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Updated Aug 28th, 2008
Local Students to Participate
in Philanthropic Program
Special Article From the Pasadena Outlook
 Beginning this fall, students
from some of the area’s top
schools — including Chandler,
Polytechnic, Flintridge Prep,
Westridge and New Horizon — will
participate in a unique philanthropy
initiative.
The Pasadena Independent
Schools Foundation (PISF) is the
brainchild of local resident
Jonathan D. Jaffrey, president of
Springbanc Philanthropy Advisors,
a Los Angeles-based firm that
helps wealthy individuals and their
families establish charitable foundations.
The goal of PISF, according to
Jaffrey, is to give middle to high
school-aged children hands-on
charitable experience in a foundation
setting.
Nestle USA, the PISF’s lead
sponsor, as well as local businesses
including Acosta & Co., Hing Wa
Lee Jewelers, Richard McWhorter,
Smith Brothers Restaurants,
Stanislawski & Harrison
Accounting, Hahn & Hahn,
Springbanc Philanthropy Advisors
and the Pasadena Outlook have
contributed $50,000 in grant
money to the program.
Participating students will then
make donations to eight local charitable
organizations throughout the
school year.
“This endeavor is unique in several
ways,” said Jaffrey. “Most
important, students will essentially
form and run a charitable foundation.
Under the guidance of advisors, the
students will make important, substantive
decisions about who they select as
grantees. In order to make these decisions,
they will need to think critically
and experience first-hand how charitable
operations are run.”
The goals of the Pasadena
Independent Schools Foundation
Program are to:
* Provide hands-on philanthropic
experiences for students
* Present opportunities for students
to become critical thinkers and strategic
decision-makers in real world situations
* Inform students about the work
and the importance of local charities
and philanthropy
* Give students the skills to make
educated decisions about giving
Participating students in grades 7-10
will meet twice a month throughout
the school year. One meeting will be
a site visit to a local charity to learn
about day-to-day operations and
goals. The other will focus on a philanthropic
“learning topic.” Among the
subjects to be discussed are: the
importance of volunteering and civil
service, new trends in philanthropy,
investments and an introduction to
endowments, and grant awards.
“Having an understanding of philanthropy
and the logistics of making
charitable operations successful is
viewed by many — in both the academic
and corporate communities —
as a critical skill,” Jaffrey said. In
2007, approximately $306 billion was
given by individuals and foundations
in the U.S. to philanthropic causes.
Nestle USA was one of the local
organizations to recognize the importance
of this effort.
“Nestle is very committed to being
a good corporate citizen, and one of
the many ways we help communities
is by supporting education,” said Rob
Case, president of Nestle’s Beverage
Division. “Nestle is a very family-oriented
company and we understand
the importance that quality education
provides to a strong and healthy community
of families. When the opportunity
presented itself to be the lead
sponsor for the Pasadena
Independent School Foundation, it
was a natural fit. This program will
help kids grow by challenging them to
challenge themselves to understand
the world around them, and how they
can help through their direct leadership.
This will be a learning experience
that will benefit kids for their
entire lifetime, and I’m proud that
Nestle will be able to play a part in
that development.”
This year’s pilot program includes
five schools. However, Jaffrey envisions
the program growing to include
many more local schools and, possibly,
becoming a model that can be
emulated nationwide.
“In my experience both as a parent
and a professional in the field, I
believe passionately that the benefits
of participating in philanthropy at a
young age are immeasurable, not
just in this case to the students, but
to our entire community,” Jaffrey
said. “Indeed, these children are our
future. We can’t wait to get started.”
Peter Bachmann, Flintridge
Preparatory School’s headmaster for
the past two decades, is serving as a
faculty advisor to the program.
“The PISF program is the most
innovative community service idea
I’ve seen in years,” Bachmann said.
“In addition to being community servants,
our students will become
community leaders, responsible for
supporting, evaluating and overseeing
entire organizations that serve
the public good. It’s a novel form of
experiential education.”
During the school year, the
Outlook will follow the students during
their philanthropic endeavors.
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