On a gorgeous April aftrenoon, more than 100 people gathered at the University Club of Pasadena for the Pasadena Community Foundation’s annual Legacy Luncheon. On the tables: bonsai trees on loan from The Huntington. In the room: the people who have quietly, persistently chosen to invest in this city’s future.
Board Chair Dr. Sonia Singla set the tone early. She described what it means to live somewhere for 25 years, to watch it weather difficulty, and to choose, again and again, to put your resources behind it. Legacy giving, she said, is about believing that what we build today should still be standing for the people who come after us. PCF President and CEO Khanh Russo brought that idea into sharp focus. When the Eaton Fire tore through local neighborhoods, PCF had a fund open within 24 hours. More than $83 million raised. Cash assistance, temporary housing, food, childcare. That kind of response, Russo made clear, doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because the trust and relationships were already there. And Scott Vandrick, PCF’s VP of Philanthropy, described his work simply: he’s a philanthropic guide, helping donors figure out how to make their generosity go as far as it possibly can. He walked through what that looks like in practice. More than 100 local nonprofits funded every year. Scholarships changing what’s possible for students across in our community. And one more thing to look forward to: PCF turns 75 in 2028.
The afternoon’s keynote came from Daniel Deephouse, who helps curate The Huntington’s bonsai collection. He talked about what it takes to tend something over decades. Patience. Precision. A willingness to think in longer stretches of time than most of us are used to. It was a quiet metaphor that evoked how we feel about our legacy giving.
If you’re already a member of PCF’s Legacy Society, thank you for the trust you’ve placed in this community. And if you’ve ever wondered what your own legacy here might look like, we’d love to help you find out. Reach out to Scott Vandrick, our VP of Philanthropy. He’d be glad to talk. This community is better because of what we do together on behalf of it.
The full photo gallery from photographer Molly O’Keeffe is available here. Please take a look.
We believe strong communities thrive when philanthropy tackles real needs. To create lasting impact in Greater Pasadena, we focus on six key areas that that drive opportunity, build resilience, and improve well-being.
Looking at PCF’s impact through a professional lens, Don Hall (pictured), Owner and Chief Investment Officer of Hall Capital Management, believes the donor advised fund (DAF) options at PCF offer his clients a way to maximize charitable impact, while minimizing income taxes. If a donor has abnormally high taxable income or capital gain in a […]
Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) hosted its annual Legacy Luncheon on Wednesday, April 26 to honor the donors who fuel PCF’s mission, as well as local professional advisors who have played a vital role in PCF’s growth and sustainability over the decades. It was a full house, with more than 100 guests in attendance. In 2022, […]
Vanessa Terzian, an estate planning attorney with Pasadena-based Lagerlof Lawyers, LLP, facilitates charitable components of estate plans and helps individuals establish long-term support for causes most important to them. As a guest contributor this week, Vanessa shares why she believes working with a community foundation like PCF helps donors define and preserve their core values […]
Looking at PCF’s impact through a professional lens, Don Hall (pictured), Owner and Chief Investment Officer of Hall Capital Management, believes the donor advised fund (DAF) options at PCF offer his clients a way to maximize charitable impact, while minimizing income taxes. If a donor has abnormally high taxable income or capital gain in a […]
Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) hosted its annual Legacy Luncheon on Wednesday, April 26 to honor the donors who fuel PCF’s mission, as well as local professional advisors who have played a vital role in PCF’s growth and sustainability over the decades. It was a full house, with more than 100 guests in attendance. In 2022, […]
Vanessa Terzian, an estate planning attorney with Pasadena-based Lagerlof Lawyers, LLP, facilitates charitable components of estate plans and helps individuals establish long-term support for causes most important to them. As a guest contributor this week, Vanessa shares why she believes working with a community foundation like PCF helps donors define and preserve their core values […]
