Our Mission
Our Mission
Our Mission
Our Mission
Vida Center is a Nonprofit organization formed to help youth, families and communities build and develop the skills and resources needed to live, succeed and thrive.
Vida Center is a 100% volunteer run nonprofit organization serving teens and young adults. Born out of tragedy but committed to bringing healing, connections and well-being t
Vida Center is a Nonprofit organization formed to help youth, families and communities build and develop the skills and resources needed to live, succeed and thrive.
Vida Center is a 100% volunteer run nonprofit organization serving teens and young adults. Born out of tragedy but committed to bringing healing, connections and well-being to our young people, their families and communities and the world at large.
Our Goals
Our Mission
Our Mission
Improve lives and promote thriving through; healing, building mental resiliency, development of skills and abilities that promote self-sustainability and community connections that foster joy, purpose, learning and contribution and lastly, to promote Conscious Living & Conscious Parenting.
To help us in our efforts, please consider a finan
Improve lives and promote thriving through; healing, building mental resiliency, development of skills and abilities that promote self-sustainability and community connections that foster joy, purpose, learning and contribution and lastly, to promote Conscious Living & Conscious Parenting.
To help us in our efforts, please consider a financial donation by returning to our homepage and clicking on Donate Now.
Thank you for your support.
Our History
Our Mission
Our History
Vida Center was born in 2018 and is dedicated in honor and as a commitment to mental health awareness and to the many young people who suffer in silence and to those who have ended their pain through suicide.
To learn more about how we started, who Andrew was and our promise in honor of him, please visit his Remembrance website at:
https://andrewforeverinourhearts.com/
Andrew's Eulogy
May 18th 2018
Andrew Uriel Hernandez was born on 7/18/2000 in Garden Grove, Ca. He was born with the last name Solis but became a Hernandez in 2006 when he joined our family through adoption along with his older siblings, Brenda and Marco. Andrew "Andy" was the tallest of all of us. In fact he was the tallest Mexican we have ever known, he was 6'5" tall. His goal had been to be at least 6'7", he LOVED being tall. He had an amazing ability to get along with all ages, he would let little kids hang and play with him for hours on end with no sign of impatience whatsoever. He was just as caring and patient with his older siblings Marco and Brenda as his younger brother, Erick. Andrew joined our family when he was 6 years old and dabbled in all sports since that time, including little league, swimming, wrestling, basketball and of course soccer which was a MUST for all of our children. However, it wasn't until he was "recruited" (because of his size) freshmen year in high school that he found his first love, FOOTBALL. Andrew attended Westport Heights elementary in Los Angeles and when we moved to Ojai Valley in 2009, he attended Sunset Elementary. He attended Santa Barbara Junior High and SB High School when we moved back to our hometown of Santa Barbara in 2014. Andrew loved being a Don like his Mom. In the beginning Andrew's Dad could never understand the pride of being a Don and the saying Dons have "Once a Don, always a Don". Andrew did what his Mom never thought would be possible, Andrew made it so that his Dad became proud of wearing SBHS/Dons gear. Despite his significant learning disabilities and academic challenges, Andrew made us very proud in having been accepted to College, he would have been the first in his birth family to attend. Andrew had a resiliency that we cannot even begin to describe. To some, that might seem ironic since he chose to end his Life to end his pain. However, as his adoptive parents we know what Andrew endured and suffered as a child and the strides he had made despite his early trauma. To say that he had a "rough start" from birth to age 6, would be an understatement. Despite his difficult start in Life, Andrew had a beautiful smile, a great sense of humor and a deep, deep sense of compassion for others and truly was an "old soul". His brothers nicknamed him and he was known to his peers as BFG, Big Friendly Giant a few years back and there could not have been a better nickname for Andrew. Andrew was the best son, brother, nephew, cousin, athlete, teammate, student, friend, peer, employee and even stranger, that anyone should be so lucky to have in their lives. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, for being a part of his short Life here with us. Just as he touched many lives, we know that many of you, touched his Life as well and we thank you for that.
