right for me. I met many new people and have been to colleges I’ve never seen before. My advisors met with me weekly and were constantly pushing me to strive for good grades. They helped me during difficult tasks. With their help I was able to apply to several colleges and complete my FAFSA application. I am now currently enrolled to begin college at Cal State Fullerton.

Hello, My name is Yolanda and I am a senior at Buena Park HS. I have been in the SteppingUP program for two years, starting my junior year. Before I started SteppingUP, I really didn't care about my grades, I had D's and F's; I just really wasn't motivated. However, SteppingUP really impacted my life by teaching me the importance of my grades and education. As result, I am well on my way to graduate this May and I am passing all my classes with C's or better. Another lesson that SteppingUP has thought me is, to give back to others. I participated in community service events where we helped families in need of housing and food. It really made me believe I can help others. Thank you SteppingUP for all you have done for me.

can help me in volunteers who interest in volunteering abroad.are you stress in United States ? please come work in project
email
ndourwaldi94@yahoo.fr

The Orange County Community Housing Corporation (OCCHC) is a high impact nonprofit organization in Orange County providing affordable housing to low income families in Orange County. OCCHC and the SteppingUp program is an innovative way to change the cycle of poverty for these families by ensuring that the youth living in OCCHC's affordable housing facilities attain higher education; thus, changing their futures for themselves and their siblings.

Union Bank is proud to support and partner with one of most impactful nonprofit organizations in Orange County. Rossina Gallegos, Director

Orange County Community Housing Corporation (OCCHC) is an organization dedicated to providing shelter for a segment of the population in Orange County that is most in need of housing and education. The organization comprises a dedicated Board of Directors, Advisory Board Members, and staff who are fully dedicated to the mission of the organization. The foregoing members have worked together to established a strong and dedicated network of volunteers, and other supporters to identify properties in Orange County to purchase and renovate buildings as necessary. These properties then become affordable housing for families that might otherwise be homeless--extremely low-income families.

Through their SteppingUp program, OCCHC is also able to demonstrate many years of success helping the children of low income families that are housed, to realize a path to receiving an education. Each year OCCHC celebrates the ability to send dozens of students to college; students who might otherwise have never been able to obtain higher education.

Board members, advisors, and staff of OCCHC all work tirelessly together each year to achieve and exceed the goals of the organization. This organization is able to demonstrate years of investing donated funds into housing and education for a segment of the community that is most in need.

As both a volunteer and advisory board member for over 10 years I am so proud of the continued impact OCCHC has had in the communities it serves, particularly the students and their families. I first came to know OCCHC by way of being a volunteer at SteppingUp's Career Fair where I had the opportunity to see first hand, as a volunteer, who OCCHC was serving. These students, despite their socioeconomic backgrounds, were ambitious positive and craved the experience that was shared with them through the programs OCCHC has put into place. Fast forward through the years of continuing to be a volunteer...building College Kits for the students and being a tutor in the Oak View schools, and then to serve on the Advisory Board has given me a 360 view of the true, meaningful impact, OCCHC has made. I'm so proud of what OCCHC has accomplished and the many students and families it has served.

OCCHC / Stepping Up is a wonderful resource for low-income families to improve their future by promoting higher education, providing decent housing, and encouraging life/financial skills. The staff is fully invested in serving the families in the community which is vital to the success of the organization.

I am a longtime donor and member of the advisory board of OCCHC. I am constantly impressed by the depth of the staff's commitment to the families and the scope of their outreach, providing the resources and skills that low income families would otherwise not be able to access.
As a former teacher and homeless activist, I love the Stepping Up program which invests in the future of each child with tutoring, mentoring, financial aid advice, college tours; providing opportunities and encouragement, resulting in college acceptance.
OCCHC is unique in its dual focus: building and providing housing to needy families and then enhancing that mission with improved educational opportunities for the children.

I am a proud donor and advisor of OCCHC. For over 40 years, OCCHC has supported families in need within our community. Not only do they provide housing support, they provide their clients with the skills and tools necessary to create financial stability and sustainability, enabling families to live productive lives and build bright futures for their children. OCCHC is led by a team of elite professionals dedicated to their mission and community, and who's hard work will pay itself forward for many generations to come. Thank you for all you do.

If you're looking to partner or volunteer with an organization that truly has a commitment to serving low income families and students in Orange County, look no further than OCCHC. The many dedicated individuals at OCCHC have a passion for helping those in need. I proudly volunteer with and give to OCCHC and I recommend this organization to anyone seeking to make an impact within underserved communities.

- Robert De Acevedo, OCCHC Advisory Board
CTBC Bank Corp. (USA)

I participated in Stepping UP for about 7 years and I don't think I could have achieved my dream of attending a four year university without all their help throughout my high school career. Since the beginning when I first joined the program I was exposed to leadership,stem and fitness academies because of Stepping UP. As I started my high school journey the weekly advising sessions helped keep me on track with my grades and provided new volunteering opportunities.I am extremely grateful for having had the opportunity to be in this amazing program because without the help of the academic advisers and coordinators I would not be the person/student I am today.

SteppingUp is a great organization to help young students to get ready for life after high school and to make sure you’re ready for the world. They are amazing and I have made a lot of wonderful friends who I won’t ever forget

I had the opportunity to volunteer as an intern for Stepping Up and it was such an amazing experience. Right from beginning the staff was very welcoming and helpful. During my time with the organization I was able to learn so much from not only the advisors but from the students as well. As an intern I had the chance to give back to my community by helping students from my alma mater by speaking about my own high school and college experience. It was definitely a rewarding experience that I would recommend others to try.

My name's Leslie Pineda I graduated from Godinez Fundamental Highschool and I've been in SteppingUP since I was in 7th grade. Being in SteppingUP has encouraged me to become more focused on my academics and has also encouraged me to be more involved in my community. I have noticed that I am more informed about college and scholarships than my other peers. I have really enjoyed being in this program as students with good grades receive awards and there are informational and fun meetings that are held every couple of months.

Hello! My name is Guadalupe Maldonado and I recently graduated from Godinez Fundamental High School. I will be attending Cal State Fullerton in the fall as a Biological Sciences Major. My experiences from SteppingUP has been a wholesome experience and the community is so inviting. The advisors are all welcoming and genuinely try to help you in your struggles. I have recieved a lot of help from them when applying for colleges. A major boost is when they have meetings focusing on a topic that will help you when you move on to college. I'll forever be thankful to this program and my advisor who helped me in the years I've been there.

My name is Emily Venegas, I’m graduating from Santiago High School in Garden Grove and I will be attending Cal State Fullerton majoring in Criminal Justice. Stepping Up has benefited me by helping me get out of my comfort zone by meeting new people and by encouraging me to try new things. One thing that o really like about stepping up is that I would get to meet with my advisor every week and she would always have great advice for me weather it was in my academics or in my personal life.

As part of the senior class of OCCHC, I believe OCCHC has become a really important group of individuals that help to inspire students to go beyond their circumstances to pursue an educational dream. I've been in the program for a year now and it has been a very fun and important choice that impacted my future. The advisors are friendly, responsible, respectful and caring towards each and every student within the program. Being part of the college awareness program of OCCHC, my advisor helped guide me through the college process easily and detailed everything that I needed in order to apply. OCCHC has impacted me and I am glad of being part of this group.

