More than 100 people gathered at the University Club for the Pasadena Community Foundation’s annual Legacy Luncheon. Bonsai trees on loan from The Huntington lined the tables, their careful shapes a quiet reminder that the most beautiful things take time to grow.
Collage, from top left:PCF Board members David Lin and Gloria Pitzer, and supporter Peter Boyle. Traditional Japanese musicians from LA 33 Strings. PCF supporters Pam Cosse, Eddie Newman, Charmayne Ealy, and Diane Scott.
Board Chair Dr. Sonia Singla set the tone early. She spoke about what it means to be the kind of person who thinks beyond the moment. The most meaningful investments, she said, are the ones made for the next generation. In a room full of people who have spent years tending to this community, that message found fertile ground.
PCF President and CEO Khanh Russo drew a direct line between the people in that room and PCF’s ability to show up in a crisis. Within 24 hours of the Eaton Fire, PCF had opened a fund and begun moving resources. To date, more than $83 million has been raised, supporting cash assistance, temporary housing, food, and childcare for affected families. That speed was only possible because our roots were already deep.
PCF Board Chair Dr. Sonia Singla, PCF VP of Philanthropy Scott Vandrick, and PCF President and CEO Khanh Duy Russo.
The keynote came from Daniel Deephouse, Assistant Curator of The Huntington’s bonsai collection. He spoke about what it takes to tend something living across decades: patience, precision, and a willingness to think in longer stretches of time than most of us are used to. What a lovely reminder that investment in community is not a one-time act. It is ongoing and requires tending.
Scott Vandrick, PCF’s new VP of Philanthropy, closed the program with warmth and gratitude. He described his role simply: a charitable guide for people who love where they live and want their generosity to go as far as it can. Then he got specific. Grants out the door within days of the Eaton Fire. More than 100 local nonprofits funded every year. Scholarships changing what’s possible for students across our region. Scott closed with an invitation: “The bonsai seeds tucked beside each program are a gift to take home. You’ve invested in and nurtured the Pasadena Community Foundation,” he said. “Now take that same care home and grow something beautiful.”
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 svandrick@pasadenacf.org or (626) 796-2097, ext. 120. That conversation is where roots take hold.
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 […]
