FUND PROFILE

John Matthiessen Endowment

The John Matthiessen Endowment honors the legacy of a lifelong Pasadena resident who devoted his later years to community service, especially through the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena. A Yale graduate and outdoor enthusiast, John brought hands-on dedication to improving club facilities and uplifting youth. Thanks to a bequest from Marvel B. Kirby, his commitment to children and community will continue through this named endowment.

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OVERVIEW

About the Fund

John Matthiessen moved to Pasadena from New York at age three when his father planned to start a brokerage firm, plans soon halted by the Great Depression. He attended Polytechnic School, the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut, and later Yale University, with brief service in the Naval Air Corps and Marine Corps.

Back in Pasadena, he worked various sales jobs while escaping to Oceanside to surf—a passion sparked when his parents bought a St. Malo Beach house in the 1940s. A lifelong sports and outdoors enthusiast, he swam at Hotchkiss and played soccer and rugby at Yale.

John met his wife, Dorothy Hughes, at Pasadena social events, and they married there in 1957, raising four sons born at Huntington Hospital. Son Henry recalls, “Our parents ran a tight household and expected us to fully participate in chores. We grew up appreciating what it takes to run a home.”

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Ready to Give Back

For two decades later in his life, John owned and operated Play Well, a company that crafted high-quality play structures for children. When John sold Play Well in the early 2000s, he found himself needing something to occupy his time. A friend invited him to visit the Boys & Girls Club Pasadena (BGCP), and John was hooked. “With my company, I worked for more than 20 years with affluent families. I was ready to give back to families who didn’t have those resources,” he remembered during an interview with PCF in 2021. He joined the Board of Directors and soon found himself the Board Chair. His tall stature helped earn him the nickname “Big John” at the organization.

“I was a hands-on board member,” John noted. “I knew the staff and tried to look after the spaces they worked in. I felt that how their work environment looked and functioned was important to how they did their job. I also felt the appearance of the campuses reflected how we valued the kids. I saw that they looked a little run-down and needed some help. I helped raise substantial funding for campus beautification and then became the de-facto gardener. I planted vegetable gardens for the kids and landscaped the property. I wanted the kids and their families to see something really nice when they arrived and donors, too.”

As Board Chair for several years, John was instrumental in creating several of BGCP’s events, including the organization’s signature and very popular Black Tie and Burger event. He also raised funds to acquire a pitching machine for batting practice and vans to transport the kids.Legend Status at the Boys & Girls Club Pasadena
“Big John is a legend here at the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena!” enthused Lisa Cavalier, BGCP’s Chief Executive Officer, in 2021. ” After years of involvement, he was “always happy to give input about the Clubhouses and grounds, ready to make a phone call to a donor, or give historical context to any number of situations that arise. We are so grateful to Big John and for the heart he continues to bring in service to the Club’s kids.”

John passed away in March of 2024 following more than 90 years of residency in Pasadena. His endowment will ensure that organizations like Boys & Girls Club will continue to flourish for years to come.

Grantmaking Impact

Through this fund, PCF has been able to
Provide sustained funding
Offer consistent financial support for our local grantmaking programs throughout Greater Pasadena.
Enhance community programs
Empower organizations to expand their services and reach more individuals in need.
Support flexibility
Allows PCF to direct resources when and where they are needed most, respond quickly to emerging needs, and fill funding gaps that restricted gifts can’t cover.

Contact Us

For more information about PCF giving opportunities, please contact
Pasadena Community Foundation
301 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 810
Pasadena, CA., 91101
626.796.2097
pcfstaff@pasadenacf.org

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