Hello I’m Evelyn . Im attending Santiago High School . I been in stepping up for more than 6 months . I started toward the beginning of my senior year . I liked stepping up because it allowed me to know more about college . And what I needed in order to be ready for college . My advisor helped me fill out my application for college. I enjoyed going to their annual event to Major mania because it allowed my to know more about the field that I want to pursue in a few months. I also got to meet a few new people .

Hey, my name is Lucia Morales I have been involved in SteppingUP for a year and joining this program allowed me to really take advantage of my Senior Year. I have been able to be a part of a senior Boot camp where I visited Universities such as Cal State Long Beach and Dominguez Hills and was able to research majors . Also I have been able to visit colleges such as Cal State Fullerton and USC. I have been guided through the mentoring of Advisor Mayra to apply to colleges and keep a strong GPA by getting good grades. Also besides the academic guidance I was also able to experience going to field trips such as Hollywood Warner Brows Studio. Stepping Up has made my senior year memorable and thanks to Stepping Up and Mayra I will be attending Cal State Fullerton.

My name is Jonathan Guzman. I am a senior at Garden Grove High School and I will be attending CSUDH this upcoming fall. I have been apart of the SteppingUP program for 6 years, and thanks to the effort of OCCHC, who have constantly encouraged me to continue my education, I near the end of high school senior year with an idea of what I want to do in the future, and helped bridge the educational gap in my family.

Hi my name is Aylinne Mendoza and I am a student at Santiago High School who will be attending Cal State Fullerton in the fall of 2019. I’ve been in SteppingUp for only two years but I’ve learned so much with the help of their advisors. In a short amount of time. With SteppingUp, I was granted various educational opportunities and had the privilege to visit college campuses: UC Santa Barbara, Perpperdine, Cal Poly Obispo, and Channel Islands. I was also presented to both a scholarship and Internship at Clearinghouse CDFI where I worked and learned about a business environment that helps other smaller businesses grow. Thanks to the constant support I can honestly say I am prepared for college and future success.

Hello my name jose and I have been in SteppingUP for 6 years and a current senior at Santiago high school, and will be attending cal state Fullerton in the fall. This organization has helped me by exposing me to all the colleges and universities that will push me to have a great future. As college field trips, and weekly meetings with an advisor has kept me on track to be as competitive as possible for the school of my choice. The field trip to Pepperdine helped me realize the school of my dreams. Special thanks to my advisor Myra for always keeping me on track, and preparing me for the classes I will take in college and giving me the advise for success in my quest for a higher education.

SteppingUP is a wonderful program that has done so much for my family and I. SteppingUp has helped my siblings and I be prepare for college and have helped us for the real world. I've been apart of SteppingUP since I was in the 6th grade. Throughout all these years I've been introduced to a lot of college information, and have been able to visit various colleges. I appreciate the SteppingUP college tours because without them I probably would have never visited them. SteppingUP has supported my 2 sisters and parents not only by providing us with affordable housing but teaching us to reach for a better lifestyle. I am very thankful for SteppingUP.

I love my experience here and will hopefully have my sisters enroll in SteppingUp.

My name is Erika Ramos and I have been apart of STepping Up since I was in middle school. This program has positively influenced my life because it exposed me to college at such a young age. This experience allowed me to strive for a higher education and eventually make myself work hard enough to get accepted into my dream school. This non-profit is extremely beneficial to young people who wish to pursue higher education but don't have the push to get there. This non-profit with leave a lasting impression on those who wish to partake in this path.

I love to share that SteppingUP has changed my life so much I was given so much opportunities and learned so much to purse higher education and to as well help seek employment. I love being here in this wonderful safe fun environment I had so much great memories here having to do so much as a family from different communities. I learned to bring changes in our community and gave lots of time to volunteer and give back. I thank everyone so much I give my great appreciation to everyone who has helped me learn and grow in the program. I would love to tell so much students about this program because they too will receive all the help the support and many more here in the program.

Hello everyone, my name is Jerry Garcia. Even though I’ve been in the program for a year, I was immensely helped by the advisors from SteppingUP. They helped me with college applications, scholarships, volunteering hours, and much more. I owe it to them and the people that support SteppingUp for helping me through Senior year.

Hello I’m Stacey Lopez, a recent High School graduate from Santiago High School in Garden Grove. My experience in SteppingUP has truly been one I will never forget. There were so many things going on and I never felt like there was nothing I couldn’t do. We had activities and field trips constantly being arranged by our advisors with the donations from our sponsors. Because of this program I went from learning my a-g requirements to making a resume for a job. My 6 years in the program have changed how I view education and success.

SteppingUP has become a huge part of my life and has helped me shape who I am and who I am going to become. They helped me when I was lost and confused, young and naive, without them I would probably still be as ignorant as I was before. Thanks to them I'm now a senior who is going to attend CSUF at the start of the fall term.

I've been a member since middle school and it has helped me so much! The weekly advising sessions are so beneficial, especially when getting ready to transition to go to a different school (middle school--> high school, high school-->college). Thanks to SteppingUP, I received clarification with FAFSA, college application, scholarships, and more.
I am so thankful of the support from SteppingUP that allowed my dreams of getting accepted into a four-year university a reality. I am now a graduating senior from the Huntington Beach community and I recommend this to other students!

I've been in SteppingUP since the 7th grade and I can frankly say that it has truly helped in understanding many aspects of life. Yes the main focus is college awareness but the advisors also take time to discuss emotional and mental health. The advisors in this organisation truly care about their students. The time dedicated to their caseload allows students and advisors to form a bond. The program's objective to ensure students have the necessary tools to pursue higher education and be successful is fulfilled in entirety. They provide many workshops on job interviews, resume-building, and public speaking to make sure they're prepared for real life situations. They also host book clubs to help progress student's reading and writing skills. A suggestion would be to host more science-oriented workshops and field trips. Overall I would recommend this program to any student looking for an extracurricular or general guidance.

Hi, my name is Lizbeth Ramirez. I am now a senior and I have been a part of this program for the past 7 years. This program has helped me a lot, especially this year. These past couple of years, this program has done a great job with exposing students to different career paths, universities and community service opportunites. All of these events have been helpful and have strongly influenced my decisions, such as what school I will be attending next year. This program has provided students with amazing advisors who you meet up with once a week to guide and mentor you. My advisors helped me fill out college applications and taught me the importance of setting goals for yourself and how to persevere. To end this post, I would just like to thank the program for motivating and helping students like me, to continue their education!

I have been in SteppingUP for five years, and I can honestly say that it has been an amazing program to be a part of. Being a first generation college student I had no one to help me throughout the college application process, and I didn't have that much understanding of college. Once I became a part of the SteppingUP program I began to gain a better understanding of what college is and why it is so important. More than just being a college awareness program, SteppingUP is also a family. It is a place where you can not only learn about the benefits of college and how to get there, but you are also able to build relationships with people that you will forever cherish. Moreover, something that SteppingUP has also done is that they also involved my parents in the whole process. Before SteppingUP both of my parents didn't have that much of an understanding of college, and much less on the application process. Throughout this last year in SteppingUP I was able to realize that if it weren't for this amazing program I wouldn't be where I am today.

I am from Ocean View High School and I have been part of SteppingUP since freshman year. I like SteppingUP because they provide educational support and skills that I do not have at home. My favorite is career day because I meet professionals and have the opportunity to ask them any questions about their career that can help guide me through my future. The advisors are amazing: Stephanie, Maggie, Oscar, Mayra along with other advisors that are dedicated to all their students. I appreciate all the advisors hard work and everything they continue to do for us.

