Iris’ Story: In Her Own Words

Left to right: Pivotal Dream Maker Circle Donors Leonard and Jessica Speiser, Pivotal Scholar Iris, and Pivotal CEO Matt Bell.

On October 9th, 40 guests gathered at the Los Altos home of Jessica and Leonard Speiser to support Pivotal  at a special Dream BIG event. The gathering wasn’t a fundraiser, but a chance to connect, reflect, and spread the word about Pivotal’s mission to help young people from foster care reach their educational and career goals. 

Jessica, who...

Nevaeh was just six years old when she lost her mother and she was placed in foster care, an event that echoed throughout her life. In high school, she often missed classes and saw her grades slip. In her sophomore year, she was placed on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to provide her with additional support. She was also introduced to Pivotal, and her coach Sarah. 

Nevaeh, age 3

“I was kind of nervous. I didn’t really know how it was going to work out and at...

For many of our scholars, stepping onto a college campus brings higher education one step closer to reality.  In April, De Anza College’s NextUp program hosted an immersive, on-campus experience, and six of our high school scholars visited the campus to learn about the opportunities available to them. The NextUp program is a dedicated support initiative for students from foster care. 

Pivotal’s Post-Secondary Coach Sarah Gentle, who serves students at De Anza,...

Last month, we hosted an unforgettable end-of-year celebration at Cataldi Park in San Jose to honor our post-secondary students. The day was filled with summer vibes, delicious food, and even better company as we came together to celebrate our scholars’ hard work and achievements as the school year came to a close. 

It was a perfect summer day for a BBQ, and everyone enjoyed delicious food, laughter, and community camaraderie. Many scholars and graduates brought their families...

On March 26, Pivotal joined fellow members of The Foster Youth Pre-College  Collective (tFYPC) in Sacramento for Advocacy Day. This opportunity enabled youth advocates to connect directly with California state legislators and elevate the voices and needs of foster youth across the state. 

Highlighting the Data: Destination Graduation Report 

Pivotal’s Director of Program Partnerships, Ashley Matysiak, MSW, and CEO Matt Bell introduced policymakers to the mission and...

I was 12 or 13 when I came to the United States from South Africa. There was a lot to get used to but learning about a new culture and environment, and meeting people from different backgrounds helped expand my experience and open my mind. I hadn’t been great in school in South Africa, but when I started school in the U.S., I found the teaching style worked better for me. I understood more and had so many more resources available; it made it easier. 

I was involved with Catholic...

May is National Foster Care Month, and at Pivotal the month was filled with powerful moments of learning, celebration, and connection, thanks to the support of our trusted partners, scholars, and community members. Here’s a look at how we celebrated our scholars and our work throughout the month: 

Building Awareness with Coffee & Conversation 

Throughout May, we also hosted a series of Coffee & Conversation virtual events. These 45-minute sessions gave community...

On April 7th and 8th, Pivotal’s Director of Program Partnerships, Ashley Matysiak, MSW and CEO Matt Bell attended the California Foster Youth Education Summit. This annual two-day conference hosted by the California Foster Youth Education Taskforce brings together individuals and organizations from across the state working to improve the educational and life outcomes for students from foster care.  

Sharing Best Practices for Supporting Foster Youth 

Ashley and...

We’re thrilled that our Chief Development Officer, Chelsey Souza, CFRE, has been named a 2025 Woman of Influence by the Silicon Valley Business Journal! With nearly 25 years of experience in fundraising, enabling philanthropy and building community, Chelsey brings strategic leadership, integrity, and passion to everything she does for Pivotal and the young people we serve.  

Before joining Pivotal in 2023, Chelsey led Essex & Drake Fundraising Counsel as President and...

“Sometimes success feels like staying afloat.” 

That’s how Pivotal scholar Briana describes her life journey. Briana emancipated from foster care at 18, two years before the Extended Foster Care bill passed. Also known as AB12, this California law extended services to foster youth beyond their 18th birthday, but it passed long after Briana could take advantage of it. She was on her own. She had started at Dominican University six months earlier, with the help of a...