Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil Announces Wild Iris Family Counseling & Crisis Center as Inyo County’s 2026 Nonprofit of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 15, 2026

Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil Announces Wild Iris Family Counseling & Crisis Center as Inyo County’s  2026 Nonprofit of the Year 

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil (R-Jackson) is proud to announce the Wild Iris Family  Counseling & Crisis Center as Inyo County’s 2026 Nonprofit of the Year. The Inyo County Board of  Supervisors helped celebrate the honor when Wild Iris Executive Director Dominic Hays was presented with a  Senate resolution at the board’s July 14 meeting. This recognition honors nonprofits that help individuals,  families, and communities navigate grief, hardship, and change while turning those experiences into lasting  positive impact.

“Transforming loss into legacy isn’t just a theme, it’s what organizations like Wild Iris do every day,” said  Senator Alvarado-Gil. “For 45 years, Wild Iris has turned trauma into empowerment for survivors of domestic  violence, sexual assault, and abuse in our frontier communities.”

The Wild Iris Family Counseling & Crisis Center embodies the 2026 theme, “Transforming Loss into  Legacy,” by meeting survivors at their most vulnerable moments with crisis intervention, emergency shelter,  peer counseling, financial assistance, and legal advocacy. These services provide immediate safety while  building long-term healing, independence, and renewed agency.

Bishop Mayor Stephen Muchovej stated, “What distinguishes Wild Iris is the enduring nature of its work. By  offering counseling, advocacy, and long-term support, the organization helps survivors rebuild their lives with  dignity and independence. This goes far beyond short-term intervention; it creates lasting change by breaking  cycles of violence and empowering individuals to reclaim their futures.”

Through community education, outreach, and partnerships with schools and local organizations, Wild Iris also  challenges stigma and builds broader awareness and prevention. In a region where resources are limited and  isolation is high, the Center serves as both a lifeline and a catalyst for lasting change.

Senator Alvarado-Gil represents the 4th Senate District including the Counties of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El  Dorado, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne.

News Staff