I have been part of STEPPINGUP since I was in 7th grade. I am now a senior in high school. This program has informed me about the higher levels of education and have given me opportunities that my parents could not.

OCCHC/ SteppingUP has helped and given low income families the opportuniuty to give them a better life. Not only are they helping many families with their living situation, but they are also helping the children continue their education. SteppingUP is giving these children the motivation and knowledge to further their education. This program teaches the children the different kinds of fields they will be able to study for in the future. I am very happy to be a part of OCCHC/SteppingUP and seeing these families thrive for a better life!

Orange County Community Housing Corp helps to change the lives of so many families by providing quality housing at affordable prices for families in their community. In addition to housing assistance, OCCHC, through their College Awareness Program, SteppingUP, also provides education and mentoring services to the young residents. I am impressed with the enthusiasm and excitement of every employee, volunteer, and mentor at this organization. It is obvious that they love the work they do, which is why OCCHC continues to impact so many lives in a positive way.

Orange County Community Housing Corp is truly a caring organization. The passion that the Board and staff carry to fulfill it's mission is admirable. I've had the pleasure to be involved with OCCHC for the last 17 years and I am very proud of everything they have accomplished. I'm lucky to be part of their Advisory Committee and I will continue to support OCCHC for many years to come. It is extremely touching to see how their labor impacts the lives of many families in need. Through their mission, OCCHC has been able to provide a safer environment to low income families and through their programs provide an opportunity for children to succeed in their education.

The programs available for students are priceless and are life changing as well. The best part is that the results speak for themselves and seeing the transformation of families and positive impact it has on the children is very rewarding.

Thank you to the donors and supporters that have supported OCCHC carry out is mission throughout the years. This would not be possible without your support. Orange County Community Housing Corp is an outstanding non profit that is making a significant difference in our community and I will encourage everyone to support this organization.

Sincerely,

Mayra Soto

OCCHC has provided safe, suitable affordable housing for low- and very low-income children and their parents for 40 years, plus programs for them to gain access to health education and a pathway to college for high school students. OCCHC continues to grow its operation, making it a point to hire from the community, support local school systems and moreover, maintain its own self-sufficiency. Why? Because its high performance team has a steeled dedication to serve vulnerable communities, and frankly, because its leadership team has a razor sharp focus on what matters most in lifting children out of poverty.

I have had the pleasure of serving on the board of directors for OCCHC for over 7 years. Without doubt every board member and employee is dedicated to our mission of transitioning extremely low income families towards greater self sufficiency by assisting them with housing and education. This is accomplished through the dedication and leadership of our executive director Nora Mendez and our deputy director Monica Cardenas. They and their dedicated and competent team work tirelessly to improve our communities by providing a safe and clean environment for our residents while assisting them and their families with educational assistince helping to break the cycle of poverty.

I couldn't be more proud of what Orange County Community Housing Corporation and their Stepping Up programs have done to improve our communities throughout Orange County. OCCHC is also a leader among many other non-profits offering assistance and resources that allow them to fulfill their missions as well.

Please consider supporting this incredibly successful organization in continuing their mission to meet the needs of our communities through housing and education.

Sincerely,

Jon Timmons

Success and OCCHC go hand-in-hand! Hundreds of high school seniors made college a reality thanks to the tireless efforts of OCCHC. Its staff is committed to each student they serve and for many of the students this may be their first experience of having a strong mentor show them support and encouragement and that anything is possible!

I am a higher education professional and on the advisory board. The amount of talent, passion and dedication of each and every staff member to the mission of Orange County Community Housing Corp. is exceptional. Serving the under served and providing housing options in Orange County motivates staff every day.

Stepping Up, the college awareness program is an important part of what this organization does to help children not just dream but plan and be prepared to go to college. Providing tutoring, financial aid counseling and road trips to visit colleges is just some of what this great organization is able to accomplish.

Funds are spent very wisely and invested in the programs that change lives. One of the best organizations I have been a part of over the years.

As a previous board member of this organization, I remain deeply impressed with its continued progress to fulfill its mission of providing quality housing and supportive services for those in need. Since its inaugural days in the late 1970's when it became one of the first non-profits in Orange County to address the critical need for affordable housing for lower income households, it has steadily increased its inventory of housing. At the same time it added services such as "Stepping Up" which sought to provide education and mentoring services so its younger residents could achieve success in higher education and gainful emploment. All told, OCCHC has succeeded in breaking the bonds of poverty and improving local neighborhoods--exceeding expectations and the hopeful desires of the founding members.

My name is Alex I'm in ninth grade I go to Cypress High School. I've been in stepping up for 2 years and 10 months. Thanks to this program, I have been able to attend many Universities, like Cal State Fullerton and I have been able to take a peek at life on campus and I am able to see myself there one day. I have also been able to attend many educational CAP meetings. where we talk about topics that are related to college and things students experience . My only issue is that they give the same CAP meetings every year.

My name is Cristian Arellano I am in 9th grade and i have been in the program for 3 years. Something that I like about SteppingUP is that every year we go to Cal State Fullerton during their career day event, where I got to meet different professionals and I had the chance to ask them questions and also I had the opportunity to practice my Interviewed skills. This has impacted my life because now I know what questions they ask in Interviews and also how to answer them and feeling more prepared for when I grow up.

Hi i'm Michael Hernandez and i'm a sixth grader in Vista View Middle school. I've been in SteppingUP for 3 months. I have learned to talk in a interview and learned what to say in the interview so I have a better chance getting the job. What makes Steeping UP great is that it has given me lots of opportunities.
Happy holidays,
Michael Hernandez

Hi my name is Jesse Camacho, I am in the 6th grade and I go to Vista View Middle School. I've been in this program for 3 months. SteppingUP has taught me how to prepare for an interview when i apply for a job. SteppingUP also has taught me of several ways to stop bullying. Stepping \UP is a great program because they have a lot of funny advisers and because they teach you things that you don't already know.
Sincerely,
Jesse Camacho

My name is Jesus Torres, I am in 8th grade and I go to Vista View Middle School. I've been in SteppingUP for about a year now. I learned how to do a resume because so it can prepare us for when we apply for a job and get an interview.
What makes SteppingUP great is the amazing field trips like the one where we went to Cal State Fullerton.

My name is Vanessa Flores I am an eighth grader at Vista View Middle School. I've been in SteppingUP for three years. I've learned many important things about collage and about life. For example we have learn the A through G requirements and many useful things we might need for the future SteppingUP has brought in many different professionals to teach us how to save money and to treat everyone equally. What makes SteppingUP great is that it not only teaches about school but also about things that might happen throughout our life.

Hi my name is Mark Garcia. I am a sixth grader at vista view middle school in Fountain Valley. I have been in SteppingUP for 2 months. I have learned many things in SteppingUP. One thing I have learned was knowing how to communicate with other people. I like everything in SteppingUP. It is a very fun and amazing program.

My name is Ivan Valadez I am an 8th grader at Vista View Middle School. I've been in the program for 3 years now. From my experience I have learned what type of colleges there are. Also how to apply and get ready for college. What makes SteppingUp great is that its a free college awareness program for me and other students to experience the preparation for college and the outside world.

