Growing Up Great with PNC Bank

Students give PNC Bank volunteer a group hug after reading activity. April 2025.

Community partners of ECS provide invaluable support to clients. One of these partners is PNC Bank, offering volunteers, classroom supplies, activities, and engagement to ECS Head Start students.

Last month, PNC Bank sent four volunteers to a Head Start center to celebrate spring. Students planted seeds and did some arts and crafts with the help of the volunteers. Afterward, students took their pots home and watched their plants flourish as they cared for them.

Students plant seeds to take home and care for. March 2025.

The springtime fun continued with PNC Bank’s Grow Up Great Month, where they focus on giving back to their community partners, and in their 21st year of building brighter futures, PNC donated new books for Head Start classrooms and a bilingual activity book for each child. Two volunteers from PNC Bank, Eva Bryant and Valerie Attisha, visited ECS San Ysidro Head Start to read with the children.

ECS is grateful for the support from PNC Bank. The volunteers and resources shared benefit ECS Head Start children, educators, and families, expanding education to a new level and creating lasting memories.

To learn more about ECS’ community partners, visit Partners — Episcopal Community Services.

Volunteers help students with a craft activity. March 2025.

Students’ plants bloom after a few weeks of care. April 2025.

Mission to Washington, D.C.

San Diego leaders in D.C. advocating for our region. April 2025.

ECS recently returned from the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Mission to Washington, D.C., where CEO Elizabeth Fitzsimons and Director of Communications & Advocacy Adrienne Wilkerson engaged with local, state, and federal legislators to advocate for policies that uplift children, families, and communities across the San Diego region.

During the trip, they spoke with Representatives John Garamendi and Sara Jacobs, highlighting the importance of maintaining federal funding for Head Start and expanding support for early education programs.

ECS puts advocacy into action, interacting with San Diego and government leaders to garner support for our programs. April 2025.

They also participated in healthcare meetings with the offices of Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff and Representative Juan Vargas to emphasize the need for continued access to Medicaid for essential health services.

Elizabeth Fitzsimons (left) and Adrienne Wilkerson (right) build connections in D.C. April 2025.

ECS continues to champion solutions that strengthen its staff, support clients, and build a more equitable San Diego—on Capitol Hill and at home.

Learn more about ECS’ advocacy efforts: ecscalifornia.org/advocacy.

UTSH Taps into Creativity

UTSH residents work on a various art projects. March 2025.

Residents at ECS Uptown Safe Haven (UTSH) tapped into their creativity during another art class, this time painting door signs. The art class projects vary — residents try their hands at everything from creating abstract watercolor pieces and still life drawings to decorating wood cutouts and ornaments. The classes begin with an education session on different art techniques such as mixing prime colors, studying light, and learning about still life.

Residents express their creativity by painting door signs. March 2025.

These classes would not be possible without the dedication of two volunteers: Paula McColl and Gerri Smith. Paula and Gerri are parishioners at St. James-by-the-Sea, and they are also both artists with experience in art instruction. The women plan the projects for each month’s class and provide all of the supplies.

Art classes provide a relaxing positive enrichment activity for residents and allows them to express themselves through a creative outlet.

Residents will have the chance to showcase their finished products at the Art Speaks art show on October 24 at St. James-by-the-Sea. 100% of the proceeds from the sales of each piece at the exhibit go directly to the resident who created the piece.

To learn more about the work UTSH does, visit Uptown Safe Haven — Episcopal Community Services.

Art classes allow residents to learn more about art and relax as they craft. March 2025.

Volunteers from St. James-by-the-Sea give their time and talent to UTSH art classes. March 2025.

Leadership Delegation in Sacramento

ECS CEO Elizabeth Fitzsimons and Communications Director Adrienne Wilkerson pose for a group photo at the 2025 Leadership Delegation. February 2025.

ECS CEO Elizabeth Fitzsimons and Communications Director Adrienne Wilkerson joined regional leaders for the 2025 Leadership Delegation to Sacramento to advocate for policies that strengthen our community.

The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce trip focused on critical issues such as housing, healthcare, sustainability, business resiliency, innovation, and public safety.

Through high-impact discussions with local and state leaders, ECS pushed for stronger policies to support our most vulnerable populations and gained insights into upcoming legislation that will shape our region’s future.

By building relationships and driving meaningful policy change, ECS continues to be a voice for those who need it most. Learn more about our work at ecscalifornia.org.