THERE’S NO STOPPING US.
By Sarah Gentle - Pivotal AlumnaHaving gone through a relentless past, resilience has become my default reaction. As a young adult with a visual impairment, I was accustomed to getting little out of the resources that are available to foster youth.
So, when I entered the Pivotal Program, I assumed I was in yet another place where no one would understand or be able to help me. Little did I know that over the course of six years, Pivotal would become my major support system and help me become the young leader that I am today.
Pivotal brought consistency, stability, and accountability to my life. The tenacious staff never let a moment go by if there was a chance I could learn something or pursue a leadership opportunity. It was through these countless moments of Pivotal seeing my worth that I was able to realize my passion for advocacy and creating change.
Given the current state of the world, many young folks are facing difficulties with almost no resources to turn to. There are many foster youth like me who have forged their own resiliency, but we cannot fight alone.
This is why supporting young people cannot stop. Much like how Pivotal saw my worth, the world has to see the worth of foster youth - young people who are depleting their resiliency just to make it through the world today.
As the first in my family to graduate from college, I am proud to be in a position to give back. I hope that everyone reading this annual report will, in their own way, continue fighting for foster youth. With resilience and community, there’s no stopping us.
Sarah Gentle is a Pivotal alumna who graduated from CSU Chico in 2019. She currently works for Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, is a founding member of Pivotal’s Alumni Network, a member of Pivotal’s Youth Advisory Board, and a young leader on the Opportunity Youth Council for the Opportunity Youth Partnership, a youth advocacy organization.
Our vision.
We
envision a
community in which every young person from foster care gets the education, career, and life they want for themselves.
Our mission. We support young people in and from foster care to realize their educational and career goals and ensure their equitable access to opportunity.
DEAR PIVOTAL COMMUNITY,
Resiliency. Creativity. Perseverance. When reflecting on the past year, these are the words that ring true. We can’t imagine a year with more twists and turns, as you will glean from the pages of this annual report. Yet, at a time when we could have pulled our legs into our shell and hit the pause button, we didn’t. Uncertainty sparked creativity and innovation, and Pivotal is a stronger and more efficient organization today because of it. You—our community—stepped up like never before. Thank you. Having such strong supporters standing with Pivotal and foster youth gives us great hope and confidence for our future.
This past year, our staff dug deep, knowing that our kids needed us more than ever. We learned that in order to help others, you’ve got to put your own oxygen mask on first, so we prioritized the wellbeing of our talented and dedicated staff. Meanwhile, we built our muscle as a learning organization as we adapted our systems and programs and developed a new set of best practices as a result. Foster youth don’t just rely on us to deliver our tried and true education and career readiness programs. They need us to lift up their voices and collaborate in new ways. That’s why we’re investing in the foster care ecosystem and creating new partnerships with the potential to reform the system for the better.
With each passing day, we draw inspiration from the strength and resiliency of our foster youth. Even in the face of so many serious and heart wrenching issues - Covid-19, racial injustice, and the overall pain and loss experienced by so many - the young people we serve push on. We continue to bear witness to the remarkable ways that our Pivotal scholars and alumni succeed when faced with adversity.
The year ahead won’t be easy. But with the resiliency and determination of our young people as our guiding light, we will be successful. Thank you for your dedicated support.
With gratitude,
ELISE CUTINI PIVOTAL CEO RICK WILLIAMS PIVOTAL BOARD CHAIRTHEY FACE UNIMAGINABLE BARRIERS.
Today, more than 400,000 American kids are in foster care. Right here in Silicon Valley, the innovation capital of the world, thousands of foster youth are falling through the cracks.
Barriers to success
89% of foster youth want to attend college but only 3% earn a bachelor's degree
75% of foster youth are performing below grade level
44% of Santa Clara County foster youth are chronically absent from high school
4x
Average rate that teens in foster care move during high school
47% of foster youth receive special education services
By age 20
50% drop out of high school
25% are homeless
25% have little or no work experience
20% are incarcerated
Through no fault of their own, foster youth find themselves facing barriers most young people never have to overcome. Constantly moving homes and changing schools, adapting to new places, and grappling with persistent trauma can be nearly impossible to manage. With so much instability, their dreams and future often take a back seat.
HELPING THEM GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B.
Pivotal gives every young person from foster care an opportunity to be successful in life. By serving as a one-stop-shop for academic and employment coaching, college scholarships, tutoring, paid internships, and professional development training, we empower youth to thrive in life when they exit the foster care system. Starting in the 9th grade, we work with students to build personal resilience, life skills, and confidence in school, the workplace, and beyond. Our program is designed to meet our scholars where they are, as they work to graduate from high school and achieve post-secondary success.
COLLEGE
Helping first-generation students navigate the college experience
Coordinating
1:1 academic tutoring from subject experts
BTransferring from community college to 4-year university
Exploring majors and assisting with career path guidance
Building confidence & self-advocacy skills
Selecting colleges & completing financial aid application
HIGH SCHOOL
Exploring career trajectories & colleges compatible with long-term goals A
Improving study skills & time management
Providing support in balancing employment & education
Securing paid summer internships
Developing a personal statement for college applications
Exploring summer enrichment and/or job opportunities
Resume writing & professional skills training
Completing financial aid & scholarship applications
THE PIVOTAL IMPACT.
In the 2019-2020 academic year, your generous contributions to Pivotal helped us make a deep and lasting impact.
Pivotal scholars graduate college at
92%
of high school scholars would recommend Pivotal to other foster youth
90%
of 2020 summer internships completed
the rate of their foster youth peers
552
high school & college youth served colleg e scholarships awarded
148
95%
of our post-secondary scholars completed career exploration and/or declared a college major
84%
of graduating seniors completed their FASFA application by the March deadline to receive full federal & state financial aid packages
90%
program retention rate among youth in college
85%
of Pivotal alumni want to pay it forward by mentoring a younger foster youth
“
To all the Pivotal donors out there, you are changing our lives! Thank you!
– Mac H., Pivotal Alumnus
PUTTING ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER.
“
In my darkest moments, Pivotal has given me a sense of belonging. They are the family that I never had.