My name is Kelly Villa. I'm a freshman at Ocean View High School. I have been in this program for four years. I have learned so many things about college that I never knew existed. I have learned about a-g requirements, financial aid, and other important things that will help me in the future. I'm very fortunate to be in this program that teaches me things I didn't know about before. You meet new people from other communities and go visit universities. I have such good memories with this program, and I'm looking forward to more. You can't compare another program for SteppingUP. SteppingUP is one of a kind.

My name is Henry Ponce , I'm a sophomore at Ocean View High School. I've been in the program for 4 years now. What I've learned during my time in this program is understanding the difference between public and private colleges. I also learned about financial literacy and how to deal with money. Also having a one-on-one session with your advisor and just talking about life ,how they can help in a way and I think that's what makes a huge difference knowing that they are there to help you and guide you through the time your with this program.

My name is Arleth Romero. I am a 7th grader at Vista View Middle School. I have only been in this program for a couple of months and it's really fun. I have learned a lot about college and about how to be prepared for it. What makes Stepping Up great is having communication with your friends and advisors. By having group session, Cap meetings, and fun events I feel it's a great way to communicate with others in the program. Overall Stepping Up is a great fun program to be in.

My name is Christian Guzman I am currently a Sophomore at Fountain Valley High School and I have been in Stepping Up for 5 years now. I absolutely love this program because it has allowed me to learn more about my dream college. I have had many great opportunities like attending Stanford University in the Northern trip which is organized by Stepping Up. The Northern Trip is a one week trip of universities in Northern California. They also provide food and do really fun activities, which is all free.

My name is Crystal Navarrete. I am in seventh grade at Dwyer Middle School. I have been in SteppingUP for 3 months now. So far I have liked this program because I liked career day. I liked Career Day because when we got to talk to the college students we got to learn about how their job is like.

My name is Jasmine Gonzalez. I am junior at Garden Grove High School. I have been in SteppingUP for two years and I really enjoy the program because it helps me prepare for college. One example that has helped me prepare for college is career day at Cal State Fullerton. This year I was fortunate to attend this event and meet with professionals that I found very interesting and informative about their careers. I was able to practice my interviewing skills and I also improved my resume. Thanks to this program i have been able to learn about many careers and majors.

My name is Jeremiah Miguel and I am currently attending Buena Park High School. My academic advisor Oscar has helped me learn and gain knowledge of different things that include helping me know the requirements that were necessary in order to attend a certain school. It was really interesting to see what I had to do to get into those schools and motivated me to try even harder. Another particular activity Oscar and I did was taking an online questionare to see the spending costs that I would face if I wanted to live alone. I was very surprised at how much money I would be spending annually on bills,food,clothing etc. and gave me a better look at reality. Overall, Oscar has helped me tremendously with my life plan and has made me ambitious toward my goals in life.

My name is Jessica Nava and I am a 10th grader at Ocean View High School. I have been in SteppingUP for 5 years. The CAP meetings make SteppingUP great. One of the CAP meetings that really impacted my life was the Healthy Living in which we learned about the dangers of drugs. In SteppingUp I have learned all of the A-G requirements.

You may be reading this and wonder why SteppingUP is so great. Well, it's because SteppingUP helps you meet the academic requirements for your dream school, and help you improve your networking skills by bonding with many of the members in the organization at their events. My name is Naomi, and I am a sophomore at Ocean View High School and I have been in SteppingUP for five years now. I was able to learn a lot about colleges since SteppingUP exposed me to many different schools as well as helping me develop a plan after graduating high school when I was just in sixth grade. Growing up with a family that doesn't know much about college, SteppingUP helped my older brothers and I learn about the different paths to attain a great education. My older brother never thought that he would be able to go to an out-of-state college until SteppingUP was able to help him achieve his goal in attending Maine University.

My name is Ariel Guzman and I attend Fountain Valley high school. I am currently in the 11th grade and I have been in SteppingUP for 6 years. This program has been a journey for me. The advisors make this program fun while still teaching us new things. Not only do the advisors push us to become better students, they push us to go to college after high school. SteppingUP lets us as the students experience new things, such as visiting universities and doing community service. Being with this program for a while has made me learn about how I can improve my speaking and interview schools by having
a career day with mock trials. During the summer we have done leadership academies which have let me believe more in myself as a leader and how I can become a leader to help others in my community.

My name is Stephanie Renteria and I am in 8th grade,and I also go to Vista View Middle School. I been in SteppingUP for three years. A woman named Jackie told me about this program and she showed me Stephanie from Stepping up. Jackie told me to join this program because she said that I am a very hard working person because she would always see me spend all my time helping out the library with books . What makes SteppingUP great is that it they teach you how to go to college and what are the benefits to go to college and what you have to do in high school. I like that SteppingUP takes you to different types to field trips and that in the summer that you go to different colleges. In SteppingUP I learned that you need to have a bachelors degree in order to go college. I love my advisor Monica because she is so nice and I like the ways she teaches us new stuff and when its a holiday she gives us cake pops. She also makes us mini games when she teaches us about new things. We also learn about racism and many other situations in the world. My most favorite event is Career Day because it shows us how much effort we need to do in order to get a real job and they also tell us what is the professional way to go get into a new career. Last but not least i love revolutionary readers because it improves our reading skills and whats cool about it is that we could watch the movie when we are done with the original book. What i like to do is compare the book and the movie and catch some of the differences on both things. This is what i got to say about SteppingUP.

My name is Araceli Torres and i am in 8th grade and i attend to Marine view middle school. I have attend to SteppingUP for 4 years. It makes it great for me to meet new people and to practice doing interviews. Also to help students find their future and the college they want to go to in the future. One thing SteppingUP can improve is make their meeting a little fun and take about other things instead of college. Another thing that SteppingUP can improve is that where the Cap meetings are because some students cant attend to the meeting because its to far for the parents to drive or they cant go because they cant find a ride. Things i love about this program is my advisor because my advisor is Monica and she is the best. She makes the meeting fun sometimes and her cake pops are delicious. i learn new things when i talk to her about life and other fun topics. I love the field trips we go to because there supper fun and awesome. One main event is the holiday party because its fun and to decorate our advisors.

My name is Antonio Balbuena I am currently a Junior attending Ocean View High School. I've been with SteppingUP for about six years now. Being with SteppingUP for so long has taught me a lot about colleges and universities. Opportunities have come my way that would have never been available to me. I've traveled, learned, and been informed of possible futures for me. Overall this program has opened doors for me that seem way out of reach.

Hello my name is Natalie Jaramillo, I am currently a junior attending Ocean View High School. I've been in SteppingUP for three years already. Something that I love about SteppingUP is that the advisors worry about your future and that they help you achieve what you want. I've learned to not give up, to work for what you want.

Julian Camacho
10th grade
Fountain Valley High School

I was only in SteppingUp for only 1 year and it is really fun and a great opportunity to meet new people from other schools or even get your friend involved who is in another school. SteppingUp has provided us with opportunities go visit some Universities and see what it looks like inside. The advisors here make you feel welcomed and at home whenever you come. If you do decide to join ask for Luis he is the best.

My name is Kaylee Garcia. I attend Mesa View Middle and I'm in 8th grade. This is my first year in SteppingUP and so far it's been great! My favorite thing about SteppingUP is the advisors. The advisor help the students and do so much for their education. After being in SteppingUP I now know that when applying for a job or school, you must have references, or people that will give good feedback on you.

