There are several organizations around Kern County that are for the benefit of children, but there are few that have been as longstanding or as important as the Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic.
During an interview on “First Look with Scott Cox” on Tuesday, Kevin Stokes, president of the Foundation Board that supports the clinic, discussed the important work being done, and an upcoming fundraiser to support its efforts.
First off, the “Aces and Agave” fundraiser is 7 p.m. on April 29 at the Elements Venue, 3401 Chester Avenue. The fundraiser will feature California-approved casino games, tequila sampling, food and other entertainment. Tickets can be purchased for $45 per person before March 24, and $60 per person after that date.
“They are doing awesome work here in Kern County,” said Stokes, who has been associated with the clinic for five years. “It’s an all-local organization.”
The clinic, which was founded in 1946, provides mental health services and substance abuse counseling for children, and it does not deny services based on one’s ability to pay.
The clinic provides services to more than 3,000 children and their families per year and the clinic has steadily grown to meet the demand of a growing community. One of the key contributors to the clinic is the Guild House — a downtown restaurant.
“The clinic provides services to families and kids in crisis,” Stokes said. “Kids that have often found themselves in foster care, or having some serious behavioral issues. It’s a great organization.”