Pasadena Sorority’s Six Decades of Scholarships Reach Five More Local Students

The money starts at a brunch table and ends in a college classroom. For 66 years, that has been the path carved by the Pasadena/Altadena chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, which will honor five more local scholarship recipients at its annual fundraiser on May 9.

The chapter’s Eta Lambda Omega and its philanthropic arm, the Pasadena/Altadena Ivy Foundation, have together awarded more than $620,000 in scholarships since the chapter was chartered in Pasadena on March 6, 1960, according to foundation records. This year’s brunch, titled “ROOTED: Where Legacy Takes Root,” will raise funds for additional scholarships benefiting college-bound students in Pasadena and Altadena.

The event will also recognize former California Assemblymember Chris Holden as this year’s Community Icon. Holden, a Pasadena High School graduate who represented the 41st Assembly District from 2012 until he termed out in December 2024, previously served on the Pasadena City Council and was appointed mayor in 1997. His district encompassed much of the Pasadena and Altadena area.

Dr. Ray Cunningham, a media personality and UNCF Los Angeles development associate, will serve as the event’s host. Cunningham, a two-time Virginia State University graduate, has worked across television and community advocacy, according to his professional profile.

The brunch takes place as parts of the Altadena community continue to rebuild more than a year after the Eaton Fire, which began on January 7, 2025, and destroyed more than 9,000 structures in the area. The chapter’s press release noted that this year’s event “carries added significance, highlighting the importance of investing in the next generation.”

In 2024, the chapter and foundation awarded approximately $25,250 in scholarships to 12 graduating high school seniors, according to the foundation’s website. Categories included S.T.E.A.M., social justice, most improved GPA, and overcoming obstacles. The foundation has awarded scholarships annually since 2013.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C. It is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-educated women. The Eta Lambda Omega chapter was chartered with 32 members and has served the Pasadena and Altadena communities since.

The brunch will be held Saturday, May 9, 2026, from noon to 3 p.m. at Almansor Court, 700 S. Almansor St., Alhambra. Tickets and sponsorship information are available at thepaif.networkforgood.com.