My name is Alejandro Tepayotl and I am a senior at Ocean View High School. I have been in SteppingUP since I was freshman in 2014. SteppingUP is classified as a college awareness program but I personally consider it as so much more. They have provided all of its students with numerous opportunities to prepare for their futures. I have attended events like Career Day at Cal State Fullerton where I met with professionals and learned about their professions. They also helped me get an Internship at Clearinghouse CDFI. Without them I would have never gotten the work experience that I have now.

My name is Brandon Vargas, I am a senior at Ocean View High School I a have been in the program for six amazing years.Stepping Up feels like a family, everyone is kind to each other and the advisers are so helpful if you have any question. SteppingUP has changed my life by showing me that I can go to college and that money should not decide whether or not you can go. When I first joined the program I was really shy but SteppingUP thought me to be more open and outgoing, which has helped me more in life like job interviews and talking to people. SteppingUP has made me a better person and I am very thankful for all the advisers for helping me with everything.

My name is Gabriel. I'm in 7 grade and I go to Marine View Middle school. I'v been in SteppingUp for 2 years. We learned in SteppingUP that we need resumes in order to be successful in an interview. SteppingUP is a great program because we go to fun field trips and we always learn something new.

Alexis I am in 8 grade and I attend vista view middle school I have been in SteppingUP for 4 years. What makes SteppingUP great is that it helped me in school and it's helped me in my life like mentoring and SteepingUP had helped me in my homework and to get good grades also. My parents have been helped with more opportunity to learn and see colleges and learn about how they study and my mom wants to learn more and help me on my home work and that's why I have learned and my experience in a great program like SteppingUP.

My name is Valerie Sanchez and I am currently a junior at Ocean View High School. This is my third year being part of the SteppingUP program. I have learned so much about my education such as the requirements to get into a college or university. They have also taught us how to prepare for the real world by providing us with mock interviews with professionals and helping us how to dress appropriately from head to toe. Not only do they help us with our schooling, but we also get to volunteer and give back to our community. I also look forward to meeting with my amazing group advisor, Maggie Muniz, to learn new information and get the feedback I need in order to succeed. I appreciate all the hard work that the staff and people put into making this program possible.

My name is Jonathan Mendoza, I am a senior in Ocean View High School, and I have been in the SteppingUP since December of last year so one and a half. What I've liked about SteppingUP is not only because of the academic assistance but the environment it has. Academically, Stepping Up has helped me by checking on my grades and motivating me to apply to colleges. The environment in SteppingUP is incredible, it is was fun to be in SteppingUP meetings. I have learned in SteppingUP that my dreams to go to college are possible.

My name is Grecia Francisco and I am a sophomore attending Ocean View High School. I have been in stepping up for about four years now and since then I have really enjoyed being a part of this program. I think that what makes stepping up so great is how different and new it is. Stepping up has been here for a long time and every year that I have been in this program it gets better and better. Unlike many other programs I have learned many new things, from College information to Life long skills. Many of the useful things are taught during Cap meetings which is a great way to not only learn but to get together with different communities that are involved in the program. The advisor's play an essential role in this program like Oscar who is currently and has been my advisor for the past years. Stepping up is a great Program that I believe should continue for years and years to come.

My name is Brandon Maciel. I attend to Ocean View High School. Its my first year being in stepping up. I've been having fun in the program because it helps me with my college things. Also getting prepared for college. The field trips are really amazing. The advisers are really nice and help you a lot on college financial aid and college application.

Hi my name is Miguel Ocampo I attend Ocean View High School Im in the 10th grade. I have been in SteppingUP for 5 years. The reasons that stepping up is super great is that they take you on field trips that you normally do not have and its an amazing experience. We go to Universities and have a career day that lets you speak with professionals and allows to see whats out in the world. They also helps you with your interview. The things that I have learned in SteppingUP is how to become more organized and responsible. They have also given me ideas on what I would want to be when I grow up in the future.

My name is Angel Abrego, and I recently became a member of SteppingUP and I LOVE it! I've only been a member for a month and I've had much help in my college application, my FAFSA, and I love the people that I meet up with, especially my adviser, Ms. Maggie. She has a great sense of humor, is very knowledgeable, kind-hearted, and honestly I couldn't be happier.

My name isFernanda Ortiz and I am in grade 8 at Vista View Middle School. I have been in SteppingUP for about 2 and 1/2 years now. What makes SteppingUP so great is that they have the support you need to success in life, the advisors are there to guide you. What I've learned in SteppingUP is leadership skills, and to never give up on what you want.

Hi! My name is Jennifer Garcia and I am a sophomore in Ocean View High School. I have been in SteppingUP ,since the year of 2012. What I have done at SteppingUP is that I have gone to most of the volunteering events, field trips, the northern trip, the CAP meetings, and attend the career day fairs. I have learned many things from SteppingUP that I did not know before I joined but one of the most important things that I have learned from SteppingUP are the A-G requirements that will help me get to a four university. SteppingUp is one of the best programs I have ever been in because it has helped me so much!

My name is Zitlalli Rodriguez, I'm a Junior at Ocean View High School. I've been in SteppingUP for four wonderful years now. At SteppingUP I've done weekly group meetings with my fantastic and helpful advisor, Maggie Muniz. I have had the opportunity to attend many college tours throughout California. Also, being involved with my community by helping out in community clean ups. In SteppingUP I've learned how to make a perfect resume, how to dress properly for an interview, and how to be involved with all three of our communities.

Hi my name is Jasmine Garcia and i am in the Ninth grade. I am currently attending Ocean View High School. I have been in SteppingUP for 3 years. I have attended all the summer academies and have gone to some of the field trips that they have. I have learned many things in SteppingUP like what classes to take in my Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years. They have also showed me how to apply to colleges and what classes to take.

Hello, my name is Claudia Maldonado and i'm currently a junior at Ocean View High School. I've been part of the SteppingUP program for three years. SteppingUP is such an amazing college awareness program. It has helped me in many ways. It has taught me that money is not a problem if you want to attend a college. There is many opportunities out there in order to attend a college, for example you can earn scholarships or get loans. SteppingUP has also helped me take the right courses in high school to be eligible for any type of college. Its has taught me to put myself out there and to be open mined and not shut any doors but instead to open them up to any opportunities that come my way. I guarantee you SteppingUP is the program you want to be in. SteppingUP is amazing.

My name is Kelly Lopez I'm a sophomore at Ocean View High School. I have been part of this wonderful program of SteppingUP since the year of 2013. SteppingUP is so great because, it is preparing me to get into a 4 year University after High School, something that I hadn't thought of before. Before SteppingUP I didn't know about all the money that existed out there to help me pay off a University, such as scholarships, grants, loans and many more. But through SteppingUP I now know all of this and I'm grateful because I've got 2 more years until my great journey begins. SteppingUP ROCKS!

Hello my is German Mendez. I am a 7th grader at Vista View Middle School. This has been my first year here at SteppingUP but I am going to my second this year. What I have done in SteppingUP was talked about college. what I learned at Stepping UP was about the cerire that I wanted to be when we grow up.

Hello my name is Gissell Mendez and I am in 9th grade at Ocean View High School. I have been attending SteppingUP for three years and now I am almost going to my fourth year here at SteppingUP. What I have done at SteppingUP is I went to Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and Knott's Berrry Farm. I learned how to cope with others , how to make my community a better place, how I would get help to fill out my college application, and how to be successful in life.

