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< Back to all programs Rise at Anawakalmekak Weekly Commitment To Participate: https://go.caltechy.org/event/814 About Join the Rise Program’s newest off-site location at Anawakalmekak in El Serreno and help urban Indigenous youth achieve their academic dreams. Volunteers work one-on-one with high school students, help students get ready for the ACT, and learn from community-based approaches to science and education. Email caltechy@caltech.edu to learn more. Previous Program Next Program

< Back to all programs Chino Hills State Park Day Hike Free (but plan to chip in ~$10 to your driver) Saturday | March 7 To Participate: Sorry, this trip is full. About Join us for a day hike at Chino Hills State park, hopefully right in time for wildflower blooms blanketing the rolling hills! We will hike the South Ridge Trail to Telegraph Canyon Road loop , which is a mellow 5 mile loop with 750 ft. of elevation gain. We will meet at the Caltech Y at 8am and return to campus by 2pm. Please bring sturdy footwear, sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen), plenty of water (~2 L), and snacks for 2-3 hours of hiking. Signups are limited to 15 participants, and we will have a waitlist. You will be informed if you are confirmed for the hike a few days in advance. Caltech Y will not provide transportation, but we will facilitate a carpool spreadsheet. Please be prepared to chip in ~$10 to your driver to cover gas costs. If you have any questions, please reach out to Madi Tongco ( mtongco@caltech.edu ) or Rithvik Ramesh ( rramesh@caltech.edu ). We look forward to seeing you there! Previous Program Next Program

