More than $96,500 was raised during a graduation ceremony for the Living Women’s Education Leadership League (WELL) in downtown Modesto, marking the nonprofit’s 10th anniversary. The event, held at The Century, honored 23 women who completed the five-week program focused on financial literacy, leadership training, wellness education, and mentorship.
The ceremony drew elected officials, former graduates, and community members. Its goal was to secure enough funding to allow more women from the waitlist to join the WELL program.
Alana Scott Clayton, chief executive officer and founder of WELL, reflected on the organization’s growth over the past decade. “If someone would have told me 10 years ago that we would be here today, serving thousands of women across California, helping them move from lives surrounded by poverty and despair into lives full of hope, full of leadership and full of opportunity… I definitely wouldn’t have believed them, but here we are,” Clayton said.
Over half of the funds raised came from Brad and Nancy Hawn, who received WELL’s Impact Award. “A little bit of money can go a long way if put in the right spot,” Brad Hawn said.
One graduating class included members from Downtown Streets Team (DST), a nonprofit that assists people experiencing or at risk of homelessness by providing work experience and job training. This class was sponsored by Studio V Pilates & Fitness.
With DST scheduled to end this month, Modesto Mayor Sue Zwahlen highlighted a new initiative: “We look forward to continuing our relationship with each one of you, and we support you every step of the way,” Zwahlen said. “We are behind you. We admire you.” She noted that the City Council had approved a $1.25 million agreement with Modesto Gospel Mission and United Way to launch Hope Works as DST’s replacement.
The other graduating class consisted of participants in the Center for Human Services’ Gen2 Family Strengthening Program, sponsored by Phil Trompetter and David Cunningham.
Diana Gonzales, an alumna who helped organize the event, shared her story about overcoming homelessness after fleeing domestic violence in 2007. She later joined WELL for connection but discovered she still needed healing: “I think it really helped me kind of go through a lot of the trauma and really work on self-discovery and my own recovery,” Gonzales said.
Marisela Rodriguez participated in WELL seven years ago while living in a homeless hotel with her four children. Clayton recalled Rodriguez’s commitment to attending classes early and staying late; Rodriguez credited her scholarship with motivating her to face challenges: “Mentally, I was losing my mind thinking that this was all too good for me. After 15 years of addiction, you don’t feel like this could be you. You don’t envision it,” Rodriguez said.
After completing the program, Rodriguez became an ambassador and mentor for others entering WELL.
The ceremony also featured two panels where speakers discussed their personal and professional experiences. Panelists included state dental board member Dr. Jaskiran Grewal; Leia Porges from SinglePoint Outsourcing; Marian Kaanon from Stanislaus Community Foundation; A’Kia Walker from Empower 8; Stanislaus County Supervisor Mani Grewal; Evan Porges from Porges Family Foundation; and Brad Ardis from Huff Construction Co.
Clayton explained that graduates requested these panels to gain firsthand conference experience after hearing about similar events she attended.
Graduates received certificates presented by Mayor Zwahlen alongside City Councilmembers Jeremiah Williams, David Wright, Rosa Escutia-Braaton, and Supervisor Grewal.