My name Lizbeth.I am a 8th grader at Doig Intermediate,I been in steppingUp for a year and a half.Thanks to steppingUP and my advisor Mayra i was able to develop resume and practice my interviewing skills which prepared me for Career Day. I also got the opportunity to volunteering in my community, for example a few weeks ago I volunteer with OC CostKeeper and helped out by picking up trash along Huntington Beach.Thanks to SteppingUP I have become a better student.

My name is De Mondray Purnell and I'm a 11 grader at Santiago High School. I been in SteppingUP for 6 year now I learned many different things. SteppingUp help me learn my A-G's and also give me many different point of view about college. They also gave the chance to visit many different college like UCI.

My name is Brandon Del Toro, I am a junior in Santiago High school in Garden Grove.I have been in Stepping Up for half a year. Some activities we did were the Bleach clean up where we spent time walking around Huntington Beach picking up any trash we see, Career day where we were able to experience a real interview and learned all the different types of careers we might look forward to joining. Career day has helped me prepare for the job force.

My name is Roy Amesquita. I am a Junior at Santiago HIgh school. I have been In SteppingUp for close to 4 years. In the time I have been here I experienced many things. I have been able to travel to colleges such as Fullerton, and Cal State LA. Learn about topics that can help get us into college and know things that are occurring through our current society. Go to volunteer events such as beach cleanups and nursery events, and many more things. I have been able to talk to a variety of people with a variety of professions. Thanks to SteppingUp I've learned information to attend a 4 year anniversary.

Me and my girls are tremendously blessed to have been introduced to Steping Up. Every single staff member has made me feel like a member of their family. My two children have attended an excellent school district . The curriculum has both challenged and strengthend their abilities. I am proud to say that my family is in a better place ,thanks to the help and support of Strpping Up and its staff.
Reyna Gutierrez

Best organization, helpful and very knowledgeable staff.

Hola mi nombre es Jaquelin, en lo personal Stepping Up me a enseñado y ayudado como guiar a mi hija que está en el grado 8, que hacer cuando ella está frustrada o no puede con sus tareas, incluso he consultado al personal que labora ahí para recibir consejos cuando tengo problemas con mi hija acerca de la educación, a como motivarla e impulsarla para que mantenga o mejore sus grados, a los padres nos han llevado a las universidades para animarnos y motivarnos a que nuestros hijos sigan estudiando y se gradúen, en lo personal he visitado la universidad de Chapman, Irvine, Soka y Fulleton, estoy muy agradecida con el programa y el personal que lo compone, el cual está muy capacitado para desempeñar su trabajo.

The Orange County Community Housing Corp. has to be by far the most helpful nonprofit organization that I have come into contact with. One year ago my children and I were forced into a difficult situation where we were losing our home due to my previous landlord issues. OCCHC was a blessing in disguise and offered my family a new safe haven that we now call home. In addition, OCCHC has not only offered us housing but financial training as well. Through the Family Mentoring program, I was able to acquire knowledge regarding credit report/score, future financial planning, and knowledge on first time home buyers programs that are available. My children and I are blessed to be a part of the OCCHC family we trust and believe in OCCHC.

Such a great organization with a an amazing mission.

The OCCH has been dedicated to providing a step up to low income households in Orange County for many years. Through education, housing, and caring, the organization positively affects the lives of thousands of people every year. The leadership and team is energetic, sincere, and follows through on commitments.
Charley Harrison

Over the 20+ years with OCCHC I have witnessed lives changed, families healed, opportunities for personal growth and development blossom and HOPE spring forth.
And that's just what I've witnessed among the Staff and Volunteers!!! There is an even more fundamental change among those families who have come off the streets or overcrowded situation and moved into stable housing with a caring and compassionate team to support them. What an incredible gift has OCCHC been privileged to be through both its housing and support programs, particularly SteppingUP Mentor Program.

I have been a resident with OCCHC for about four years. Not only has OCCHC assisted me with housing they have also given me the opportunity to volunteer in the office to get hands on experience in my current field of study, Business Office Administration. OCCHC has been a complete blessing to my family.

Gracias a OCCHC por toda la ayuda que le han dado a mi y a mi familia. Estamos muy agradecidos con ustedes porque aparte de ayudarnos a obtener nuestro apartamento le ayudaron a mis hijos a estudiar en el colegio ya que ellos formaron parte del programa de stepping up. Muchas gracias por toda la ayuda que nos dan a familias como la mia.
Jose y Irma Diaz

I have been a volunteer with OCCHC for over 4 years now and have personally seen how this organization has positively supported and impacted the community. Being a volunteer at the annual career fair allows me to see first-hand the positive experience the students get, and the take-aways they gain through the interaction with professionals as well as the real-life interviews. Year after year, I see these at-risk students become more positive, more energized, and more optimistic about their college hopes and dreams. I continue to support OCCHC in any/all capacities because of the direct impact the organization makes in helping these students get into college. It's such a heartwarming feeling to have students come back and talk to me about how they never even considered college before OCCHC, and now are on a successful path for the rest of their lives. I look forward to continuing to be a part of OCCHC's mission to change the lives of at-risk students.

Thanks to Stepping Up OCCH we have a home .I was about to be homeless with myself , my husband and my children I had called everywhere possible to see who could help me I was so scared and had 72 hours to find a home and no one could help me .I found the stepping up Program and called praying that they would help me .When I explained my situation to Kathy Nutter.She told me to come down right away so I did mind you .(there are 6 of us in my family 4 children and 2 adults with only my income at the time and we lived in a one bedroom .)She was able to bless my family with a beautiful two bedroom condo in Buena Park apart from that for Christmas I was worried about what we were going to do .due to me not being able to supply for my family because I had lost my job Orange County Community Housing was a blessing for our family they provided gifts for all of my children and even offered to give me a Christmas tree. this is one of the best nonprofit agencies I have ever seen in the Orange County area thank you so much to all the staff volunteers and providers and donors that help Orange County Community Housing to help low income families like me be able to make a difference and step up.they also show you how to budget your income and help your children prepare for college .Wow thanks agian for making a difference for me and my family. THE DIRCIO FAMILY

Would not be here at UCSB without their help. The advisors were always so willing to help and made you feel that you were capable of achieving more than you thought. I am very thankful for the opportunities they exposed me to, especially during my senior year, they were with me the whole way.

OCCHC/SteppingUP has been a major investor in my education. I joined SteppingUP when I was in 7th grade and participated in their College Awareness Program (CAP) till I became the first in my family to graduate from high school. With the help of my academic advisor, Maggie, I was able to be the first in my family to pursue a higher education; currently in my 4th year at California State University, Long Beach majoring in Health Care Administration while attempting to complete pre-reqs for medical school. Also, I am currently an Academic Advisor for the SteppingUP program, the best part of this position is that I have the privilege of guiding students who were once in my shoes and in the same community that I grew up in, Oak View in Huntington Beach.

OCCHC/SteppingUP changes lives! That is why they are one of the leading non-profits in OC! :)

I've been part of Stepping Up since I was in eighth grade and it was probably the best, most productive thing I ever did. All throughout high school, we were taken on college tours, met with amazing advisors, and constantly did workshops that enhanced our lives both academically and personally. You can tell the staff really care about their students. Now, thanks to the Alumni Chapter, they even still reach out to those of us who have already graduated. I love this program!