When I met Pivotal, I was later on in my life, and in my third attempt to pursue a college degree. Despite the challenges I’d faced as a foster youth, I promised myself one thing: That no matter what, I’d get myself to a 4-year university. It was a tough time for me, though. Over the years, I’d suppressed many memories that were now resurfacing, and I was also trying to figure out my identity as a young person from foster care.
I enrolled at San Jose City College, where I began meeting people who would change my life. One of those people was a coach from Pivotal. From the start, she was receptive to my needs and truly listened to what I wanted to achieve in my life. Especially as an older student, sometimes it felt like I didn’t belong with the other college students. But the more Pivotal staff I met, the more I felt supported and cared for. Pivotal became my family and helped me build the resilience I needed to take the next steps to success.
I was accepted into Columbia University as a transfer student from San Jose City College and was ready to move back east, but Pivotal reminded me that it was important to have a strong and local support system to get through school. So instead, I made the best decision of my life and enrolled at UC Berkeley. I wanted to change the world for people like me, and at UC Berkeley, I did.
I created two new programs at UC Berkeley, NavCal and Nav2Cal. These programs help non-traditional students like me navigate the academic system at UC Berkeley. Before these programs, non-traditional students were not a "main priority" on the university’s radar. I led efforts to recruit more students with backgrounds like mine, who met the admission requirements but would never have applied because they just didn’t feel like they’d belong. Now the NavCal and Nav2Cal programs help non-traditional students gain access to the highest levels of education and make sure they thrive when they get there.
When I think about how resilient I’ve had to be in my life, I’m amazed at what I’ve accomplished. Resilience is about putting one foot in front of the other even when the answers aren’t there. For us foster youth who have already been at the bottom, there’s no way to go but up.
RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF A DISASTER.
The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on low-income communities. The devastating effects have been magnified for current and former foster youth with no family support to lean on during hard times. Since day one of the shelter-in-place mandate, we stepped up our game to become the go-to-resource for young people in foster care.
Thanks to your incredible generosity, Pivotal was there to ensure that our community’s most vulnerable youth got the financial resources and knowledgeable guidance they needed to navigate this crisis. While the pandemic continues to challenge our students, here are a few ways our community brought light into the darkness in 2020.
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUND.
% OF EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE REQUESTS FULFILLED.
$924
Average distribution to Pivotal youth. Rent, groceries, and basic household items were the 3 biggest needs of foster youth.
27
Pivotal coaches worked with foster youth. When youth were filled with anxiety and uncertainty, our coaches were there. When school shut down, classes went virtual, and dorms closed, our coaches were there.
62% of our youth needed a laptop. Everyone received one. The digital divide disproportionately impacted foster youth as schools moved everything online. Through a technology access survey, we learned what our students needed and we delivered.
Tackling Food Insecurity
Our friends at Junior League of San Jose came up with a great idea to help address food insecurity among our scholars, while supporting a local, woman-owned business hard-hit by the pandemic. They chose to partner with Eat Simplified, an Asian American business owned and operated by Thach Le. In the first week alone, Pivotal volunteers delivered to our scholars more than 200 delicious meals prepared by Thach.
The deliveries continued throughout May in celebration of National Foster Care Month.
Pivotal volunteers delivered more than 200 delicious meals prepared by Thac for our scholars.
Taking our Events Online
When the safest thing to do was to stay home and shelter in place, Pivotal served up a new virtual event: The Pivotal Ducky Derby. On May 31st, we launched 272 rubber duckies over a waterfall and into a swimming pool, while Randy Hahn, voice of the San Jose Sharks, served up exhilarating play-by-play commentary to race fans streaming the event from home.
Thanks to our generous donors, we raised more than $25,000. As Randy Hahn shared, “This was more than just a duck race! Win or lose, the Ducky Derby is about helping Silicon Valley’s foster youth get the support they need to get ahead in this world.”
Ashley Matysiak and her son Leo’s duck, Lucky Duck Leo, were big winners at the Pivotal Ducky Derby!SUMMER 2020 SAVED.
Covid-19 upended many summer traditions for our high school and college students. With so much up in the air, Team Pivotal acted quickly and creatively to develop two new and innovative summer programs, and quite literally, save Summer 2020!
The Pivotal Experience
When most employers canceled their summer internship programs, our team knew it would hit foster youth hard. Not only would they lose out on a critical opportunity to gain professional experience, they would also lose the wages they were counting on to make ends meet. To adapt, Pivotal created a four-week paid professional development experience for its college scholars. Participants attended virtual workshops designed to help them build their professional brand, learn the ins and outs of professional communication in a virtual world, and explore career fields of interest. Scholars who attended every workshop and completed all assignments earned a financial “bonus” at the end of the experience.
As a capstone project, 31 scholars arranged and conducted their own informational interviews with professionals whose work aligned with their interests. Randy Phelps, CTO at East Side Union High School District, was interviewed by a student interested in computer engineering. Randy shared, “He was passionate and thoughtful, and demonstrated empathy and insight. He did a great job linking questions and responses. What a fantastic young man.”
Pivotal Coach, Diana Seoud, led professional development workshops for scholars
Lemons to Lemonade Challenge
By late May, it was clear that 2020 was serving up a ‘lemon’ of a summer – so our staff issued a challenge to our high schoolers: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. We challenged them to explore a variety of topics and try new things in areas such as health and wellness, service to others, artistic creativity, and more. Whenever they completed a challenge, they submitted their “proof” to our team. Their clever, creative and thoughtful responses blew us away – like the painting of koi fish submitted by Michelle. Even better, the challenge increased student engagement as it sparked insightful discussions between youth and their Pivotal coaches.
“
I paint Koi fish because they’re pretty, and I like their cultures. Koi are important in Japanese and Chinese culture. I also read somewhere that Koi fish are a symbol of determination and a strong will to succeed. And that’s what I want to do: succeed.Michelle O, Pivotal Scholar & Lemons to Lemonade Program Participant
FROM HOMELESS TO HOUSED.
“
When Covid-19 left me with no housing, Pivotal stepped in to help me.
Like so many of us, Covid-19 turned my life upside down. Just as shelter-in-place began, my housing situation fell through and I had no safe place to sleep. I spent a couple of nights sleeping in my car, but I knew that was only a short-term solution. As a 4.0 student at Gavilan College, hoping to one day pursue a PhD in Molecular Biology, it was important that I have a place to sleep and study so I could stay on top of my schoolwork.