perspective “With all the academic rigor and intensity at Caltech, the Y has been a rare, refreshing gem centered around enhancing student life. The Caltech Y has been an essential and inspiring reminder for me to take a step back and realize that we have a role to play in our communities and that we all have the capacity to touch lives and be global with our outreach and impact.” - Rupa Kurinchi-Vendhan, BS ’24, Student ExComm President what your gift supports leadership "The Caltech Y was my first volunteer board service, and little did I guess at the time that I was destined to be a social sector leader and sit on nonprofit boards! Like many college students, I knew I wanted to be engaged in society, and the Y offered multiple avenues for exploring that interest. . . that's why I love the Caltech Y - Jim Fruchterman, BS ’80, MacArthur Fellowship Recipient service "The Rise Program is why I'm going to college. It gave me confidence in how I learn. I can learn slower. In classes you get it or you fail." - Alondra Flores, 2017 Rise Program Graduate adventure "By the end of my freshman year, the Caltech Y recruited me to join the Backpacking Trip before an alumni event. I was from Iowa. I’d never been backpacking in my life. Thanks to the Y leaders – I was hooked! By the end of the summer, I was leading the Y-Hike, and heading up the new Caltech Y Outdoors Committee the next year. That passion led me to rock climbing – nearly 10 years later, I’m still climbing with friends I made through the Caltech Y." - Katie Homann, BS ‘04, ER Physician perspective “With all the academic rigor and intensity at Caltech, the Y has been a rare, refreshing gem centered around enhancing student life. The Caltech Y has been an essential and inspiring reminder for me to take a step back and realize that we have a role to play in our communities and that we all have the capacity to touch lives and be global with our outreach and impact.” - Rupa Kurinchi-Vendhan, BS ’24, Student ExComm President Civic engagement "We’ve hosted various events, like community service trips both locally and around the world, as well as talks and discussions with local leaders. Through all these events, we hope to serve our student community by introducing complexity, richness, and purpose to the short few years we spend here in Pasadena. It’s these experiences that make the difficulty of academics at Caltech turn into a human one." - Albert Kyi, BS ’23, Former Student ExComm President ways you can donate Online Donate online. Easy, secure, and it only takes a couple of minutes! DONATE NOW By Mail We accept your donations via snail mail, too! Download, complete, and print the remittance form and send it to our mailing address. The Caltech Y MC: C1-128 Pasadena, CA 91125 REMITTANCE FORM Planned Giving Planned giving is as easy as (1) making a charitable gift, and (2) saving on taxes. We’d like to make it even easier with this introduction to some of the best ways to give and save. Check out all of your options below. MAKE A PLANNED GIFT Other Giving Other easy giving options are made simple with Every.org, click below to give using Venmo, Zelle, Paypal, or directly transfer stock gifts. GIVING OPTIONS Anchor 1 New Giving options We are so excited to announce our new process to gift non-cash options to the Caltech Y! Planned giving is as easy as (1) making a charitable gift, and (2) saving on taxes. We’d like to make it even easier with this introduction to some of the best ways to give and save. To make these gifts we will be using Every.org, click the button below to get started. DONATE NOW For further assistance with your gift please contact Athena Castro, the Caltech Y Executive Director (athena@caltech.edu | 626-395-6163) or your financial advisor Here are some of the options to give: Q ualified Charitable Distributions (QCD): The Caltech Y encourages those eligible to make Qualified Charitable Distributions from eligible personal IRAs once Minimum Required Distributions begin. QCDs must be made directly by the trustee of the IRA to the charity and comply with all United States IRS rules. Charitable IRA Rollover: The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act renews a temporary provision that allows donors age 70½ or older to make a direct, tax-free rollover of up to $100,000 from a traditional or Roth IRA to a qualified charitable organization such as Caltech Y; please check current IRS guidelines. Gifts of Stock: If a donor owns stock, it is more often tax-wise to contribute stock rather than cash. Gifts of Life Insurance: A gift of life insurance can provide a significant charitable deduction. Gifts of Real Estate: Gifts of real estate can also be tax-wise. Life Income Gifts: If donors own stock that is yielding low dividends (2-3%), a life-income gift may be appropriate. Charitable Lead Trusts: Charitable lead trusts are the reverse of the life-income gifts described above. The income from the trust is first paid to the Caltech Y as the charity’s interest leads the way (thus the name of the trust). Bequests: The Caltech Y can be named as a beneficiary in donors’ wills in any number of simple ways. An outright gift, either a designated dollar amount or percentage of an estate, can be specified. Marketable Securities: Marketable securities can offer capital gains benefits and maximize the impact of a gift by giving the full fair market value. Cryptocurrency: Gifts of cryptocurrency can help lower capital gains taxes and receiving a fair market value deduction, making it a highly efficient way to give. Other giving options united way matching Consider making the Caltech Y your affiliate choice during a United Way pledge drive at your workplace. If you are a Caltech employee, you may make a contribution to the annual campaign during late October and early November. The best part is that your donation will be matched 100% by the Institute. Your donation can be as simple as a monthly deduction from your paycheck. Please visit the Caltech Human Resources Dept. or contact the Caltech Y Development Office at 626-395-6163 for more information on how you can get started. Your contributions go a long way in supporting our mission! company matching The idea of company matching is incredibly simple. For example, if you give $100 to the Caltech Y as your annual contribution and your employer matches it, the end result is $200 to the Caltech Y. You have basically doubled your gift with very little work on your part. If you are interested, ask the Human Resources department at your workplace how you might add the Caltech Y to the current list of non-profit affiliates for matched giving. Call the Y Development Office for our tax ID number and help to get this program underway at your workplace. Ralphs rewards If you have a Ralphs Rewards card, you can support us while you shop at Ralphs! Once you register and signed in at www.ralphs.com , click on “Ralphs Community Contribution Program” at the bottom of the page and select “Caltech Y” or use our Organization Number “TG312” to designate us as your preferred charitable organization. Then swipe your registered Ralphs Rewards card or use the phone number linked to your card when shopping at Ralphs to contribute to the Caltech Y! Friend levels Supporter Friend Partner Patron Benefactor Wes Hershey Visionary $25 - $199 $200 - $499 $500 - $999 $1,000 - $2,499 $2,500 -$4,999 $5,000 - $9,999 $10,000 and up CONTACT US

< Back to all programs Union Station Homeless Dinner Service Monthly | 5 - 9 pm | 412 Raymond Ave. To Participate: https://go.caltechy.org/events About Join us as we prepare and serve dinner to residents of Pasadena's Union Station Adult Center. Food and materials are provided. The Adult Center provides shelter, meals, and supportive services to more than 150 homeless men and women each year. Space is limited. Previous Program Next Program