I have been working with OCCHC/SteppingUP for about 8 years (not consecutively). It is an organization that has helped me grow into a professional. Working with families and students is what I love to do and SteppingUP has allowed me to show that passion. Our families and students always remind us that we are making in impact in their lives. We hope to continue our programs so we can assist all and every family that passes through our doors.

As a manager of a community reinvestment department for a large bank, I look for community organizations that are well run, have a mission that is impactful to underserved communities and individuals, are strongly supported by their board, and use a high percentage of donated funds towards their mission. OCCHC is committed to serve very low- and extremely low-income families through housing and education. County agencies count on OCCHC when looking to place families in desperate need. A forward looking organization, they also look to improve a family's financial position by assisting their children (and surrounding communities) get a higher education. They do this with SteppingUp, their signature program, which includes tutoring, college preparation courses, mentors, and scholarships. Indeed, OCCHC is not just a place called HOME, its an opportunity for a bright future for entire families. As a board member, I recommend you consider checking them out and offering your support.

OCCHC has been a life changer for me. It helped me prepare for college and encouraged me to go further than just a high school degree. They believed in me from the beginning and gave me the confidence to get a higher education. The advisors really care about you and take the time to get to know you and go out of their way to help you if you need it. They encouraged me to not just go to community college but a four year university because they saw the potential in me to do great. I come from a family that has never had someone even graduate high school and the advisors went out of their way to show my family the importance of higher education and they helped me apply to college and financial aid. I am so proud and blessed to have been a part of their program. OCCHC is an amazing program!

Orange County Community Housing Corp. is the best! They offer assistance to low SES communities trying to improve and succeed. I have benefited from this Nonprofit tremendously! Not only do they offer affordable housing to my family, but they offer the college awareness program called Stepping Up. Stepping Up was a great program that helped me get to where I am today with the help of the advisers and even the director. All the people are great and enthusiastic. They truly care and respect every individual and their community. I am very thankful for this nonprofit and I appreciate everything they have done for my family and for me.

I was the first of my family to apply and attend college so the whole process was a bit confusing. However, Stepping UP helped me and without them I would have been completely lost when getting ready for college. Stepping UP does so much for their students and community like promoting higher education and the benefits of reading. My love of reading and helping the community grew much more thanks to Stepping UP. I will forever be grateful of Stepping UP and its awesome staff. Thank you!

OCCHC/SteppingUP has helped me in so many ways. I joined when I was in 7th grade and now I am a sophomore at CSULB. From the beginning SteppingUP made me realize of all the opportunities that were out there, starting with college. They helped me open my eyes and see that I didn't have to commit in staying locally for my higher education, that I could go anywhere in California, in any state for that matter. What made this even more realistic is having had the chance to go on the Northern Trip where we were able to visit universities in northern California for a week. SteppingUP is there even for the smallest of questions or to help guide you through a difficult decision. I am so glad I was in SteppingUP because even now being in college, I can still go to them for help. I appreciate what OCCHC/SteppingUP has done for myself and other students as well.

I have been involved with OCCHC for a little over a decade. From the very begging it gave my parents a big relief. They no longer has to struggle to make ends meet for an apartment in where we all stayed in one bedroom. Thanks to OCCHC my brother, sister and parents have had a room for ourselves which gave everyone more space, especially for academia. I am very thankful for OCCHC because I know my life would have been very differnt if they would have not provided my family with the aid that we needed. Personally I would love to thank Alan Boldwen for taking the initiative to creating OCCHC with his colleagues. I will never forget his exact same words he mentioned at his retirement celebration. He said, "Live simple so that others can simply live" Becauae of his mentality he has helped not only my family but hundreds of family's accross Orange County. Now that Nora is on board I am more than happy to see what she has to bring to the table. She has worked with Allan for several years and she I am positive that she will expand OCCHC.
Further more on behave of OCCHC SteppingUP began about 9 years ago and thanks to SteppingUP I recieved the guildence to get into college. I am very thankful for SteppingUP which was started by Monica Cardenas. She has really expanded the program a lot and over the years the program has guilded many students, including me I to college.

I have been with SteppingUp for about 5 years and I can not possibly explain how much I love this organization! Without this program, most of the things I have done would not have happened like surfing or sleeping in campus dorms and touring northern California. The staff have really opened my eyes about college and my future. Without them I would be completely lost and have no clue which path my future holds. Now I have a great perspective on all the possibilities and the necessary tools to succeed, all thanks to SteppingUp. My favorite part about the program is that the staff are so well chosen, I love all of my advisors. They connect with each student and because of this the students feel comfortable and always have fun. This also helps because the students can learn so much in such a fun way!

I joined the College Awareness Program as a sophmore and it was the best decision I made for my future. The program provides many opportunities for the students: college field trips, weekly sessions with an advisor and a small group of other students, and most importantly the Northern Trip. Every few months we get a chance to visit a college campus and get a tour and often student panels. Weekly sessions are to guide you and keep you on track with school and as a senior, we get to go through the application process and not have to do it alone. The Northern Trip is when about 40 students are taken up northern California to visit college campuses. It is every other summer and I was chosen to go this summer of 2014. I loved it and had a lot of bonding experience with the other students and advisors. The advisors are great people you can really connect to and are there to help. They put all of their energy into helping their students. Overall the program is amazing and I'm so grateful I learned about it and was able to join.

SteppingUp is a wonderful organization that helps its students better prepare for the college application process, and as well as other things in life. Since there aren't a lot of people in the sessions, there is more one-on-one time with the advisor than an AVID class provides. Because of this, it also allows us as students to connect with our advisor to the point where we can be serious and comfortable with them. For example with my current advisor Edwin, we are able to enjoy the session and learn about the college application process, job interviews, etc. and at the end we always end up having a good laugh or two throughout.

OCCHC is an extremely well-run nonprofit- well-organized, passionate, responsible and their staff are 150% committed to their cause. They are a pleasure to work with professionally as an advisor and personally as a volunteer.

OCCHC/SteppingUP is the only non-profit in Orange County committed to serving extremely low-income families through housing and education. Working with transitional housing shelters, OCCHC stabilizes homeless families through the provision of affordable housing. Its signature program SteppingUP, provides the resources and educational opportunities through Family Mentoring and the College Awareness Program that allow our future to break the cycle of poverty through higher education.

I have had the privilege of working at OCCHC/SteppingUP for 15 years and am honored to have been a part of an organization, part of a team and part of a family that is committed to changing lives for the betterment of our future. OCCHC/SteppingUP provides not just a house, but a home and a future for at-risk youth and families throughout Orange County.

OCCHC has provided me and my family the opportunity to live a much better life than we were previously living in. Now that I have been in college having the privacy of my own room was vital because it's very difficult study for college material when your entire family lives in one room. However, OCCHC gave me and my family the opportunity to have our own place that otherwise we wouldn't be able to afford. I can't say how thankful I am for this privelege.

Orange County Community Housing Corporation is not just your typical affordable housing nonprofit. Not only do they support affordable housing for very low-income families, provide financial empowerment sessions for their families, and provide college preparedness for their students, they continuously adapt to the needs of the community. For instance, through their SteppingUp program, OCCHC realized the missing gap between high-income students and their SAT score and low-income students and their SAT score. OCCHC had decided to implement a new program for SAT testing to provide their students with the same equity in SAT scores. Students who have gone through the program have seen dramatic increases in their score that provided them a scholarship or college grant. OCCHC is innovative and continuously support their families by providing them a pathway of success. I am proud to be a board member.