When Pivotal heard about my emergency, they immediately stepped in to help. The staff connected me to a former foster parent who offered me a room of my own with WIFI, rent-free! But, a few days into my stay, I began to feel unwell. I visited a community clinic and, wouldn’t you know it? Somehow, I’d gotten Covid-19.
Not wanting to infect the rest of my housemates, I moved into my car. But it’s hard to get better physically, when you’re living out of a car. Once again, Pivotal helped me. They found me a hotel room where I stayed for a week. When that opportunity ran out, they provided me with assistance to pay for a room in another hotel, until I was back to feeling like myself.
All in all, Pivotal provided me with emergency assistance for five weeks. And while my amazing coach played a major role in helping me during this tough time, other folks at Pivotal helped as well. For example, Jane, Pivotal’s CFOO, looked out for me every step of the way.
I’m grateful that during this awful period, Pivotal gave me the gift of time to look for new housing in a safe place. I’ve been through a lot in my life and Pivotal has always been there for me.
RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE.
Making Space to Heal
In June, we watched in horror the murder of George Floyd, which was the latest in a string of deaths that included the murders of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.
As a response to the ensuing civil unrest, Pivotal created a safe space for scholars to discuss their thoughts and concerns about race relations, talk about ways to cope in difficult times, and think about how to be active change agents. The online event was called Pivotal Perspectives: A Social Justice Dialogue.
We partnered with Delrisha White, Ed.M. to moderate the discussion. Delrisha is a dynamic social impact leader who confronts educational inequity, racial, and socioeconomic injustice through education and storytelling. As a former Pivotal coach, who personally experienced growing up in foster care, she was the perfect facilitator of these conversations.
With Delrisha’s support, our young people shared their concerns and spoke their truth about their fears as young people of color. In addition to moderating the important discussion with our scholars, Delrisha provided training for our coaches to support them with tools, resources, and discussion to help their students. The conversations were just the beginning.
“
When compared to the general population in Santa Clara County, Black and Brown youth are significantly overrepresented in the county’s foster care system.
SCC population by race (2018)*
*Source: www.statisticalatlas.com
SCC Foster youth by race**
**Source:
Pivotal will continue to create space for dialogue and awareness. We will not allow these conversations to stop after the protests stop. We must look at all the systems that touch the lives of our youth and work to remove systemic racism and barriers that make it hard for our young people to achieve their dreams.
– Elise Cutini, Pivotal CEO
MEET DONTAE WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? LISTEN TO US.
“
During the protests, I stood crying in the middle of the street, realizing that we’ve all been George Floyd. I’ve been labeled the angry black man. I’ve been arrested only to have the charges dropped a day later. I know what it’s like to have authorities assume I’m a threat. I know what it’s like when they just don’t listen. By giving foster youth a place to be heard and to challenge leaders to speak out as allies, Pivotal showed it’s listening. Now the real work begins. We need everyone, including all of the white leaders in the non-profit sector, to stand with us, take action, and be part of the solution.
With a mother addicted to cocaine, Dontae Lartigue and his twin sister were born into the child welfare system. They lived with their grandmother until age 8, when she passed away and they were moved into foster care. Dontae recalls, “People don’t understand how traumatic that was for a little black boy. My sister and I were dropped off at a shelter run by white people, separated for the first time in our lives.” He continues, “I thought I was my sister’s protector. I begged them to keep us together. I remember I couldn’t get the adults to listen to me, and I lashed out in anger.” Later the pair moved into a foster home. “We went through the typical honeymoon phase. Then, after one week, my foster parent started getting aggressive.”
Dontae recalls reporting his concerns to his social worker and, sadly, also remembers how other foster kids in the home didn’t back up his story. He thinks they feared retribution from their foster parents. “What could I do? You know, on dark colored skin, you can’t see the bruises.” After a serious altercation, Dontae ran away. When he got picked up, he remembers begging his social worker to get him out of the house. "But once again, the system failed me. To them, I needed to stop being difficult and aggressive. Just be quiet, do what I was told, and die in my own trauma."
Throughout his teens, Dontae bounced around. There was no single turning point or hero in his story. He got in and out of trouble. He found jobs – both legal and illegal. He admits he was angry and felt like a lost cause. Little by little, he turned things around. He relied on a scholarship from Pivotal and other financial aid to attend college. Today he is a SJSU graduate, married with children, and is the co-founder of Razing the Bar, a housing and mentorship non-profit designed to help foster youth. Dontae is also a proud Pivotal alumnus who participated in the Social Justice Dialogue we hosted following the murder of George Floyd.
About Dontae & Razing the Bar
Dontae Lartigue is the CEO & co-founder of Razing the Bar. Razing the Bar believes that relationships are the key to successful youth development. Through mentorship and housing support, they help transition-aged youth (TAY) achieve permanent connections and self-sufficiency. Learn more at razingthebar.org
DEFINING RESILIENCE.
We asked four Pivotal scholars: How has Pivotal helped you build resilience?
“
They encourage me to speak my mind. Pivotal staff talks with their scholars rather than at us. It’s a good reminder that I can and should speak up for myself. That’s really important since I did not always have that opportunity growing up. So, thank you Pivotal!
– Sarai Mateo, Gavilan College“
By helping me to endure controversy despite overwhelming odds. Pivotal helped me stay focused on my goals and continue to prosper. They kept me feeling hopeful even when all resources and outlets seem to be exhausted.
(noun) re•sil•ience
An ability to recover from or adjust easily to adversity or change.
“
Through their generous and phenomenal support. I faced some adversities throughout my educational journey, and thankfully, Pivotal stood firmly beside me. They assisted me with a scholarship each year and summer internships that helped me overcome those obstacles in order to complete both my associate and bachelor's degrees successfully.
– Latif Swallah, CSU Long Beach“
By constantly showing support. In the past I faced many difficulties in my life from foster care to involvement in the juvenile justice system. I never imagined myself graduating high school or let alone college, but Pivotal assisted me with advancing my education, completing community college, and gaining admission to UC Berkeley, one of the top universities in the country.
– Manny Castrejon, San Jose State University – Diana Urias, UC BerkeleySETTING SIGHTS HIGH.
“
I loved working with Pivotal because there was no judgment and I never felt like they labeled me a victim. Pivotal has helped me stay resilient by encouraging me to always keep going and to keep looking forward, no matter where I am.
