Think Together Partners Bring Students Holiday Spirit

It’s a very merry time at Think Together. From volunteering at book doctor events to assembling holiday kits and celebrating literacy wins, our partners’ generous support has made this holiday season one to remember. 

Dodgers Foundation Hits a Home Run for Reading 

To celebrate the love of reading, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation teamed up with Think Together to host two LA Reads events at Morris Elementary Environmental Literacy Academy and Ruth Grimes Elementary School in San Bernardino County.  

Nearly 400 students across the two schools eagerly listened to Dodgers great Dennis Powell read Ann Higginbottom’s book, Bigger Than Me. Each student received Dodgers swag and left home with a copy of the book.  

Ross Stores Patches Up Books at Book Doctor Event 

Ross Stores held a book doctor event where 15 volunteers collected, cleaned, and sorted books to be distributed throughout Think Together program sites for students to enjoy this holiday season.  

Since 2023, Ross Stores Foundation has generously supported Think Together’s STEM programs serving more than 1,000 students at ten elementary and middle schools in Perris and Moreno Valley with a focus on coding, robotics and environmental science.  

Ross Stores is committed to supporting nonprofit organizations that help under-resourced youth with academic achievement, financial literacy and career readiness. 

Nossaman LLP Joins in the Holiday Cheer  

Joining in on the holiday fun, a dozen volunteers from Nossaman LLP conducted a book doctor event at their Los Angeles office. Roughly 250 books were collected, sorted, and patched up for distribution at Think Together sites throughout Los Angeles County.

Thanks to long-time Think Together board member Mary Lynn Coffee, an attorney with Nossaman LLP, who helped make this event happen! 

State Farm Spreads the Holiday Cheer  

State Farm is helping spread the holiday spirit early to Think Together students! Volunteers constructed 500 kits, each containing crayons, pencils, erasers, and coloring books inside. The kits will be distributed to elementary schools in San Jose. 

Assistance League of Tustin Builds Kits for The Holidays  

The Assistance League of Tustin chapter felt the holiday spirit and hosted a holiday kit build event at their Tustin headquarters. Volunteers assembled over 600 holiday themed kits that will go to Think Together students throughout Orange County.  

Think Together is proud to partner with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, State Farm, Ross Stores, the Assistance League of Tustin and Nossaman LLP to bring exciting events and spread holiday cheer to the students we serve every day. Follow Think Together on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter for more stories.  

As Think Together prepares to close the chapter on Shalimar at the end of 2024, we celebrate not an ending, but the fulfillment of a mission. We want to thank the generous organizations and partners that have supported our Shalimar community since it opened its doors 30 years ago.

Organizations such as the National Charity League (NCL), You Run This Town OC (YRTTOC), MVE+Partners and AO Architects brought holiday magic one last time this year to our Shalimar families with many events.

Read more about the holiday celebrations hosted for our Shalimar community this year below.

National Charity League Holiday Donation Drive and Thrift Party

For over 10 years, Think Together’s Shalimar Learning Center has partnered with the National Charity League Newport Chapter to host a Thanksgiving donation drive as well as a holiday party at their Ticktocker Thrift Shop.

For the Thanksgiving drive, Shalimar families received Thanksgiving staples, including side dishes, pies, a $40 gift card for a turkey, and a warm blanket for the chilly season!

Students from the teen center also organized a book drive, where families could select and take home books.

“I’m a Shalimar student leader, so I get to help plan and prepare the holiday events, which is very fun because I can see other families in the community participate. Shalimar has been like a second home to me. It has brought me more friends, mentors, and academic guidance,” shared high school student Sayuri.

At the NCL’s annual holiday thrifting party a couple of weeks later, students enjoyed a shopping spree where they picked out an item to gift to a family member or friend. They played games and had some sweet fun decorating their own sugar cookies. The NCL volunteers also gave students other trinkets to take home.

You Run This Town OC Christmas Tree Giveaway and Tamales with Santa

You Run This Town OC (YRTTOC) has once again brought the holiday cheer to the Shalimar community with their Christmas tree donation event.

This year, YRTTOC donated 30 Christmas trees to the families of Shalimar. Throughout the partnership, they have supported Shalimar teens with college and career readiness through life skills workshops on resume building and financial literacy.