Orange County Community Housing Corp. does an excellent job in helping people in need and enabling them to become independent and self-reliant through education. The impact that OCCHC has on people is tangible and long-lasting. OCCHC empowers the powerless, and educates the uneducated.

OCCH is a great organization empowering youth in low income housing to achieve impressive academic results through their SteppingUp program available to tenant families and the surrounding communities. Serving on the Board is privilege allowing the benefit of advocacy and promotion of a grassroots program that works and continues to give back.

For 35 years OCCHC has been a leader and advocate for affordable housing in Orange County. But they are more than a home builder and landlord; all staff members are also angels for the extremely low income families in the county. As a board member I am astonished at each meeting with the level to which they serve their tenants. From services to help improve job skills and job seeking opportunities; to help and support for advanced education. Unlike a typical landlord, OCCHC’s mission is to help improve their tenant’s financial position through education. It is no surprise that former OCCHC tenants and employees are now leaders and affordable housing advocates in the community. In fact, several nonprofits and for-profit community development and housing entities in Orange County received initial support from OCCHC. What an awesome opportunity to serve!

OCCHC provides affordable housing and support for hundreds of students though their award winning Stepping Up program. The staff is professional and the Board of Directors highly engaged and provides direction and oversight. A lesser known, but equally important, is educational role the organization provides on community development and affordable housing policy matters.

This organization is amazing. They make a difference in peoples lives. That's why my wife and I continue to support the organization, even after we moved to Texas 1 1/2 years ago. I have also participated on the Advisory Board. There is so much need and never enough resources to serve all of the need. Over the 10 years we have been involved, we have got to know many young men and women that have been positively impacted by the programs of this organization. Wow!!!! If you want to warm your heart, support this organization.

The OCCHC has proven over the years to know how to directly impact the lives of people who simply need assistance in finding affordable housing. This is the first step to improving our economy, as a stable living environment allows children and whole families to flourish and pursue educational advances. OCCHC has a skilled team that is dedicated to helping people achieve a better life, and I have seen the results on a daily basis crossing paths with their tenants.

The combination of secure and safe housing along with targeted educational programs provides an incredible foundation that helps entire families transition toward self-sufficiency. Not only is this organization addressing the root causes of generational poverty, they are also giving their residents the tools to create their own futures.

My family became OCCHC residents in 2001. My husband and I have 5 children. Prior to coming to OCCHC, we had been through some very hard times that included homelessness, followed by living for two years in a transitional shelter just to get on our feet. Even after making many positive strides in the right direction, chances were very slim that we could afford to live in Orange County and raise our 5 young children on our limited incomes. At the time that we were accepted by OCCHC, I asked if it would be possible for me to return to school. This had always been a dream of mine and I could see it as a way for me to help better support my family, but it seemed unachievable because I had to work full-time and care for my children. We were elated when we heard the answer, "Yes! Yes you can go to school." One reason this was possible was because our rent would be affordable and I didn't have to work full-time, but could instead attend school full-time. Immediately after moving into our apartment I enrolled at community college. Two years later I graduated with a 4.0 gpa and honors and transferred to UCI on a full scholarship. Two years after that I graduated Summa Cum Laude and transferred to CSU Long Beach to pursue my Masters degree. I now work at OCCHC and am able to support my family. We are now looking forward to purchasing a home in the near future and continuing to push forward as we prepare our children for college. We sincerely thank OCCHC for providing our family with hope and a safe home while allowing us to improve our lives. This has made all the difference in where we are today.

The team at Orange County Community Housing Corporaton are unsung heroes. For more than 30 years they have devised ways to house and educate large, low-income families and have done it without making the job about themselves. They never toot their own horn. Their focus on mentoring and educating young people is exemplary. Let's all give more to this great organization so the number of families impacted reaches the thousands! Melody Nava - Advisory Board member - 20 years

I have been involved with OCCHC for over a dozen years and have seen it grow from a small organization with great ideals to a great organization with lofty goals that are being achieved. Allen has an unbelievable knack to attract a staff of "doers" that have great intelligence, caring and the ability to make it happen regardless of the obstacles that need to be overcome. They have transformed themselves into an innovated organization that is making a big difference in a population of disadvantaged kids (and parents) and giving them the tools to not only succedd but to make a difference for others as well. They have found the secret to breaking the cycle of failure and making it a cycle of success. OCCHC has been one of our foundations most productive partnerships. It is a super example of our money well spent.

In a foot race, the staff at OCCHC would beat the Eveready Bunny. The College Awareness Program (CAP), a major part of the Educational arm of the organization, is second to none in the quality of work they do with today's youth. From my perspective, CAP has no equal.

Orange County Community Housing is a great organization that shows professionalism and courtesy in dealing with less fortunate individuals in seek of a better life. Staff at OCCHC are very dedicated and always show great interest and sympathy. Thanks to their exemplary work habits many lives have been drastically changed in numerous ways.

My experience with OCCHC staff has been a positive one. I have reviewed detailed information on OCCHC's financials and programs and have always been impressed. I am most impressed with the leaders that are a "product" of OCCHC's programing. For example, many former participants of OCCHC's stepping up program are now distinguished leaders in the community that contribute time, money, and expertise. OCCHC also does a tremendous job of having staff and board representation that is reflective of the community they serve.

This is a great organization to work with. Their units are clean and well maintained and they are really invested in helping people get back on their feet and not just to keep giving them charity. If you're thinking about donating this would be a great organization to help out.

I have worked with Allen and OCCHC for the past 30 years. They are the leading Orange County nonprofit agency in helping families succeed.

I have had the opportunity to work with Allen on a professional basis since 1980; over the years Allen has taken a leadership role in many capacities representing the public interest; as a member of City Council; local water board; community activists and most importantly the "vision and backbone" of OCCHC that began over some 30 years ago. In the early years he had a deep rooted concern to help families in need to help themselves by giving of himself and more importantly creating a vehicle by which he could help families lift themselves out of poverty. That was his Dream, his vision and with God's help has become "HIS REALITY". OCCCHC is the "Best Bet that can be Made On The Future for all of Us" because each dollar invested is put to work in their various program showing the OCCHC stake holders how they can do it themselves over time with a little bit of help; but they have to want it and must work for it or they will be dropped from the program; there is no room for failure in any of OCCHC programs. Take a hard look at OCCHC and dig deep if you have an interest in making a contribution because the deeper that you dig into OCCHC programs the more impressed you will be and the more you will want to do what-ever-you-can to become a part of this unbelievable legacy.

I had the opportunity to work closely with Allen and his team at Orange County Community Housing Corporation (OCCHC) when I was the chairman of a non-profit in City of Huntington Beach called Project Self-Sufficiency (PS-S). Our mission was to help single parents on welfare break free of government assistance through education, counseling and mentoring. Allen and OCCHC provided housing where several mothers and their children stayed while on the PS-S program. Being in a safe and nurturing environment provided for by OCCHC through their housing program gave the mothers and their families the extra edge they needed to move their lives forward.

SteppingUP is changing lives every day. They mentor and tutor youth and guide them in the direction of college after finishing high school. This not only helps the youth they work with but the whole family. As someone who works with homeless youth 18 to 24, I see the difference that could have been made if the youth I work with had SteppingUp involved in their lives.