MPYD graduates (File photo – mpyd.org)
Mentoring for Partnership and Youth Development, or MPYD, the mentoring program founded by former Altadena Citizen of the Year Tecumseh Shackelford and others and based at John Muir Early College Magnet for the past twenty years, is having its 2022 Holiday Fundraising Campaign.
By Scott Phelps
The program is known for having a high graduation rate amongst its seniors and also for its many forms of support and services for the students in the program. Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) 2011-2014 superintendent, Jon Gundry, called it the best mentoring program he had ever seen. Gundry started helping its fundraising with $20,000 annually from PUSD. The current superintendent, Dr. Brian McDonald, has been a supporter and recently approved doubling PUSD’s funding to $40,000 this year.
The program requires several hundred thousand dollars annually to fund staff and services to the youth and function effectively. This year MPYD is partnering with the Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation and one of its longtime supporters, Cardinal Paint, for its 2022 Holiday Fundraising Campaign. Donations to MPYD assist with providing educational and team building workshops, job skills training, college campus tours, sponsorships for its annual leadership camp, scholarships and more. The Stanley W. Ekstrom and Cardinal Paint have pledged to match donated funds up to $25,000. MPYD’s goal for this campaign is $50,000. The last day to donate to the Holiday Fundraising Campaign is December 31, 2022.
Please consider giving to this program. It is making a difference in the lives of many students! Scan the QR code to donate, or donate at PayPal.
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