Twins Jenna and Patrick Partington have cystinosis. You’ve probably never heard of this genetic disease. Their parents hadn’t either until the children were diagnosed at 15 months of age. Both parents are healthy but carry a recessive gene that, unbeknownst to them when starting a family, combined to give the twins this rare disease.

St. HOPE proudly announces that it is renovating its PS7 Elementary, a project that will create a campus that benefits its students as well as its entire Oak Park neighborhood. “We’re hoping to break ground in 2020 on this state-of-the-art campus that will double the school’s student capacity,” says Jake Mossawir, president and CEO.

Agape Villages Foster Family Agency has served more than 6,400 children in the 60 years it has been in business. As a licensed foster family agency placing children in foster homes, Agape Villages recruits and trains foster parents who care for abused and neglected children.

Sacramento Life Center offers a comprehensive array of resources and services to Sacramento-area women and teen girls, especially those who are pregnant with nowhere to turn. “It’s critical that our services are free because financial strain is one of the primary reasons so many pregnant women are in crisis,” notes Marie Leatherby, executive director.

On July 1, two highly regarded, long-standing behavioral and mental health services, juvenile nonprofit organizations, Stanford Youth Solutions and Sierra Forever Families merged to better address the complex needs of children, youth and families.

Established in 1912 and redeveloped in 2015, the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera is a collaborative cultural pillar institution dedicated to serving the greater community — from youth music education in the classroom to main stage performances of orchestral and operatic music at the highest regional caliber — and contributing to the growth of Sacramento’s Creative Economy.

Sacramento Self-Help Housing, a highly successful 501(c)(3), tackles the issue of homelessness in a unique way that directly benefits the homeless population as well as homeowners. “Our approach is not building additional housing, but creating more capacity within the current housing stocks,” explains John Foley, executive director.

The UC Davis MIND Institute is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary center for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. With cutting-edge research, innovative clinical programs and state-of-the-art treatment, this unique center draws worldwide recognition.

Everyone has times of struggle in life, and young people are no exception. In fact, in many cases, they can feel life’s upheavals most acutely, whether those troubles stem from family, friends, dating, other close relationships, school, jobs, clubs or teams.

Horses have served humans for centuries. Striving to serve them, All About Equine Animal Rescue, Inc. (AAE) rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes horses. Established in 2009 as a small, heartfelt endeavor on a family ranch, this now-thriving community-based organization needs a larger home.