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WillMar Center for Bereaved Children welcomes new executive director
Gary Carnivele | Special to the Sun
WillMar Center for Bereaved Children in Sonoma has hired Patti Link Cawood as its executive director. On Aug. 12, Cawood replaced interim director Annie Bauer, who had served in the position for more than a year.
Cawood brings with her ten years of nonprofit management and fundraising, with an emphasis on providing strategic direction and enhancing revenue generation.
“I am enthusiastic to be a part of WillMar’s continued success and I hope to raise our visibility in the community, and strengthen and forge new community partnerships while maintaining the high standard of programming WillMar is known for,” said Cawood, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Literature at Lee University and an Master of Arts in Literature from the University of Tennessee.
For the past five years, Cawood was fundraising and special projects manager at STAND! Against Domestic Violence, in the East Bay. She was born and raised in Cleveland, Tenn. For nine years, she has been married to her husband Dustin, who works in the film industry as a sound effects editor. They moved to California in 2003 and settled in Sonoma County about a year ago. Their son, Bennett, is 6 months old.
When asked what made her decide to seek out a position at WillMar, Cawood explained, “There aren’t many programs focusing on the specific needs of children and teens who have experienced catastrophic loss. I felt personally drawn to the universal and simultaneously personal nature of the grief experience.”
“After a wonderful 15 months serving as WillMar’s Interim Executive Director, I am thrilled to hand over the reigns to Patti Cawood as the new, long-term executive director,” said Bauer. “I thoroughly endorse and support her as the next leader of the center. I look forward to continuing to support WillMar both financially and as a volunteer, as I firmly believe in its wonderful work.”
WillMar was founded in June 2000 by Nina Sagall Gorbach, Howard Gorbach and Ilene Sagall to provide a caring, safe, and healing environment for the youth of Sonoma Valley who have experienced the death of a loved one. The nonprofit center also provides a place to go for children and teens who are living with someone in their home who was injured or ill. The mission statement includes a promise to provide emergency services and ongoing and grief support to local schools.
“Today, WillMar Center is still true to true to its original mission and has expanded its onsite services to provide grief support for young adults (ages 19 – 30), general grief support for adults, and support to agencies and local businesses whose employees are in need of grief support,” said Barbara Cullen, the center’s program director. “WillMar is also going into its second year of providing weekly grief and loss support groups for the children and teens of the Valley of the Moon Children’s Home.”
WillMar charges no fees and no child is ever turned away. The center’s participants come from not only the Sonoma Valley, but from all over Sonoma County and northern Marin County. They heal through a number of programs, including: creative arts, drama, music, group meetings and discussions, and “bopping.” Bopping happens in a room with padded walls and floor, and boxing bags – it works wonders at releasing pent up aggression.
“It’s too early to tell what challenges I’ll face, but without challenges to overcome there isn’t opportunity for evolution,” said Cawood. “I’m certain that whatever comes our way, the amazing staff, dedicated board of directors and engaged community partners will be able to learn and grow exponentially from it.”
To keep overhead to a minimum WillMar has a paid staff of only three; Cawood, Cullen, and an office manager. The center’s programs rely entirely on donations from individuals, service organizations, and grants. It does not receive government funding or insurance reimbursements. WillMar’s 23 trained program volunteers will assist young people during this fall’s series of programs.
“WillMar Center is a unique and valuable resource for Sonoma’s children and their families,” said Cawood. “Loss eventually touches every life and what a comfort for Sonoma Valley families to have a place like WillMar Center available to walk with their children through the darkest of days. It is a place of hope, healing, and rebuilt lives.”
WillMar Center for Breaved Children, 583 First Street West, Sonoma; 707.935.1946. Web site: willmarcenter.org
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