My mom passed down her love of learning to me. When we were growing up, she pushed us to pursue higher education but the realities of making ends meet in the Bay Area made it tough. My brother dropped out of high school his senior year, my sister graduated but started working immediately after, and my mom was trying to pursue a cosmetology degree while providing for us.
Seeing my whole family struggle made me think, ‘I don’t want to be struggling.’ Education and what you’re learning in the classroom is the base to everything else you want to do. I knew I couldn’t let things distract me and had to stay focused on school. I entered the foster care system as a sophomore in high school when my mom passed away unexpectedly and there was no family who could take me in. Over the next three years, I moved numerous times from school to school and had a total of seven housing placements.
I persevered through high school, and after graduating, I was awarded a Pivotal scholarship to attend Skyline College. With the support and guidance I received from Pivotal, along with other programs such as the Independent Living Program (ILP), I set my sights on attending a four-year university.
This fall, I began my studies at UC Santa Barbara where I hope to major in communications. It’s been a tough road but I’ve built up a ton of resilience. I’m confident in myself and I know I can get good grades and do what I put my mind to.
MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY MINUTE.
12 MONTHS OF PIVOTAL COACHING
Take a journey with us through one young man’s senior year with his Pivotal coach Sue. While it’s impossible to capture every minute, this timeline offers a glimpse into their work together and Sue’s reflections of the pivotal moments along the way.
AUG
Sue checks in a week before school begins, then again on the first day of school.
S: I always call when something big is happening. I want him to know I’m thinking about him and reassure him that he can do it.
SEP
Sue and Francisco have their first in-person meeting of the year.
S: That first meeting is so important to set the tone for the year. In 1.5 hours, I helped him review his transcript, walked him through his school portal, reminded him of his individualized education program (IEP) accommodations – it’s all part of helping him understand his records and building his self-advocacy skills. We also discussed his plans after graduation. Francisco’s dream is to work at Apple so we looked at Apple’s job postings and discussed the degrees needed for those jobs.
NOV
S: I keep inviting him to all of Pivotal’s community building events like movie night and the holiday party. Big group events aren’t really his thing, but I think he appreciates the invitations.
DEC
Francisco, his foster dad, and brother come to Pivotal’s Holiday Party.
S: It's the first time I meet his brother. It’s so nice to get a chance to talk to his foster dad in person about how proud I am of Francisco.
OCT
School is going well and he’s passing all of his classes. Sue and Francisco meet to complete the FAFSA.
S: He doesn’t have anyone else to help him with this stuff. I explain the purpose of financial aid, how it works, and help him understand how critical it is to reapply by the deadline every year.
They also make a plan for Sue to attend his final IEP meeting in March.
S: I stress how important that final IEP meeting is because he can actually receive similar learning accommodations in college.
JAN
Francisco reaches out to ask about a letter he received confirming his Cal Grant selection.
S: It was good news, but those formal documents can be confusing to students; he just needed me to walk him through it.
Sue also coaches Francisco through the process of requesting his Dependency Verification Letter from the Department of Family and Children’s Services. He will need this for nearly everything related to college and financial aid applications.
“
Everything changed in that moment, and Francisco’s world filled with uncertainty. I checked in on him every couple of days to make sure he was ok. We talked about the pandemic, his fears, the family’s need for more groceries. - Sue, Pivotal Coach
FEB
It’s time to make summer plans.
S: We talk about all of his options and land on the Summer Academic Bridge program offered through San Jose City College (SJCC).
MAR
Sue and Francisco talk about his personal statement for the Pivotal college scholarship. She sets up a meeting for him to visit SJCC.
S: I will introduce him to my Pivotal colleague Rose, who coaches foster youth attending San Jose City College. I vouch for Rose as a knowledgeable, trusted source of information about SJCC, which makes Francisco much more comfortable exploring this big step.
Covid-19 hits Santa Clara County. Francisco texts Sue to say they are closing his school.
S: Everything changed in that moment, and Francisco’s world filled with uncertainty. I checked in on him every couple of days to make sure he was ok. We talked about the pandemic, his fears, the family’s need for more groceries. I continued to send information on resources like the drive up grocery program.
MAY
Francisco is so happy because he gets to walk the graduation stage in person.
S: He is the only one of the 10 seniors on my caseload who gets to celebrate this milestone in person. I’m thrilled for him.
JUN
Pivotal mails Francisco a graduation gift and he is touched by the letter Sue wrote to him.
S: He was moved by the gift. It was the first time in four years that I’ve seen that level of emotion from him.
With graduation behind him, it’s time to focus on college. Sue sets up a Zoom call for Francisco to meet Nathan, his new Pivotal coach.
S: I know he’s in good hands with Nathan, and appreciate observing a connection already beginning to form between them.
APR
Francisco is doing his school work but his schedule is completely off. He sleeps in later than usual and plays video games at night. Sue works to keep him focused on his goals.
S: We think through his personal statement for a scholarship application, I guide him on setting up his own Zoom account, and we schedule a video call with Pivotal’s post-secondary coach at SJCC in lieu of doing an in-person campus visit.
After much deliberation, Francisco tells Sue he wants to attend DeAnza College next year.
S: I helped him think through the considerations of school location, transportation options and other factors. We complete the enrollment application and I connect him to Nathan, our Pivotal coach working with youth on that campus.
JUL
With Nathan’s help, Francisco registers for orientation, accesses his new student portal, and selects his classes based on his goal to pursue a career in tech. Onto the next chapter in his educational journey.
WE PARTNER WITH THE BEST OF THE BEST.
It takes many key players working in lockstep to create a system that supports our community’s foster youth. We’re collaborating with local government, educators, social services, employers, and other nonprofits to build a movement that’s rewriting what it means to be from foster care.
“We are thrilled that Pivotal alumna, Diana Pham, is now an official staff member at Norton LifeLock. Diana started with us as an intern in the People & Culture department, supporting the Inclusion & Diversity and Talent Acquisition teams. She was such a strong asset to the company, that following her internship, we offered Diana a full-time role with People & Culture. We are so proud of Diana and grateful for our partnership with Pivotal.