Santa Claus was also there to take photos with Shalimar families while Shalimar’s Parent Advisory Committee handed out delicious tamales and hot chocolate for all to enjoy. A week later, YRTTOC also delivered some presents to Shalimar students!

“Every year we have been glad to be a part of this organization that doesn’t only fulfill us, it fulfills the community, and we do what we can to help,” said Founder and Board Chairman of YRTTOC Fred Noya. “The partnership and collaboration between Shalimar and You Run This Town Orange County has been phenomenal.”

Gifts, Games, and Community Spirit with Partners

Shalimar students ended the joyful season and the last day of program with a holiday party where they played games, signed their yearbook and received gifts from MVE+Partners, AO Architects, volunteer Ahmed Parekh, and Friend of Shalimar Committee member Khary Espy.

Think Together Shalimar alumnus Paolo Leon, who is a partner at AO Architects and a Think Together board member has spearheaded a majority of the gift donation drive throughout the years.

“Think Together has had a tremendous impact on me. It’s altered the course of my life for the better and I know my family and my children will be better off because of my involvement with Think Together,” Paolo said. “I am personally invested in making sure that the same opportunities are available to more kids like me.”

Shalimar’s light now shines across California in every school where a child’s dreams are nurtured in every community and is a reminder that big change starts small—with community, collaboration, and a shared vision for a brighter future.

Think Together is Ranked No.1 Nonprofit in Orange County by Orange County Business Journal 

For the second year in a row, Think Together has been ranked No. 1 in revenue in the Orange County Business Journal list of nonprofits. Although size doesn’t equate to impact, this recognition positions Think Together to serve more students and invest in innovations that can deepen our impact. 

Think Together is honored to be included in this list! 

Think Together and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Take a Swing to Boost Literacy 

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation held its final LA Reads event of the 2024 season in partnership with Think Together on Thursday, Dec. 5, at Ruth Grimes Elementary School in Colton Unified School District. 

Nearly 200 students at the school had the privilege of listening to former Dodgers pitcher Dennis Powell read a copy of Anne Higginbottom’s book, Bigger Than Me. Each student received Dodgers swag and an individual copy of the book.  

Thank you to The Sun, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, The Press-Enterprise, and Redlands Daily Facts for their coverage of this event! 

Leadership Promotions Put Think Together in the Spotlight 

Big congratulations to Holly Perry and Kecia Bailey Alexander who have both been recognized by HR Today for their recent promotions! Holly was celebrated for her recent promotion to Vice President of Talent Acquisition and Organizational Development, while Kecia was celebrated for stepping into her new role as Vice President of Human Resources. 

Both leaders have played an instrumental role in the growth of Think Together, guiding their teams to success and embodying what it means to be an odds-changer. 

We are delighted to see their success receive the recognition it deserves! 

Scooby Doo chants are just one part of Jacqueline Gonzalez’s strategy to keep program fun as a Site Program Manager at Geddes Elementary in the San Gabriel Valley region. She hosts an annual walk to end homelessness, strives to leave people feeling happier after every conversation and has helped hundreds of students excel at Think Together over the course of 17 years. Read below to learn the chant and hear about Jacqueline’s desired superpower.
You have been with Think Together for almost two decades, what continues to inspire your work?

The success of my students and their overall well-being is what inspires my work. I want to push my students to be the best they can be by offering educational opportunities, creativity, and collaboration. I think the work my team and I offer is so valuable because it not only provides high-quality programs and safe spaces for students, but assures parents their kids are in the best hands. One of my personal joys is seeing how excited the students are to be in program every day!  Changing and continuing to change the odds for kids is the greatest mission because every student deserves to have an opportunity, and I am lucky enough to see their happy faces each day.

What was the funniest work moment you have experienced that still makes you laugh today?

It was during an interview. My interviewee asked if I remember her, and she mentioned her daughter had been one of my students when I was a Program Leader. After I recognized her, she mentioned that she uses my attention getter, “When I say Scooby Dooby Do, you say where are you? When I say holy moly, you say holy moly guacamole!” She now works for Think Together and it makes me laugh to know that she still uses the same silly attention getter that I used with her daughter.

