Cassie Alaniz feels her life has been blessed as a result of working to enrich the lives of local foster children.

Alaniz, of El Dorado Hills, is the executive director of Sacramento-based Wonder, Inc., founded in 2002, a company that works to match local foster children with mentors, or guides, to provide a source of fun, learning and support for children as they go through the foster care system.

Alaniz grew up mostly in Rochester, N.Y., and attended State University of New York after which she moved to Chicago to work in the pharmaceuticals field. She was promoted to a national account manager and relocated to Sacramento in 1999.

“When I was relocated out here, I had no family here. I knew no one. I’d never been to California and I looked around and thought ‘Where will I end up?’” Alaniz said. “This area was so beautiful. I moved to Folsom, lived there for about three years, and then I bought a house here in El Dorado Hills. Getting the landscape and the nature out here in El Dorado Hills, being in the foothills, was perfect.”

In 2006, Alaniz decided she wanted to find a way to give back to the community. She saw an ad for Wonder, Inc. and in April 2006, she became the guide for a 12-year-old boy.

“I was so moved by my experiences with him,” Alaniz said. “He didn’t know how to swim. He had never seen a horse. He didn’t know the rules of bowling and when I went to his sixth grade promotion ceremony, I was the only one in the audience for him. He was elected the student speaker of his class. I sat there in the audience and I thought ‘How many other kids are there in our community who have birthdays and graduations and have no one there for them?’”

Alaniz met with the founder of Wonder, Inc., Diane Knorr, and expressed her interest in being more deeply involved with the organization. Knorr offered Alaniz a chance to replace her as executive director. In 2007, Alaniz was hired on as Wonder, Inc. program director to learn more about being on the organization’s staff, and in March 2008 she took over as executive director when Knorr retired.

Wonder, Inc. helps provide emotional support to children in foster care by encouraging guides to introduce their children, or explorers, to activities, events and volunteer service. Guides usually spend about eight hours each month with their explorers for at least a year, Alaniz said.

“On average the kids in foster care move about three times within a 12 month period,” she said. “So with all that inconsistency, changing foster homes, and schools, and teachers and friends, to have that one consistent person in their life who can just be there for them, give them childhood experiences, that’s what we create. The vision is that no child goes through foster care alone.”

To date Wonder, Inc. has matched 194 foster children with guides, Alaniz said.

Julie Gustafson, the group’s program director, said one of her favorite things is getting to hear about the little moments that bond guides and explorers.

“I think there’re a lot of people who have something to share and they may or may not know that,” Gustafson said. “And the difference they can make in a child’s life in even a year … I don’t think anyone could measure that.”

Alaniz said she felt so blessed working for Wonder, Inc. that she was inspired to adopt her own daughter from the foster care system. In December 2008 her adoption process was finalized with a baby girl named Julianna, who celebrated her first birthday at the beginning of April.

“I met so many kids (through Wonder, Inc.) that were amazing,” she said. “So many of them were up for adoption, and I really wanted to be a mom, so I thought ‘This is ideal, look at all these kids.’ I was only certified three weeks, and then I got the phone call that there was a social worker who had a child available that they thought I would be perfect for. … Then I met her, and that was it. It was meant to be. We’re just really lucky to have each other.”

Alaniz said although she is a single mom, she knew she wouldn’t be alone in raising Julianna because she has a great support system through her friends and church.

“I think it was God’s plan — it was meant to be for her to have Julianna — they are perfect together,” said Lilly Clough, Alaniz’s friend. “When she told me she was interested in adopting, it just seemed natural. She’s a wonderful mother who adores Julianna. She really has a great balance in what’s best for Julianna. She doesn’t spoil her, but she loves her completely.”

Anyone interested in more information on Wonder, Inc. and its upcoming events or how to become a guide, is encouraged to visit the organization’s Web site or call the office, said Gregory Brown, Wonder, Inc. treasurer.

“Expanding the program I think is our main focus now,” Brown said. “We do have a lot of kids that are on waiting list, and just finding enough mentors to meet that need (is our goal). The program’s out there — we just need folks to see that need and take action.”

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In the Know

Wonder, Inc.

An organization that matches children in the foster care system with local mentors who provide these children with fun, consistent activities and emotional support.

Information: 921-9777 or www.wonderinc.org

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Bridget Jones can be reached at bridgetj@goldcountrymedia.com.