Kara Jordan Chief People & Culture Officer, Norton LifeLockInternship Hosts
Boys and Girls Club of Silicon Valley
Bill Wilson Center
City of Saratoga
Good Stuff Partners
Netskope
Norton LifeLock
PayPal
Silicon Valley Clean Energy
Silicon Valley Leadership Group
WestGate Church
Community Organizations
Bill Wilson Center
California Youth Connection
Catholic Charities
Central Labor Council Partnership
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley
Community Solutions
First Place for Youth
Foster Youth in Action
HomeFirst
John Burton Advocates for Youth
Juma
Kids in Common
Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
Manufacture: San Jose
StarVista
Teen Success
The Silicon Valley Organization
Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Treehouse Foundation
Uplift Family Services
Government Agencies
City of San Jose
Santa Clara County Career Development Unit
Santa Clara County Education Services Unit
Santa Clara County Department of Family & Children’s Services
Santa Clara County Office of Education
San Mateo County Department of Children & Family Services
San Mateo County Office of Education
Educational Institutions
California State University, East Bay
De Anza College
Eastside Union High School District
Evergreen Valley College
Foothill College
Gavilan College
Mission College
Opportunity Youth Academy
Palo Alto Unified School District
San Jose City College
San Jose Conservation Corps & Charter School
San Jose State University
San Jose Unified School District
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara Unified School District
West Valley College
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS MAKE OPPORTUNITIES P OSSIBLE.
From internship to employment – Pivotal is my Bruce Wayne & I’m Batman
Coming from foster care means you have to find a way to survive. Once you learn to survive you develop resilience and a sheer will to succeed. That’s what happened to me. See, I grew up with a single mom. When I was 10 years-old, she was sent to prison and that kick started the whole foster care process. I jumped around from foster home to foster home, making it impossible to fit in with the other kids or make school a priority.
I came to terms with a lot of things in high school. I realized that education was the key to my success, and that I had to do better in school. I met Pivotal and doors started opening. They helped me pursue the Pivotal Scholarship, complete my FAFSA, and apply to 4-year universities. And for the first time in my life, I thought to myself, “Hey, I want this college thing, and I can do it.”
“
From
there, Pivotal became my silent guardian. I knew they would always have by back.
I’m a total movie buff and often think of them as my Bruce Wayne—so I can be Batman. Just like Bruce, I know they’ll always be there for me and they give me purpose.
I chose Sonoma State University and am so happy I did. Its smaller campus was a good place for me to develop my networking skills—an expertise that came in handy when I started working with Tom Fandre, Business Development Manager at Pivotal. With Tom’s guidance I participated in Pivotal’s internship program and completed a summer internship at Comerica Bank as a data support specialist. Tom coached me every step of the way—from preparing my resume, interviewing for the internship, and growing from the internship experience.
My internship was focused on a large data migration project. I learned how to configure data and just how important attention to detail is at a financial institution. I also met Sonya Trac through my internship. Sonya is Comerica’s External Affairs Market Manager and has become a mentor and incredible advocate for me. Little did I know, my internship and the relationships I built would lead to a job at Comerica upon graduation. With a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and concentration in Finance under my belt, I used my networking skills to land a job at Comerica.
MEET OUR DREAM TEAM.
Board of Directors
Rick Williams
Pivotal Board Chair Community Volunteer
Lisa Sobrato-Sonsini Pivotal Board Vice-Chair Board President Sobrato Philanthropies
Emmanuel “Manny” Amador Pivotal Alumnus Specialist - Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office
Dr. Byron D. Clift Breland, Ph.D. Chancellor
San Jose Evergreen Community College District
Steve Flores Business Manager UA Local Union 393
Amy Cappellanti-Wolf Community Volunteer
Lupe Diaz
Pivotal Alumna Enterprise Sales Representative Pure Storage
Dr. David Lopez Board President
National Hispanic University Foundation
Youth leadership at its core.
Dianne McKenna Community Volunteer
Former Santa Clara County Supervisor
Michael Saviage
V.P. of Investor Relations Adobe Systems
Paul Silverglate Vice Chairman US Technology Sector Leader Deloitte
Executive Staff
Elise Cutini Chief Executive Officer
Melissa Johns Executive Vice President
Jane Machin
Chief Financial & Operating Officer
Marie-Christine Busque Vice President of Programming
We pride ourselves in being a youth-led organization and believe that we must base our decisionmaking on feedback from the population we serve. Two alumni serve as voting members of our board of directors, and their voice is instrumental to setting a solid strategic vision for Pivotal. We also collect feedback and ideas from our scholars via our Youth Advisory Board and our newly formed Alumni Network. These important voices ground us and keep the organization focused on what matters most: the young people we serve.
PIVOTAL STAFF MAKE US WHO WE ARE.
They are deeply committed, persistent leaders working to improve outcomes for young people in foster care.
What gets measured gets done.
Pivotal is one of the few local nonprofit organizations with a dedicated data team and the resources to monitor and analyze our long-term impact. This allows us to track progress and make adjustments to our work, ensuring that our students get the best service we can provide them. Our three-person team includes an Intake and Data Specialist, an Evaluation and Systems Analyst, and a Director. We are fortunate to have Sherri Brooks, MSW, leading our Learning and Evaluation Department. Sherri is a powerhouse who started at Pivotal in 2010 spearheading all higher education initiatives.
It’s a big job to ensure that all data collection at Pivotal is accurate, timely, and lends itself to measuring short-term and long-term impact. We couldn’t be prouder to have Sherri leading this effort!
Supporting systems change from the inside out.
It takes a team of committed individuals doing great work to effect change. This year, we were thrilled to add Ashlee Jemmott, MBA to our team as our new Director of Strategic Partnerships. As a former foster youth and Pivotal alumna with experience in building programs and relationships across sectors, Ashlee is the right person to represent our mission and stand front and center when collaborating with government and nonprofit partners.
“Our streamlined approach to data collection and reporting means we can better support the needs of our youth from high school to postsecondary.
Sherri Brooks Director of Learning & Evaluation
“When you're in the foster care system, you know what works and what doesn't. But, as a young person, there's not much you can do about it. Having that insight is invaluable in my role as Director of Strategic Partnerships because it helps me think about how to create meaningful partnerships that keep youth at the center.
Ashlee Jemmott Director of Strategic Partnerships
MEET OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBERS.
