MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR KTVU GIVING DAY ON OCTOBER 27! |
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Each week KTVU showcases a charitable organization that is helping Bay Area residents make it through tough times due to this pandemic. October 27th is Pivotal’s day in the limelight! KTVU will encourage its viewers to donate to our Emergency Assistance Fund. This special fund provides financial assistance to foster youth who need a little extra help covering basic needs like rent, groceries, and utilities during the Covid-19 pandemic. To make the most of this awesome opportunity, our friends at Junior League of San Jose will match any donation we get throughout the day up to $5,000!
To catch the segments featuring Pivotal, tune in to Channel 2 at 9:00 am or 4:00 pm on October 27th. Two incredible spokeswomen are lined up to represent us. At 9:00 am, our board member and Pivotal alumna, Lupe Diaz, will describe how Pivotal supported her towards a rewarding career in tech. At 4:00 pm, our Director of Coaching Programs, Savonna Stender-Bondesson, MSW, will share about how our day-to-day work on the ground is helping scholars get through these challenging times.
This all-day funding drive is a great way to spread the word about Pivotal’s life-changing programs for foster youth. Tell your friends and family to get in on the action!
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We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with the Junior League of San Jose. Their generous dollar-for-dollar match will double the impact on this exciting day of giving. Junior League President, Victoria Kroll, says, “The Junior League of San Jose is dedicated to developing the potential of women, improving the community, and promoting voluntarism in Santa Clara County. We have been focused on improving the career and education outcomes of transitional-age foster youth since 2016. We have over 500 members and are accepting new members across Silicon Valley right now. If you are a woman who is interested in making a positive impact, look us up at jlsj.org!”
If you would like to help Pivotal meet our $5,000 challenge match goal, please mark your calendar to make a donation at pivotalnow.org on October 27th!
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BUILDING NEW MUSCLES THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING |
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The coronavirus crisis has forced school districts, colleges and universities to shift to teaching and learning online. But distance learning poses a myriad of challenges and many students still lack reliable access to the internet and the devices they need to succeed in online learning. At Pivotal, we knew that this transition would hit our foster youth especially hard. So, we ensured that our coaching team remained plugged in to the needs of their students. We asked one of our superstar Post-Secondary coaches, Diana, to share how her scholars have adapted to their new virtual learning environment. |
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DO NOT DISTURB - CLASS IN SESSION! |
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This fall, Pivotal partnered with Juniper Networks to create and distribute distance learning kits to 35 post-secondary scholars. The kits were stuffed with some must-have items for students to stay organized and remain focused as they adjust to learning from home. Finding a quiet, distraction-free place to study is nearly impossible for our scholars. So, when they opened up their gifts they were thrilled to find ear buds, a charging dock, academic planners, USB external storage drives, sleep masks, and a tailor-made “Do Not Disturb – Class in Session” Pivotal door hanger. As one scholar shared, “This is perfect for everything I’m going through!” |
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The Pivotal team leveraged this opportunity as a teachable moment by sending along our “Top 10 Tips” for distance learning. From keeping a routine, to taking breaks, to sleeping well and staying hydrated – we reinforced messages our students need to repeatedly hear during these challenging times. In addition to all of the goodies, our friends at Juniper Networks took the volunteer project up a notch by writing a personalized note to each scholar, filled with words of encouragement and positivity.
If you or your company would like to sponsor distance learning kits for more Pivotal scholars, please contact our Corporate Relations Officer Marilyn Rogers. Marilyn is happy to help you craft the perfect opportunity to engage your employees, even in the virtual world! Sponsorships start at just $2,500.
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After reviewing more than 50 nominations submitted by current and former foster youth, our selection committee chose Emilio Perdomo as the winner of the 2020 Pivotal Master of Change Award. This award was designed by foster youth to honor the people in their lives who have made a lasting impact.
Pivotal scholar Ximena Bastidas nominated Emilio because of the support he gave her when she first entered foster care. His simple acts of kindness stuck with Ximena, who wanted to let Emilio know how even the little things can make a lasting impact.
Ximena shared in her nomination, “Emilio was a county driver; he drove me from Redwood City to Pacifica three times a week. It was the first few weeks of getting adjusted to being a foster kid, and for some reason I felt safe with Emilio. Since we had a lot of time together on the drive, he would encourage me and give me hope. We talked about books and music, and as simple as it was, I looked forward to having Emilio pick me up. His job was simply to drive me, but he went above and beyond to make me laugh and attentively listen to me talk about books I had read. It made all the difference to know I could have a few minutes of normalcy during that drive and not worry about court or my housing. Eventually, I stopped needing to be driven, and Emilio and I lost touch. I am nominating him because I still want him to know what a difference he made in my life.”
Congratulations and thank you, Emilio, for making a Pivotal difference for foster youth!
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We''re all in this together! Let''s stay connected. |
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