Tim Gurrola’s presentation to Fillmore City Council:

My name is Tim Gurrola, a lifelong resident of Fillmore and a board Member of Tender Life Maternity Home. I’m here on behalf of Jim Duran, Executive Director of Tender Life, who regrets he cannot be present tonight because he is currently serving the City of Ventura as one of their elected officials.

As many of you know, the blessing of pregnancy is often accompanied by joy and celebration. But for women caught in cycles of poverty, addiction, or abuse, pregnancy can feel like a burden, leading to fear, abandonment, and despair. That’s where Tender Life Maternity Home steps in.

Since 1985, Tender Life has served as a beacon of hope for at- risk pregnant women, empowering them to overcome their challenges and embrace the journey of motherhood. Our mission is to equip these women with the tools they need to become confident and capable parents, who can also thrive as members of society.

We aim to break generational cycles and create brighter futures for both mothers and their children. The impact of this work extends far beyond the walls of our home, touching future generations and our broader communities.
Tender Life operates from a beautiful home in downtown Ventura, where we house up to eight mothers and their babies. Our faith- based approach offers women love and support in a structured, safe space. Our 24-hour on-site house manager and case management team work closely with each woman to ensure she has everything she needs to succeed.

In just the past five years, 49 babies have been born at Tender Life, each entering the world with the hope for a better tomorrow. The transformation these women experience is life-changing, and we are deeply proud of the progress they make.
Now, I am thrilled to share the great news: Tender Life is expanding into Fillmore with a graduate home! This new home will host two mothers and their babies who have successfully completed our program and are now in our graduate phase.
These women are gainfully employed, own their own cars, maintain savings accounts, and are working to become debt-free. Importantly, they are on their way to being completely independent, without the need for government assistance. These graduates will be valuable contributors to the Fillmore community.

We would love to invite you to join us for a Meet & Greet at our new Fillmore graduate home (237 Fillmore St.) on Friday, November 15th, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. This will be a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Tender Life, meet our residents, staff and Board of Directors, and tour the property. Refreshments and light appetizers will be served, and we hope you can join us to see firsthand the difference this new resource will make for the City of Fillmore.

Thank you for your time, your support, and for welcoming Tender Life into the Fillmore community.