< Back Jennifer Kowal Jennifer Kowal is a Vice President and Banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. She works closely with wealthy individuals and families across Pasadena and the Greater Los Angeles area who seek an experienced advisor to guide them through the sophisticated financial decisions that help make the most of their opportunities at hand. Jenny’s substantial background in tax law and executive compensation is highly differentiating, and is the lens through which she carefully evaluates each client’s scenario across the many elements of wealth. She gets to know each family and their most meaningful goals, leveraging the intellectual strength and vast capabilities of J.P. Morgan to craft strategies in a team based and creative manner toward these important objectives. As a tax law professor for the past 20 years, Jenny has a talent for explaining complex topics in easily understood terms. She blends her strong technical skills with a persistent and deeply caring style to foster one-on-one relationships with clients and colleagues. Throughout a 25-year career, Jenny spent two decades as the Director of the Graduate Tax Program at LMU Loyola Law School. Previously, she was a lecturer and the Deputy Director of the International Tax Program at Harvard Law School. Jenny also practiced law with the firms of Irell & Manella in Los Angeles and Ropes & Gray in Boston, advising clients on the taxation of various business transactions, including cross-border, partnership and corporate structures. She joined J.P. Morgan for the opportunity to be part of a vibrant, collaborative culture that operates among the top of its profession. Jenny holds a B.S. with distinction from the University of Kansas and a J.D. from UCLA School of Law, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif. A longtime resident of South Pasadena, Jenny is proud to have raised her three children amid the welcoming environment of the area. She is a Girl Scout Leader who also likes to run, spend time with her friends and family, and read contemporary literary fiction. Committee Affiliation: Advancement Committee, Finance Committee Previous Next

< Back Arabella Camunez* Arabella ('27) studies Chemical Engineering on the Sustainability track. She has a particular interest in nuclear energy and climate policy. On campus, Arabella is a member of Venerable House, part of the Caltech Christian Fellowship, a BoC Rep, and an enthusiastic participant in Glee club and theater productions. She is VP External member of the Y and has participated in and helped organize Make-a-Difference Day, the India Cultural Trip, and the Geneva Global Policy Trip. Committee Affiliation: Student ExComm, Communications & Marketing Committee Previous Next

Treasurer < Back Michael Noll Treasurer Mike was the Caltech Y’s outside financial accountant for over 20 years. After having sold his CPA practice and investment advisory firm, Mike is now a Licensed Private Professional Fiduciary. Mike has served in various capacities with the Rotary Club of Altadena, including Treasurer, Assistant Governor, and Club President. He is also the past-President and Treasurer of Convalescent Aid Society and High Point Academy. Committee Affiliation: Executive Committee, Finance Committee Previous Next

< Back to all programs Rise Program Starting September 29th To Participate: https://www.caltechy.org/rise-tutor About Monday-Thursday | 4:30-6PM | 1 day per week commitment Caltech's campus, Online, or John Muir High School The Caltech Y is looking for new tutors for the Rise Program. We welcome over 150 tutors each year. This is a fantastic opportunity to give back to the community and help local students succeed in math and science. Both in-person and remote tutoring options are available. Tutors with work-study funding are eligible for compensation, while others participate as volunteers. About the Rise Program: The Rise Program provides afterschool math and science tutoring for public school students in grades 8-12. Now in its eighteenth year, the program supports students who are struggling in STEM subjects (earning a C or below) and aims to boost their skills while preparing them for college-level work. Tutoring takes place on the Caltech campus, online, and at John Muir High School, Monday-Thursday from 4:30-6:00pm. Tutors typically work with 1-2 students and, when possible, stay with the same students throughout the year. Commitment: Tutors should be available for at least 2 terms per year, 1-2 days per week. Sessions are 1.5 hours long and the schedule is flexible based on your availability. Interested? For more details or to apply, visit https://www.caltechy.org/rise-tutor or email us at rise@caltech.edu Previous Program Next Program

< Back to all programs Pasadena LEARNs - Monthly Science Demos $0 Monthly To Participate: caltechy@caltech.edu About Previous Program Next Program

< Back to all programs YWCA TechGYRLS Twice a month | Tuesdays | 4-5PM | Caltech campus To Participate: https://go.caltechy.org/event/832 About YWCA Glendale and Pasadena’s TechGYRLS® program seeks to empower young girls in the areas of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and to encourage them to pursue careers within these fields. TechGYRLS® is a place to dream, explore new ideas, learn new skills, and be creative through STEAM activities. We’re seeking volunteers to guide girls through projects and learning on the Caltech campus. Volunteers can attend every session or drop in when available. Email caltechy@caltech.edu to get started! Previous Program Next Program

< Back Athena Castro Executive Director Athena began working at Caltech in 1994, where she has filled a number of roles. She began her current position as Executive Director of the Caltech Y in 2000. She earned a BA in English Literature at Scripps College, an MS in Education and PhD in Higher Education from Azusa Pacific University.

< Back Greg Fletcher Program Director Prior to coming to the Caltech Y, Greg worked in Residence Life at UCLA and Cal Poly Pomona, and in Student Life on board the SS Universe Explorer for Semester At Sea. Greg is a native of Niagara Falls, Canada, and holds a Masters of Education with an emphasis in Student Affairs from Azusa Pacific University.