What has been your favorite/most proud project to have been a part of while at Think Together?

It would be our annual walk to end homelessness. Every year I look forward to this event because it’s a great cause but also my middle school students have the chance to see the world from a different perspective. Students and their families are so grateful we can come together as a community to be a part of such an amazing event and grow beyond the classroom.

What is one superpower you wish you could have that would benefit you at work? Why?

I wish I had the superpower to have endless creativity. I think this would benefit me at work because it would allow me to unblock old patterns or thinking habits. Creativity can connect reflection with action. I believe that creativity opens the mind, and it nurtures ideas to enrich young minds. It stimulates and motivates me in my career each day.

What is the best piece of advice you have received that you like to share with others? 

I have received such good advice over the years, but I have a few that I hold close. First you always want to love what you do. This is essential in my line of work because my love is directly shown through the success of program and student success. Also, spread love everywhere you go and to never let someone walk away without leaving them happier than before they came up to you.  I also strive to never be afraid to do the right thing and I hope to pass this along to my students as well.

If you weren’t an SPM or in the education field, what career would you be pursuing?

I always love helping others, so I always wanted to be a social worker. Being able to get the necessary resources for families in need and being an advocator for them is something I always had the passion to do.

Your career has allowed you to support students from early learning to young adults. What does this mean to you, and do you have any student stories that have stuck with you? 

One story that stands out to me is about a student I had years ago who struggled to get to our program every day. I ended up creating a plan with him to make sure he showed up and used all our resources. After persistence from both ends, he fell in love with our program and even became a part of my leadership team. Years went by and one day him and his mother came back to visit me wearing a Think Together shirt! I asked if he was now working with the organization and he replied “Yes, I can’t thank you enough for always pushing me to be better each day and be the best I can be.” His mother hugged me and thanked me for never giving up on him. Rarely do you get to see the results of your work in such a real way, but I am so glad I can cherish this moment forever.

Outside of work, what do you do for fun?  

On my free time, I love spending time with my family, shopping, and cooking Mexican food.

Think Together is proud to partner with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to expand access to early literacy and numeracy programs throughout its San Bernardino and Riverside County school sites.

For the 2024-2025 school year, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians invested $100,000 to help build foundational literacy skills for thousands of students in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Think Together staff receive training in the Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words (SIPPS) curriculum and serve students in transitional kindergarten (TK) through 2nd grade.

Their contribution provides technology in each classroom which allows staff to receive ongoing professional development, deliver lesson plans and assess students’ understanding of literacy and numeracy concepts.

“We are proud to partner with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to ensure that our staff are equipped with the tools and training necessary to create innovative, student-centered learning environments,” shared Sr. Director of Corporate Foundation Relations Lawrence Gustafson. “Their generous investment directly supports staff to empower our students to achieve proficiency in reading and math.”

Think Together’s early literacy programs serve TK-2nd grade students at 83 elementary schools, serving 40 students per school. Each site will receive two iPads, along with an additional 12 hours of SIPPS specific training. The goal is for each student to be proficient in ELA and math standards by third grade, which studies have shown that early access to literacy and numeracy can support this.

To accomplish such an ambitious goal, Think Together students and staff at Challenger School of Sports and Fitness in Victor Elementary School District were grouped into cohorts of three or four peers with priority attention from their program leaders.

“I have found it beneficial to teach my students to use SIPPS every day at program, with three to four students only, which allows them to listen, stay focused and implement it on their own without me there,” shared Program Leader Tatum Fernandez. “Because of the resources from San Manuel Band of Mission Indians we were able to utilize the SIPPS flash cards, practice vowels, and sight words to help them improve their reading since the beginning of the school year.”

An added benefit to students receiving such hands-on learning is that students are engaged while they learn to improve their reading and writing skills. Second-grade student Kaitlyn enjoys learning to spell with SIPPS. “Spelling is fun because it helps you learn to write and finish your sentences,” Kaitlyn shared.

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians supports programs that create pathways to a better future through education. This includes afterschool programs as well as S.T.E.A.M. education, college and career readiness, community-based music, and arts access as well as scholarship assistance.

Thank you to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for helping Think Together to change the odds for kids and provide much-needed literacy and number development for their futures. Follow Think Together on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X for more stories.   