The Pivotal Dream Team grew in 2020. We’re excited to introduce our three new board members. With so many worthy causes in Silicon Valley, we asked them: Why Pivotal?
MeetDr.
ByronD.
Clift Breland, Ph.D.As a new Board Member, I am excited about the opportunity to lend my commitment to education, workforce development, and mental health and well-being to the mission of the organization. The Pivotal mission is important to me because I believe in what they do and I’ve seen the difference that they make. Our Pivotal scholars are discovering just how brilliant and talented they are. With love, support, resources and guidance, I see their confidence grow into something that is uniquely unstoppable. I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to support the phenomenal students and dedicated team at Pivotal.
Meet Steve Flores
Everything about Pivotal’s mission hits the mark for me! The way Pivotal aims to affect positive change in foster youths’ lives by helping them navigate the transition from adolescence to adulthood is incredibly important. I was struck by the way Pivotal opens doors for foster youth that they never knew existed or didn’t think they had the ability to pursue. For many, this means going to college and then seeking a career. As the leader of the local union, I’m especially passionate about making a variety of paths available for young people who have experienced foster care.
Meet Paul Silverglate
The way that Pivotal develops young people, while supporting them with life-changing connections and opportunities is incredibly inspiring. As a Partner at Deloitte, I’m passionate about talent development and helping people find their calling or what drives their energy. The resilience and determination I see in the young people we support blows me away. When I was introduced to Pivotal, Lupe, my fellow Board Member and Pivotal alumna, really made an impact on me. Learning her story personified for me how powerful of an organization Pivotal is and what a difference I could make in the community.
INVESTING IN RESILIENCE.
In fiscal year 2020:
54%
54% of our revenue was contributed by private philanthropy
$478,617
We distributed $478,617 in post-secondary scholarships
1,000 hrs
We set up and funded approximately 1,000 hours of 1:1 private academic tutoring valued at $62,238.
We’re proud to report that funding from philanthropic and government sources increased significantly in fiscal year 2020. Given the urgent need for our services, our Board of Directors invested $850,000 of its reserves to support the organization’s infrastructure and ambitious growth strategy.
2019-2020 Financials
GOVERNMENT
FUNDRAISING
PIVOTAL CHAMPIONS.
EPIC FOUNDATION
In 2020, Epic Foundation generously awarded Pivotal $138,000 in support of its programs. We celebrate our partnership with this amazing organization, which was founded in 2014 by serial entrepreneur and philanthropist Alexandre Mars. Epic dedicates its grantmaking to addressing the lives of children and youth from disadvantaged communities around the world. Specifically, Epic targets its attention around four core sectors advancing the lives of children and young people: education, health, economic empowerment, and rights and protection.
Epic’s portfolio comprises diverse and tested approaches to addressing critical issues impacting children’s lives, showcasing highly effective and groundbreaking models to ensure children can survive and thrive across contexts. Each organization is individually monitored throughout the year and provides an annual report on organizational outcomes.
In 2020, Epic supported 26 high-impact nonprofit and social enterprises across 11 countries. These extraordinary organizations reported a direct positive impact on an estimated 19 million children and youth globally, while driving social innovation around the world.
“
To no fault of their own, foster youth are disproportionately likely to experience adversity in a number of indexes, including education and employment outcomes. Pivotal's proven approach to empowering youth is just that - truly pivotal - in changing the trajectories of young people's lives, enabling them to chart a life path dictated not by adversity they've encountered but rather the hope, capacity and promise they hold to be strong, empowered, educated members of their community. Here at Epic, we're proud to stand behind Pivotal and the community they serve.
Kate Riordan Chief Program Officer Epic FoundationOUR DONORS YOU MAKE IT POSSIBLE.
Pivotal donors are game changers. Regardless of the size of the gift, every donation matters and makes a difference for foster youth. The life-changing services Pivotal provides would not be possible without this strong community of supporters, and we are deeply touched by the incredibly generous donations made this year. Thank you to our donors who gave between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.
Individual Supporters
$50,000+
Lisa and Matthew Sonsini Family Fund
Voorhis Foundation
Sanders Dickinson Foundation
$10,000 - $49,999
Ranae DeSantis
Richard and Kathy Hawes
Diane and Andrew Jacques
Dianne and Regis McKenna
Mark and Mary Stevens
Resonance Foundation for Children’s Health
Laura and Gary Lauder Family Venture Philanthropy Fund
Warmenhoven Family Foundation
$1,000 - $9,999
Anonymous (3)
Eric Albert
Naomi Andrews and Dan Levin
Sharon and Brian Annis
Bob Armbruster
Liza and Ray Beshoff
Kelly Blough
Amy Cappellanti-Wolf and Douglas Wolf
Elaine Cardinale
Zoe Cowherd Alameda
Debbie and Christopher Crouse
Sue and Bob Davis
Jane Decker
Pat and Ron Eastman
Jillian Forusz
Nick and Kate Galiotto
Lucille Glassman
Kerstin and Tom Goguen
Tom and Patricia Grant
Daniel Hewlett
Kathy Jacobsen and Chris Hyrne
Patricia James
Mary Ann Jankord
Anita Kapadia
Jay and Nancy Kidd
Zachary Kowitz
Timothy Leets
Julie Leven
Emily and Patrick Lo
Louie Family Charitable Fund McNabb Foundation
Priya Mistry and Carl Haywood
Mark Moser
Tom and Nancy O'Connell
John O'Farrell and Gloria Principe
Jerine Oommen
John and Shelly Paiva
Renée and Baptiste Paquier
Nate and Maia Perez
Maribeth Portz and David Wanek
Ellen Prandi
Lainey and Bruce Richardson
Rosendahl Family Fund
Charles and Catherine Wilmoth Family Fund
Brandenburg Family Foundation
Lynn Sakamoto
Michael and Leslie Saviage
Ruth Sherer
Jennifer and Paul Silverglate
Timi Sobrato
Dianne and Tad Taube
Donna Terman and Will Brown
Emily Ward and Howard Ting
Werner Family Fund
Rick and Barbara Williams
“ We became aware of the work of Pivotal, in
their
support
of
foster youth
in
our community,
through the Junior League of San Jose.
Pivotal’s focus on youth
mentoring, education and development aligns to our giving goals and we are honored to support Pivotal and its clients during this time of acute need.
