Casa Pacifica Names 4 Board Members
Casa Pacifica, a home for abused children, has appointed four new board members, including a school superintendent, a University of California representative, a longtime volunteer and the developer of the project.
Among the appointees is Yolanda Benitez, superintendent of Rio Elementary School District, according to Casa Pacifica Executive Director Dr. Steve Elson.
Benitez, while an administrator in Port Hueneme, was responsible for negotiating the first medical and psychological clinic in Ventura County on an elementary school campus. She was formerly the principal of ChildHelp Village, a facility for abused children in Riverside County.
Benitez received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in educational foundations from Cal State Los Angeles.
Also appointed to the board of the nonprofit facility was Gary Farr, chairman of the UCLA Chancellor’s Associates for Ventura County and a trustee of the Ventura County Maritime Museum. A sponsor of Casa Pacifica for several years, Farr said he is honored “to join everyone who has contributed in making the Casa Pacifica dream a reality.”
Another new board member is June Paschen, a Casa Pacifica volunteer and the wife of Clay Paschen, owner of nine McDonald’s restaurants.
She and her husband helped with a $350,000 donation for the Ronald McDonald Cottage located at the Casa Pacifica campus near Camarillo.
Joseph Priske, the developer of the project, has also been named to the board.
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