52.7 F
Laguna Hills
Wednesday, Feb 12, 2025
-Advertisement-

Olive Crest’s Journey to Transforming Lives

One night in the 1980s, college student Donald Verleur returned to his family home in Orange County, craving a reprieve from dorm life at University of California, Irvine.

Exhausted, he made his way to his childhood bedroom. But when he opened the door, he was greeted by a surprise: a young girl staring back at him.

“This is my mom’s favorite story,” said Verleur, CEO of Olive Crest.

Looking back, it shouldn’t have been so shocking. His parents, Dr. Donald Verleur and Lois Verleur, had been opening their home to children and teens in need since 1973, the year they founded Olive Crest.

“For us, it was normal,” Verleur said. “We always had kids in the house. That’s just how we grew up.”

Today, with a $78.2 million annual budget, Olive Crest serves thousands of children and families across Orange, Riverside and Los Angeles counties. It is the eighth largest non-profit in Orange County, according to Business Journal data.

Impact and Growth

Over the last five decades, Olive Crest — named for the olive tree growing in the family’s front yard and the idea of a family crest — has grown beyond its initial child welfare focus and become a key resource for families and children in crisis, serving more than 5,000 children and families every day.

Its programs address a wide range of needs, including safe housing and foster homes, mental health support and intensive services for survivors of human trafficking.

Olive Crest’s ability to adapt to community needs has allowed it to grow while staying true to its mission. In Santa Barbara, Olive Crest runs the Hope Refuge Campus, a 200-acre facility supporting teenage survivors of sex trafficking. Each year, it provides a safe environment for about 30 teens to recover from trauma through therapy, education and community support.

“Children who experience abuse and neglect are much more vulnerable to trafficking,” said James Woodside, chairman of Olive Crest’s board. “Hope Refuge is a sanctuary where survivors can begin to heal and see a brighter future.”

The organization launched its $100 million capital campaign, Transforming Lives, in March 2022; to date, it has raised $65 million. If all goes according to plan, Olive Crest will expand its programs, services and facilities to serve 1.2 million children and families throughout the Western United States by 2030.

Keeping Families Together

Olive Crest’s services aim to keep families together whenever possible. The organization’s continuum of care includes a child specialist, therapist and parent partner who all work directly with families to overcome challenges.

“We believe families are the best place for children when the right support is in place,” said Verleur. “Our goal is to help families build healthier relationships and stronger foundations.”

And, even after an individual or family has concluded their connection to Olive Crest, he said they are always “part of the Olive Crest family” and can return for support as needed.

Helping Foster Youth Transition to Adulthood

For youth aging out of foster care, Olive Crest’s Operation Independence program is a lifeline. In Orange County alone, nearly 27,000 individuals aged 12-24 face homelessness or housing insecurity. The program provides transitional housing, life skills training and connections to education and employment, offering a path to self-sufficiency.

In September, Olive Crest and RSI Dream Communities broke ground on a 16-unit housing complex in Orange County designed for two residents per apartment, with shared kitchens and living spaces.

Set to open in fall 2025, the complex, located on a parking lot behind Olive Crest’s Santa Ana office, is the first of several planned across Southern California and Las Vegas. The project includes a renovation and expansion of Olive Crest’s adjacent Children and Family Resource Center, including a new youth drop-in center.

“We focus on giving them the resources and support they need to succeed on their own,” said Verleur. “It’s about breaking cycles and helping them build stable, productive lives.”

Olive Crest’s 13,000 volunteers donated nearly 4 million hours in 2024, saving the organization $80 million, according to Verleur.

They assist with fundraising, home repairs and direct support.

“Volunteers are the backbone of what we do,” Woodside said.

Want more from the best local business newspaper in the country?

Sign-up for our FREE Daily eNews update to get the latest Orange County news delivered right to your inbox!

Sonia Chung
Sonia Chung
Sonia Chung joined the Orange County Business Journal in 2021 as their Marketing Creative Director. In her role she creates all visual content as it relates to the marketing needs for the sales and events teams. Her responsibilities include the creation of marketing materials for six annual corporate events, weekly print advertisements, sales flyers in correspondence to the editorial calendar, social media graphics, PowerPoint presentation decks, e-blasts, and maintains the online presence for Orange County Business Journal’s corporate events.
-Advertisement-

Featured Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-

Related Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-