Meet Pivotal's 2026-27 Intern Coaches

This year, we’re thrilled to announce that Savonna Stender-Bondesson has been promoted to Vice President of Programs at Pivotal. Savonna began her journey with Pivotal as a social work intern before returning as our STEM Coordinator and Field Instructor for social work interns, working directly with scholars in Saturday STEM classes while overseeing interns. She later supervised both our high school and postsecondary coaches and went on to become Director of Coaching Programs. Now,...

When Flor looks back on her educational journey, she doesn't focus on how long it took or how many obstacles stood in her way. Instead, she focuses on one thing: she never stopped moving forward. 

Flor first connected with Pivotal in 2018 after enrolling at San José City College. At the time, she wasn't entirely sure what a coach could offer. She already had social workers and school counselors in her life, but she soon learned that Pivotal's support extended far beyond...

When Kara became a Pivotal scholar, she was balancing a full-time job, college classes, and raising two children. After putting her own educational goals aside for several years to support her family, she was ready to return to school but knew she would need support to make it possible. Introduced to Pivotal by a friend, Kara applied for a scholarship and quickly found far more than financial assistance; she found people who were truly invested in her success.

"I'm not only getting support...

Some people leave a brief mark on an organization through a single act of kindness or generosity. Others use their resources and dedication over decades to profoundly shape its future. 

For more than 25 years, Lisa Sobrato Sonsini has been one of those people for Pivotal. Through her leadership, generosity, relationships, and unwavering belief in young people from foster care, Lisa has helped open doors and strengthen Pivotal for generations of scholars. 

This enduring impact...

Pivotal is pleased to welcome Ann-Marie Meacham, MPA, CFRE, to our Board of Directors. 

Ann-Marie brings more than 20 years of nonprofit executive leadership and fundraising strategy experience, with deep expertise in board governance, donor stewardship, and sustainable fundraising systems. Across her career, she has raised more than $30 million for causes including education, youth opportunity, and homelessness. 

She currently serves as Executive Director of the...

Traditionally, Pivotal’s programming ends when a scholar graduates from college. We send our graduates out with as much support and preparation as we can to help them on their path to success. But for many of our scholars, graduation from college is just the beginning. They now face new challenges: finding jobs, settling into professions, or navigating post-graduate programs. They still need connection and community as they move into their adult lives. 

Pivotal alum and...

On May 17, we came together for our end-of-year celebration honoring Pivotal graduating scholars and the hard work and achievements of all our scholars this year. Hosted at Topgolf, Fore! Foster Youth brought together Pivotal scholars, alumni, coaches, supporters, sponsors, and community members to celebrate the accomplishments of young people in and from foster care this National Foster Care Month. 

More than...

Individualized, trauma-responsive, youth-focused coaching is the heart of Pivotal’s work. Our coaches walk beside scholars through the uncertainty, challenges, growth, and victories that shape their journeys to success. Most critically, coaching is about helping each scholar define what success means for them and building a path to reach it. 

Pivotal coaches recognize that success doesn’t follow...

This National Foster Care Month, we’re celebrating the Pivotal coaches, community partners, donors, and alumni who are pivotal to the scholars we serve. People like post-secondary scholar Anaztajia. Inspired by the people who supported her through some of the hardest times in her life, she now wants to be that person for other foster youth. 

For a long time, Anaztajia was determined to do everything “right.” Graduate high school....