For over two decades, Steve and Susie Segerstrom Perry have been meaningful friends and supporters of KidWorks. In 2015, during our “Building Dreams” capital campaign to expand the KidWorks Dan Donahue Center, Steve and Susie, founders of Sacred Harvest Foundation, pledged $1 million to the campaign. At the time, Steve said, “Everyone loves the sound of children’s laughter. These are the sights and sounds I enjoy the most whenever I visit KidWorks. Knowing the children are encouraged to fulfill their God-given potential provides hope for the future.”
Name: Steve and Susie Perry
City: Newport Beach, CA
Role at KidWorks: 20+ year donor
Steve currently serves on KidWorks Advisory Council and previously served as Chairman of the Building Dreams Capital Campaign.
How did you first become involved with KidWorks?
We first became aware of KidWorks ministry in the late 1990’s through its founder, Larry Acosta. We were intrigued with the novel concept of living among the people they serve, because we believe transformation is a life on life process.
Share the most meaningful experiences you’ve had at KidWorks? What made them impactful to you?
KidWorks modeled what we value as necessary to bring effective and lasting change into the lives of the children it serves. For us KidWorks possessed the 3 essentials ingredients that need to be present to lasting change: God, community and time.
Can you talk about some of the biggest obstacles KidWorks' programming overcame when you were involved.
The biggest obstacle and challenge for us was the issue of mission drift. Will KidWorks maintain its faith, heritage and culture? But under the leadership of David Benavides, the faith culture is very much in tack and clear to those who have stewardship of the organization.
What are your dreams for KidWorks over the next 10, 20, or 30 years?
When the Donahue Center first opened, we funded the medical clinic that was supposed to be housed there. It didn’t happen. I still dream of a day when KidWorks would partner with a medical provider who will set up shop in the local neighborhood.