Our Mission
We help our communities restore the land — one garden, one person, one seed at a time.
Through education, habitat restoration, and inspired action, we protect butterflies, pollinators, and the health of our ecosystems — because when butterflies thrive, we all thrive.
Who We Are
Wings of Change is a Southern California nonprofit dedicated to protecting butterflies, pollinators, and the plants they depend on through education, habitat creation, and community partnership. Butterflies are not just beautiful — they are vital indicators of environmental health, reflecting soil health, habitat quality, and climate resilience.
Pollinator-friendly plants do more than support butterflies. They restore soil health, conserve precious water, reduce fire risk, and help landscapes function the way nature intended.
By planting with purpose, we create living habitat for birds, lizards, frogs, native bees, and other wildlife — strengthening ecosystems, protecting biodiversity, and building resilient spaces that support both people and the planet.
Learn
Education is the foundation of conservation. Understanding butterflies, pollinators,
and native plants helps communities recognize what healthy ecosystems need to thrive.
Grow
Planting native and pollinator-friendly species creates real habitat.
These plants provide food and shelter across seasons and migration routes.
Change
Change happens through consistent, intentional action.
When individuals and communities work together, landscapes heal.
Meet the Founder
Wings of Change was born in 2020 and officially became a nonprofit in 2021, founded by
Stephanie Holbrook, a Southern California native with a lifelong love of butterflies, plants, and community stewardship.
Stephanie inherited her passion for gardening and the natural world from her mother, Pam, and her grandmother Marilu, who taught her to work with the land and observe nature from a young age.
Her love for plants and pollinators was further nurtured during summers spent with her grandmother at the
San Diego County Flower and Plant Association in Encinitas, California. Following her grandmother’s passing in 2001, the association honored Marilu’s legacy by dedicating a scholarship fund in her name, reinforcing the belief that education and stewardship should be passed forward.
Her volunteer and community involvement includes work with Boy Scouts of America Troop 731, North Coast Church, Fallbrook Land Conservancy, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars – Fallbrook.
The seeds of Wings of Change were planted when Stephanie created a butterfly garden while volunteering with her child’s PTA during kindergarten. What began as a small school project grew into hours of research, planting, and learning how to create real habitat for caterpillars — both at school and at home.
Through Wings of Change, Stephanie now partners with organizations including the Fallbrook Food Pantry, Mission Resource Conservation District, Save Our Forest, Fallbrook Beautification Alliance, San Diego Audubon Society, and the
San Diego Pollinator Alliance.
Stephanie’s deep connection to San Diego is also rooted in her Native American heritage, with forefathers associated with Mission San Diego de Alcalá. This lineage informs her commitment to restoring keystone plants — the missing threads of today’s unbalanced landscapes.
As her family grew, Stephanie stepped away from a career in retail management and opened her local business, Go To Crew, allowing her the flexibility to homeschool her children for ten years while remaining deeply involved in community service.
In 1868, John Muir referred to California’s Sierra Nevada as the “Range of Light.” Many of the plants he loved were later labeled as weeds,leaving countless keystone species endangered.
Through education, restoration, and community action, Wings of Change strives to help return us to a place our elders once knew — where butterflies were so abundant they moved through the landscape like living clouds.
Learn. Grow. Change.
Together, we are Wings of Change.
Board of Directors
Together we are Wings of Change — creating a butterfly effect that spreads outward,
one habitat and one community at a time.
Wings of Change is guided by a volunteer board committed to responsible stewardship,
transparency, and mission-driven leadership.
Stephanie Holbrook
Founder & President
Stephanie founded Wings of Change in 2020, inspired by a lifelong love of butterflies,
plants, and community service. She leads the organization’s vision, educational
programming, and habitat restoration efforts throughout Southern California.
Melissa Eckel
Treasurer
Melissa oversees financial management and accountability, ensuring resources
are used responsibly to support long-term sustainability and mission impact.
Pam Couey
Board Chair
Pam provides governance leadership and strategic guidance, helping Wings of Change
remain grounded, ethical, and focused as the organization grows.
