Distinguished Alumni
Charles “Bud” Hayes ’69

Bud’s career has touched the lives of countless souls: young and old, rich and poor.   “Would I have ever imagined that I would become a voice of the homeless and mentally ill or a crusader for those in need of affordable housing?” Bud recently asked shaking his head. “No, I rather doubt it. But nonetheless, the journey continues to unfold in marvelous directions.”
 
Thirty-seven years ago, Bud was finishing his senior year. He was a stellar student, Student Body President, avid surfer, and well remembered for bringing start-up musical group to the High School campus such as Crosby, Stills and Nash, and Chicago. But over time, Bud embraced the prevailing counter-culture lifestyle and by the end of his college experience, had developed personal abuse problems with alcohol and drugs.
 
After several years of traveling down this road, Bud grew tired of the lifestyle and turned to a 12-step program for recovery. “I very closely identify with Luke’s gospel story of the Prodigal Son,” he said. “I had been lost but then was found – and without this life-changing experience I would not be capable of doing the job that God has obviously meant for me to do.”
 
Since his recovery, Bud has earned an MBA from Pepperdine and focused his attention on the people and problems associated with alcohol and drug abuse. Through the years, Bud has been a leader and innovator. One of many successes started in 1986 when Bud founded and directed Social Model Recovery System which offered strong prevention and direct treatment programs. This respected, nonprofit corporation achieved growth of almost 10 percent each year at a time when public funding was declining.
 
Currently, Bud is the new Executive Director of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence for the Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys. In addition, Bud has sat on numerous Boards including the Salvation Army in Santa Monica, His Sheltering Arms, a program for women and children, Surfrider Foundation and the Malibu Surfing Association.
 
“What I learned at Chaminade was that each of us has a vital role play in God’s plan,” Bud explained. “For me, the purpose of living through my own hell was to discover what part I was to play and then to become a co-creator with God in making it happen.”


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  • We pride ourselves in living out the charism and values

    of what makes our school distinctly Catholic.

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