Kaiser Regional President to Keynote YWCA’s Renamed ‘Women for Justice Breakfast’ in Pasadena

YWCA Glendale and Pasadena has announced its 24th annual breakfast, renamed the Women for Justice Breakfast, for Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Hilton Pasadena, with a Pasadena-based Kaiser Permanente regional president as honoree and keynote speaker.

The breakfast comes as the organization marks 100 years of service, and the event carries a new name. ‘Women for Justice Breakfast’ replaces the longtime Women for Racial Justice Breakfast, the YWCA said in its announcement. The organization said the change reflects a broader invitation into its work to eliminate racism, empower women and advance peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

Michelle Gaskill-Hames is the YWCA’s 2026 Women for Racial Justice honoree and keynote speaker, the organization said. She is regional president of Kaiser Permanente for Southern California and Hawaii. She leads health plan and hospital operations there, according to Kaiser Permanente.

Gaskill-Hames began her health care career as a neonatal intensive care nurse, according to the health system. She joined Kaiser Permanente in 2016. She holds a master’s degree in health services administration and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Michigan.

“It is shaped by the conditions in which people live, work, learn, raise families and access opportunity,” Gaskill-Hames said of health, in remarks published by the Crescenta Valley Weekly.

George Saikali, president and chief executive officer of the YMCA of Glendale, is to receive the YWCA’s Purple Tie Award at the event, the Crescenta Valley Weekly reported. The award honors men who work to end domestic violence and support survivors, according to the newspaper. Saikali has led the YMCA of Glendale since 2010.

“I really wanted to make a difference and be remembered kindly,” Saikali said, according to the newspaper.

The YWCA describes the breakfast as a gathering of community leaders and supporters. They believe safer families and stronger communities require both racial justice and gender equity, the organization said. The event is open to the community, the Crescenta Valley Weekly reported.

The organization was established in 1926 and is based in Glendale.

Tickets are sold online, and sponsorships are available, according to the YWCA.

NEED TO KNOW

Event: 24th Annual Women for Justice Breakfast. When: Thursday, Oct. 22. Time: 8 to 10 a.m. Cost: Early-bird tickets $100, the Crescenta Valley Weekly reported. Where: Hilton Pasadena, 168 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. For more, call (818) 242-4155 or visit https://ywcagp.org/events-feed/0h905gpz0hqje8vlh3ksni6szhc03x