Rosemary Children’s Services Appoints Simms Teramoto President of its Board of Directors
By Pasadena Independent
Published: Thursday, March 26th, 2009
Bank of America Veteran Recognized for More Than 10 Years of Volunteer Involvement with Non-profit Organization Dedicated to Helping Children Have Better Lives
Simms Teramoto first became involved with Rosemary Children’s Services (RCS) ten years ago when one of the at-risk teenage girls taking part in the agency’s Residential Treatment program asked to be mentored by ‘a lady who wears a suit to work.’
“There was an ad in the local paper, asking for volunteers to be mentors,” recalls Teramoto who, after serving six years on the Board of Directors, was recently installed as President. “And I never hesitated. I’ve always felt strongly that it is everyone’s responsibility to care for those who cannot care for themselves. And nowhere is this more critical than with our youth.”
In June, Teramoto, a Bank of America associate for 22 years who currently serves as a business support manager, was honored for her many contributions to the agency, which was founded in 1920 to help abused, neglected and abandoned children receive the treatment and skills necessary to rebuild their lives and embark upon a more promising future. Teramoto received RCS’s highest accolade, the Golden Star Award, at its annual Evening with Star Chefs gala.
Teramoto’s resume as an RCS volunteer also includes serving as a member of the Board of Directors, a mentor to staff and children, and a longtime member of the Star Chefs committee, which this year raised $150,000 for RCS’s non-public school, The Rosemary School, for at-risk teenage girls. In addition, for the past seven years Teramoto has arranged for her colleagues at Bank of America to prepare special holiday gifts for the girls in one of RCS’s four group homes.
“But, by far, the greatest gift we can give the children we serve – from the youngest boys and girls in our Foster Care/Adoptive Programs throughout Southern California to the teenage girls attending The Rosemary School in Pasadena – is the gift of hope,” says Teramoto. “RCS gives those children a safe environment. To those of us who have never had anything but that, it seems basic. To the children at RCS, it means the world. And it means the world to me to be able to contribute.”
One way in which Teramoto particularly hopes to contribute during her tenure as Board President is to work with her fellow Board members to increase the community’s awareness of the transformations taking place in the lives of the children placed through the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services or the Los Angeles County Probation Department at RCS.
For instance, in July, the Council of Accreditation, an independent, not-for-profit, international accreditor of community-based behavioral health care and human services organizations, welcomed RCS into its “Community of Excellence” as an “outstanding provider.” The accreditation process involved a detailed review and analysis of RCS’s administrative operations and programs. The agency’s services and procedures were then evaluated against national standards of best practices – analyzing their ability to be accessible, appropriate, culturally responsive, evidence based and outcomes-oriented.
“RCS has done wonderful work protecting children for over 88 years and that important work must continue,” Teramoto says. “It’s especially important that those who can provide resources to help ensure that this happens, including foundations, corporation, local businesses among others.”
Past Board President Karen Drew, a First Vice President at Far East National Bank, has no doubt that Teramoto will achieve these goals. “I’ve been impressed by Simms since I joined the Board six years ago,” Drew explains. “There’s nothing she doesn’t accomplish once she’s put her mind to it. Her commitment to RCS and her large heart are an inspiration not only to the children and families we serve but to all of us who work with her.”
Joining Teramoto on the 2008-2009 Board of Directors are: Ralph Ramirez, Bank of America Vice President and Treasurer; Sungo Wang, Secretary; Kristen Schultz, of La Salle High School; Kandy Hung and Karen Drew, of Far East National Bank; Yvonne Pine, Community Member; Glifta Gillette, of London Hair; Veronica Fuentes, of the Pasadena Public Library; Lynn Lu, of Wells Fargo Bank; and Pete Hettema, of the Pasadena Police Department.
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