Caltech Y Friends Dinner Raises Over $2,500 for Fire Recovery Efforts

The Caltech Y recently hosted its annual Friends Dinner earlier this month, bringing together alumni, faculty, students, and supporters to raise funds for local fire recovery initiatives. The event successfully generated over $2,500 for the Caltech Y Fire Fund, which directly supports student-led fire recovery efforts in communities affected by the Eaton Fire.

“From the student-led fire relief projects already happening, to science experts applying their research to ensure the safety of those living in our community, to all of our community partners in the Eaton Fire collaborative, I have hope we will rebuild — and that the Caltech Y will have a part in that recovery,” shared Maya Rosental Saporito, Senior Project Manager at the Caltech Y and Altadena Native.

The evening featured a compelling keynote address from Caltech Professor Jaime Bock, who provided an insider’s perspective on the recent SPHEREx launch. Professor Bock discussed the collaborative effort involving graduate students and experienced space experts from JPL, Caltech, and SPACEx. He also presented the mission’s captivating first images, which represent the beginning of what will be the most comprehensive spectral survey of the universe to date.

The fundraising success was made possible through support from event partners TIAA, Enterprise, the Athenaeum, and Orion AV. Their contributions ensured more resources could be directed toward fire-relief efforts in the local community.

Luke Zhou, Caltech Y student Executive Committee President, emphasized how these events are part of the broader Y experience that allows students “to grow enormously in a variety of areas, particularly with respect to the pillars of the Y: perspective, leadership, adventure, civic engagement, and service. Together, these pillars not only make up the acronym PLACES (perspective, leadership, adventure, civic engagement, and service), but they also play a critical role in shaping the PLACES that we will go.”

Attendees were invited to further engage by donating to the Caltech Y Fire Fund, volunteering with community partners, or connecting with the Eaton Fire collaborative. Student-led recovery initiatives have already begun with Make-a-Difference Day volunteer collaborations with Friends InDeed, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and Boys & Girls Club Pasadena.

Established in 1916, the Caltech Y is an independent nonprofit affiliated with the California Institute of Technology that empowers students to become responsible global citizens. The Friends of the Caltech Y serve as the organization’s primary support group. For more information about Caltech Y, visit www.caltechy.org or follow @Caltech-Y on LinkedIn.