Maribeth Portz & David Wanek, Emergency Assistance Fund Donors
DONORS
“I support Pivotal because giving opportunities to young people can be a tipping point in their lives. As a long-time donor, I have seen how empowering foster youth with support in education, career development, and leadership training provide lifetime benefits to Pivotal scholars.
Emily Lo, Pivotal Donor & Former Mayor of Saratoga
$500 - $999
Aude Anquetil
Elaine Baskin and Kenneth Krechmer
Marimo Berk
Byron Breland
Patricia and Gene Carter
Sebastien Ceurty
Creighton Family Charitable Fund
Joan and Glenn Cross
Jerry and Elise Cutini
Dana and Elaine Ditmore
Laura and Max Duganne
Lynda Ellingson
Molly Fezell
Melissa Johns
Sherry and Jonathan Lachman
Cindy Lin
James and Dodi Lindsay
Aila Malik
Raakhee Mistry and Hank Dempsey
Jeannee Ow
Kate Paisley
Carlos Pineda
Adrian Power and Aimee Kilmer
Karl and Theresa Robinson
Allen and Cindy Ruby
Karen Scussel and Curt Riffle
Pyeatt Taylor
Tim Walsh
$100 - $499
Anonymous
Tim Agnew
Lauren Albert
Manny Amador
Karlie Arkin
Ronnie Aronowitz
Joanna and Fred Baldwin
Malisa and Ed Barclay
Jaime Barclay-Perez Richey Barnes
Dora Beyer
Jo Bischof
Janelle Blakely
Janice Bologu
M. Christina Borges-Lutz
Rachel Borovina
Michael and Virginia Bowman
Gwen Briens
Tracey Briens
Kevin and Manisha Brodie
Sherri Brooks
Lisa Buckingham
Kristina and Michael Bullock
Charla Bunton-Johnson
Diana Bushnell
Tim Bussey
Candace Caballero
Mark Cameron
Pete Carrillo
Crista Carroll
Gary and Kristi Catalano
Patricia Chappell
Ravi Chohan
Craig and Catherine Ciesla
Samantha Clarke
Karuna Dewan
Brian Dorcy
Surinder Dosanjh Kang
Pamela Dougherty
Lynda and Dean Duffy
Richard and Sandra Eacker
Mike Eacker
Megan Eaton
Marilou Eby
John and Sarah Elliott
Linda and John Ellis
Tom Fandre
Terry Farsani
Katy Fitzgerald
Roger Flowers
Maureen Fong
Catherine Crystal Foster
Brian Fox
Monique Gagnon
Terry and Carolyn Gannon
Kelly Garcia
Linda Garcia
OUR DONORS
Joan Gardenhire
Kevin Gardner
Laurie Garvey
Veerinder Gill
Krishna and Punam Gollamudi
Jai Gordon
Jennifer Guethlein
Sonia Gurusiddaiah
Kathi Hammill
Lisa Hammond
Patty Hanford
Ruth Harris and Phillip Dawson
Joyce Harrouff
Kenny Hawk
Nancy and Dennis Heinen
John and Lisa Hogan
Nicole Hong
Elise Hudson
Julia Hughes
Helen Hui
Michelle Jellen
Ashlee Jemmott
Sara and Ricardo Jenez
Indu Johal
Dave Johnsen
Joan Johnsen
Carol Johnson
Darrin Johnson
Troy Jones
Nancie Kairia
Deborah Kaufman
Fabion Kauker
Nadia Kauker
Heather Kellagher
Lisamarie Ketchum
Janice Key
Shannon Key
Taylor Key
Kirby Kiefer
Shabnam Kohan
Michael Kowitz
Charlene Ku
Ruth Lai
Melissa LaPietra
Fern and Joseph LaRocca
Jan Laskowski
Ginger Leishman
Ben Lindahl
Patricia and John Lindsay
Sophia Lo
Dave Lopez
Catherine Loughman
Debbie Lundquist
Ben Lundquist
Evayn Lundquist
Eric Macauley
Praneetha Manthravadi
Julie Mason
Jeanne Matysiak
Colette Matysiak
Jim Matysiak
Margaret McCulloch
Douglas John and Christine Elizabeth
McCutcheon
Annie Mckiernan
Fiona Meier
Tulin Melton
Rita Mistry
Sunita Mistry
Kavita Mistry
George and Jill Montanari
Sandy and Mark Moore
Brigid Moreton
Jennifer and Mike Mullins
David Muramatsu
Tri Nguyen
Poonam Nijor
Brandon Nolte
Jessica Nowak
Kenji Ozawa and Ashley Matysiak
Marin Ozawa
Saul Palomera
Sabrina Panetta Martire
Richard and Patricia Pantoja
Corissa Paris
John and Liz Park
Bill and Maggie Parkin
Kate and Andrew Payne
Vanessa Payne
Sue and Scott Pearring
Ruben Perfetto
Tanya Prioste
Ludwig and Victoria Pummer
Michael Ramirez
Mariesa Ramos
Ashley Reinke
Luz Reyes
Jessica and Peter Riffel
Wendy Riggs
Emma Robinson
Becka Ross
Tyler Rustin
Jenine Saekow
Carl Salas
Briana Saldivar
Stephanie Savage
Mauricia Savella
Carol Scheetz
Pam Schramm
Rita Schumann
Sally and Lyle Sechrest
Ed and Linda Selden
Sayuri Sharper
Kathie Sheehy
Brian Shew
Andy and Bari Sholomon
Adri Shustock
Peggy Siu
Brian Smith
Georgianna Smith
Renee Solari
Doug Southard
Barbara Springett
William and Dana Starling
Kathleen Sulgit
Carlen Tam
Don Taylor
Jaimi Taylor
Edward Thomas
Vu Tran
Justin Tran
Lynda Tran
Lu Truong
Kim Trupiano
Neil and Adrienne Tuch
Ilanit Unruh
Liza Valdeolivar
Kelly Vedi
OUR DONORS
Julie Vennewitz-Pierce
Ann Vivian
John Vlahos
Dan and Sonja Walker
Dustin Wallace
Yiling Wang
Tom Washburn
Rachel Watkins
Ken Wiener
Grace Wong
Merry Yen
Laurie and Robert Young
Rosalind Young
Stanford Young
Jessica Yu
Marlene Zapata
Larry Zuberbier
Up to $100
Paul Aggarwal
Deborah Anderson
Christopher Bielak
Emily Bruce
Meredith Butler
Yolanda Camacho
Brenda Chastaine
Myra Chen
Kathy Claus
Mary Danna
Jennifer De La Cruz Vargas
Peggy Donatelli
Mary Pat and Stewart Fernald
John Fioretta
Michelle Fisk
Martha Frank
Terri Fredricks
Jerome Gigot
Donna Gilmour
Erin Graffius
Catie Halliday
Michael and Larri Hirschklau
Matt Holton
Jessica Jones
Greg Khanlarov
Cheryl Knepfler
Chelsea Kolander
Bala Lakkaraju
Amy Lambert
Mary Lapka
Alana Laudone
Sam and Martha Lazarakis
Laetitia Le Roux
Linda Leu
Marca Lombardo
Jessica Marquez
Laura Marroquin
Colleen McCamy
Patricia Medeiros
Anne Naragon
Ly Nguyen
Sandy O'Gorman
Lany Or
Diana Psyras
Deepti Racherla
Mark and Trish Rehert
Natalie Reynolds
Kate Riley
Amy and Charles Schulz
Jan Schwartz
Nikki Soich
Janet Stauffer
Shay Stender
Shawna Stepin
Susan Stone
Shannon Susick
K. Esther Szabo
Rachel Tridas
Joshua Tripp
Alexandra Utschig
