Pasadena Community Foundation

These faces represent the changemakers of greater Pasadena - the nonprofit leaders who address critical needs in our community. We love this group shot captured at our Local Heroes Celebration in November, which showcased the important work of these folks and the $2.5 million in PCF grantmaking made to support their efforts. A good year, indeed. 🌟 If you would like to support PCF's local grantmaking, you can make a gift in any amount here: https://lnkd.in/gjs-DZP8 Every gift stays local, and every gift matters. Thank you!

Donors partner with Pasadena Community Foundation for myriad reasons. This year, the Johnson Family reached out to PCF to create an endowment for their generous scholarship program for students at Pasadena's John Muir High School. We had the honor of sharing the family's fascinating multi-generational history in our fall newsletter. Check out the full story here: https://lnkd.in/gQzJ5mH6

Pasadena Community Foundation has a hyperlocal focus - granting primarily to Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre nonprofits. This week, we showcase an Altadena organization that is critical to maintaining safety in our local mountains. Altadena Mountain Rescue Team is consistently one of the busiest search-and-rescue teams in LA County. With a $25,000 PCF Capital Grant, AMRT is much closer to purchasing a badly needed new Ford Ranger. Follow the link to read more about this fascinating nonprofit and its superhero volunteers. https://lnkd.in/gzEEgTZR

Many residents throughout the greater Pasadena area experience significant food insecurity. While there is a perception that Pasadena is not a high-need area, local food distribution centers report that they are facing increasing challenges in meeting the volume of clients they serve on a weekly basis. That's why - during this week of gratitude - Pasadena Community Foundation is honored to announce $125,000 in Food Security Grants to five local organizations addressing this very pressing need: Friends In Deed, Foothill Unity Center Inc., PACTL, NDLON, and First AME Church. You can read more about our grants and these organizations here: https://lnkd.in/gg6cv--p

Our Local Heroes event last week could not take place without our generous event sponsors, all of which have supported this event for many years. Special thanks to presenting sponsor East West Bank, and the following luncheon sponsors: Kathryn Barger, 5th District Supervisor, LA County; Clifford Swan Investment Counselors; Floe Financial Partners; Harrington Group CPA's, LLP; Temo Arjani Eleven Twenty-Seven Foundation; Mijares Mexican Restaurant; and the architects at Practice.

It's difficult to convey the joy and connection in the room at PCF's Local Heroes Celebration. The 25th annual event on November 14 brought together 200 local #nonprofit leaders, civic and education leaders, and PCF donors. We see hugs, deep conversations, networking - and then the program begins! This year, we celebrate an incredible $2.5 MILLION in #grantmaking to Pasadena-area nonprofits -- funding that strengthens their missions and builds their capacity. We have a few photos here, and you can head to our web post to see lots more! https://lnkd.in/g--nX7eB

PCF was on hand at the grand opening of Starbucks on Hill Avenue yesterday to support our grantee partner Coffee With A Cause - a social enterprise in east Pasadena that assists transition age foster youth ("TAY") with job training. PCF's funding has sponsored 13 TAY interns in the last year, and Starbucks is hiring many of them! Coffee with a Cause Executive Director Dan Davidson shared some words at the event - take a look!

Pasadena Community Foundation is proud to welcome two new members to the PCF Board - Ivy Lee Keltner, M.D., and Tony Gronroos. Visit our website to read more about these two community leaders. https://lnkd.in/gtq5z8wb

It’s #NationalEstatePlanningAwarenessWeek, which offers a great reminder about why community foundations like Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) can be an exceptional partner for those who have charitable intent. Check out six ways PCF can make your #estateplanning flexible and meaningful. https://lnkd.in/gDwJgy97

It's a great week at PCF as we disburse $603,000 in Capital Grant funding to 25 local organizations. These awards include two $50,000 grants that recognize transformative projects in our community: Altadena Library Foundation for the Bob Lucas Memorial Library expansion (pictured) and Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley. Read all about the grantees here: https://lnkd.in/gEnTY_Kq