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Pivotal Voices: From Podcaster to Aspiring Policy Maker

Sarah Gentle
Pivotal alumna Sarah Gentle at her graduation from Chico State University.

by Sarah Gentle

Not even a week after moving back to San Jose from Chico post-graduation, I received a text from my lifelong mentor Savonna, casually asking me if I would like to participate in Silicon Valley Community Foundation's podcast series to talk about Pivotal. As a former foster youth, Pivotal participant, and aspiring policy maker, I immediately agreed and I’m so glad that I did.

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EliseQA_Banner

Leap Into a New Year with Pivotal CEO, Elise Cutini

By Janelle Blakely & Christine Salinas

We’re excited to share some of our plans for 2020 with our supporters, and who better to present them than our CEO, Elise Cutini! Read on to learn how she’s leading the 2020 charge to provide deeper services to our community’s foster youth (and a few words about her weekend passion).

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Be Pivotal Jazmine

On Giving Tuesday, Be On Their Side

by Christine Salinas, Grants Manager

Does December 3, 2019 ring any bells? Maybe it’s your mom’s birthday?  Or the date of your wedding anniversary?

It’s certainly a date that makes the folks at Pivotal pop right up. After all, December 3, 2019, is GIVING TUESDAY, the second-largest giving day of the year (the largest is December 31)!  

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John Ngonzo, a Pivotal internship program participant, poses with his Summer 2019 Netskope internship supervisors.

Pivotal's Internship Showcase Event is Just Around the Corner!

by Christine Salinas, Grants Manager

Pivotal’s ANNUAL INTERNSHIP SHOWCASE is just two days away!

Wondering what a Pivotal college summer internship looks like? Well then. How about you join us at our 2019 Internship Showcase, held at Adobe Headquarters this Thursday, October 24, 2019, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.  There's still time to RSVP!

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James Wilson

California Senate Bill 150 Is Right for Foster Youth

by Christine Salinas, Grants Manager

We’re thrilled that State Bill 150 is finally on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. If signed into law, the bill – authored by 15th District Representative Jim Beall - is expected to increase college retention and graduation rates among current and former foster youth by eliminating barriers to receiving financial aid. 

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paypal
Pivotal CEO Elise Cutini discussing the power of Pivotal at PayPal's grant announcement

It Takes Public and Private Partnerships to Strengthen Communities

We asked several people: What would you do if the CEO of Paypal, one of the world’s most valuable brands, awarded you a check for $125,000?

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Andrea Valverde
Andrea Valverde receiving the Masters of Change Award from Pivotal CEO Elise Cutini

Social Workers Are Our Unsung Heroes

by Christine Salinas, Grants Manager

It’s no secret that social workers are the unsung heroes of the foster care system. From making tough decisions that will change the course of a young person’s life to advocating for that child’s best interests, these stellar men and women often don’t receive the recognition they deserve.

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Storm and Matthew Internship

Stormin' through Summer

by Storm McNerney

During the last semester of my undergraduate studies at San Jose State University, it seemed as if I was the only person without an internship. I knew the importance of finding one. After all, many of my peers had already interned at places such as LinkedIn, Google, and Apple. But those internships always felt out of my reach.

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Young Teenagers

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

by Christine Salinas, Grants Manager

On any given day, there are roughly 430,000 children in the American foster care system. Here are the top 5 things to know about children who enter foster care.

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Masters of Change Amador

Foster Youth Recognize the Change-Makers in Their Lives

By Christine Salinas, Grants Manager 

Emmanuel “Manny” Amador is a Pivotal Board Member and former foster youth who spearheads the selection process for our highly anticipated 2019 Masters of Change Awards. We caught up with Manny, who shared his thoughts about this awesome award. 

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Foster Care Awareness ribbons

Volunteers “Jump" to Help Silicon Valley Foster Youth

Ask any nonprofit and they’ll tell you that volunteers are pivotal to carrying out their mission. Stretched thin by budgets and staff members who wear multiple hats, there isn’t a nonprofit out there who can make it without volunteer support. When Jump Associates located us with the help of Universal Giving, we knew we hit a home run.

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Mentorship foster youth

Superhero Coaches, You Say? Yeah, We've Got a Few of Those

by Christine Salinas

This month is National Mentoring Month. Here at Pivotal, we'd like to give our coaches a big ol’ SHOUT OUT! Their caring approach and expertise in all things foster care and young people is what makes Pivotal, well, pivotal.

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