Monica Velarde
David Verdugo
Elaine Weinberg
Margaret Wilkes
Monica Yoder
Ron Zraick
“
We've seen the tremendous impact Pivotal makes in the lives of foster youth. Young people go from unimaginable circumstances to college graduates pursuing careers never thought possible. Pivotal provides an extensive web of support with tools that help foster youth realize their educational dreams and create the future they envision. And we’re always so impressed when we meet Pivotal alumni; the impact is clear as alumni continue to be active
volunteers and mentors for foster youth currently in the program.
Sue & Bob Davis
Pivotal Donors & Dream Makers Circle Members
OUR DONORS
Foundation and Corporate Supporters
$100,000+
Epic Foundation
May and Stanley Smith
Charitable Trust
Sobrato Family Foundation
The David & Lucile Packard Foundation
Tipping Point Community
$25,000 - $99,999
ACER America Corporation
Adobe Foundation
Capital One Comerica Bank
In-N-Out Burger Foundation
Junior League of San Jose
Leo M. Shortino Family Foundation
PayPal
Pinpoint Foundation
Upwork Foundation
William & Charlene Glikbarg Foundation
$5,000 - $24,999
Bank of America
BOMA Silicon Valley
California Emerging Technology Fund
Excite Credit Union
Netskope
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Thomas & Ellen Hogue Family Foundation, Inc.
Walter S. Johnson Foundation
$1,000 - $4,999
Applied Materials Foundation
Jump Associates
Keysight Technologies
Mission City Community Fund
Norton LifeLock
Second Source Medical
Silicon Valley Next
The Galli Team
TOSA Foundation
Yellow Chair Foundation
Up to $1,000
Active 20-30
Amazon
Gates Pass Advisors, LLC
Halon Tax
Kiwanis Club of San Jose
NetApp
Redis Labs
Solveig Sewing Club
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
“ PayPal is proud to continue our partnership with Pivotal. Pivotal’s success helping foster youth reach and graduate from college, while connecting them to employment opportunities, is commendable. At PayPal, we believe these connections early in life are key to long-term financial health. And everyone deserves that opportunity.
Julie Vennewitz-Pierce Director, PayPal Gives
YOU ARE THE VILLAGE.
It takes a village to help foster youth succeed and our volunteers prove time and time again that they have our scholars’ backs. Last year, our amazing volunteers created more than 250 care packages for our college scholars, hosted informational interviews, and even rode Harleys to support foster youth.
Pivotal volunteers are simply the best!
San Jose-based motorcycle club Saints & Sinners invited Pivotal to be the official beneficiary of their 2019 Season of Giving Kick-Off Pack Ride. They also helped Pivotal staff set up for our youth holiday party.
Leslie Saviage and Jennifer Silverglate college care packages for our post-secondary scholars. Leslie and Jennifer’s husbands, Mike Saviage and Paul Silverglate serve on the Pivotal board of directors.
Our friends at Juniper Networks made sure that our post-secondary scholars started the new school year with items like connection cables, wireless chargers, and noise canceling earbuds, while the company’s summer interns created a “Tips for College Freshmen” video for our youth.
YOU CAN CHANGE LIVES.
Our goal is to give every young person we support an opportunity to be happy and successful. We’re here for them, and we ask you to partner with us to give them what they need: more scholarships, coaches, internships, and passionate people working together to change lives—one young person at a time.
Whether you can give a little or a lot of your time, money or resources, there’s more than one way to be pivotal. Reach out to us at info@pivotalnow.org if you would like to learn more or get involved.
Donate
Are you ready to make an immediate impact?
Each gift to Pivotal directly impacts a young person’s life. We hold ourselves to the highest standard of ethics and transparency and will report back to you with the difference you make.
Give a scholarship
The Pivotal Scholarship Program helps scholars with tuition, books, tutoring, and so much more. We award up to $3,000 per student attending community college, and up to $5,000 for students attending a 4-year university.
Provide an informational interview
Informational interviews are incredibly meaningful to foster youth, many of whom don’t have personal connections to jobs they hope to pursue. In just a 45-minute conversation, you can give valuable advice to a young person with interest in your career field.
Celebrate success
Small milestones matter for young people in foster care. By sponsoring a celebration or back-to-school orientation (virtual or in-person), you help us create events that let foster youth know they’ve got a community of supporters cheering them on.
Refer a company that’s interested in partnering with Pivotal
Make an introduction to a business that could host a summer intern or sponsor one of our communityfacing events. Corporate partners are essential to the success of our career readiness programs.
Let's get social
/ThisIsPivotal
@ThisIsPivotal
@Pivotal.now LinkedIn
/company/pivotalnow/
HELPING
You have the power to help all foster youth today, tomorrow and for years to come. Make a gift to support foster youth through your will or trust today.
pivotalnow.org/get-involved