Marcela De Haro, a Thinker for more than five years, has worn many hats at Think Together – from being a Program Leader to Site Coordinator and now a Data Support Assistant for the San Bernardino West region. This experience has given Marcela a unique viewpoint as she not only spends her day crunching numbers but also works with other field leaders to provide the best experience possible for our students. Learn more about Marcela below.
What is your Think Together “why?” What inspired you to work at Think Together and what continues to inspire your work here. 

The mission of Think Together— “to change the odds for children”—really drives my work. Growing up, I never had the chance to be part of an afterschool program, but since joining Think Together, I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact we have on students and their families. It makes me wish I could have experienced something like this when I was younger.

 What does the day in the life of a Data Support Assistant look like?

My days are filled with lots of excel sheets! I usually start by opening all my data quality dashboards and the attendance packets and then I dive into auditing each attendance packet in my region. While I’m doing that, I often find myself answering emails from the QACs and SPMs about questions related to Salesforce and the packets. It’s a busy but productive routine.

What has been your favorite project while at Think Together?

One of my favorite projects has been being part of the West Side Visionaries. West Side Visionaries combines our advisory and culture teams into one dynamic group. During these meetings, we focus on on-the-job training and coaching, sharing best practices to enhance field operations, and fostering a positive culture within the region. As a member of this team, I leverage my field experience and data expertise to provide valuable insights on ensuring complete and accurate attendance practices are being followed.

What is the best piece of advice you have received that you like to share with others?

It is to “always go for it.” In this company, there are so many opportunities for growth and trying new things. This advice has really encouraged me to explore different roles and take on new challenges.

What phrase describes your career at Think Together?

A phrase that describes my career at Think Together is “always learning.” Five years in and I still learn new things every day!

What are the professional goals you are hoping to accomplish in the 2024 – 2025 school year?

I want to lead a data training session in my region. I’m really excited about the chance to share what I’ve learned and help others grow.

Outside of work, what do you do for fun?  

I love spending quality time with friends and family. I’m a big movie buff, so you’ll probably find me at the theater a lot. I also enjoy hitting the gym, going on walks, and exploring new places.

A former Think Together board member, Turner joins the nonprofit amid continued transformation, adding to the organization’s executive leadership team.

Santa Ana, Calif. (Nov. 13, 2024): Think Together, California’s leading nonprofit provider of afterschool, expanded learning, and school improvement programs, is proud to announce the appointment of John Turner as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). Turner previously served on Think Together’s board from 2018 to 2022 and brings extensive leadership experience across technology and business development sectors, most recently serving as Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer for software company Certinia.

In his role, Turner will oversee strategic business and partnership development to meet the state’s six-fold investment in expanded learning. This growth aligns with Think Together’s bold goal of serving 200,000 students with best-in-class programming in the state’s most underserved communities. Turner will collaborate closely with the organization’s executive leadership to establish partnerships in these key market areas.

“We are thrilled to welcome John Turner to our executive team,” said Think Together Founder and CEO Randy Barth. “John’s extensive experience in building high-performing teams and leading revenue growth aligns perfectly with our goals. His work will help us cultivate new relationships, optimize programs, and drive sustainable financial growth, ensuring we continue to make a meaningful impact on students across California.”

In addition to Turner’s appointment, Think Together is adding three Directors of District Partnerships, establishing a team with nearly 80 years of combined executive sales experience. Each will play a key role in driving Think Together’s strategic growth by partnering with new school districts and expanding program reach into new territories.

Greg Eibell, Director of District Partnerships

Based in Santa Rosa, Greg’s territory will span Northern California from the coast to Sacramento and south to Stockton. He will use his strong background in K-12 education and business development to enhance Think Together’s outreach and impact in Northern California communities.

Christina St. Clair, Director of District Partnerships

Located in Menlo Park, Christina will cover territories in the Bay Area and surrounding regions. With years of experience in business development across industries, including K-12 education, she will support strategic growth in these regions by fostering new relationships with school districts.

Katy Wallace, Director of District Partnerships

Katy, based in Lompoc, will oversee the Central Coast and Central Valley areas. Her extensive background as a special education teacher, school principal, and district administrator makes her uniquely qualified to understand and address the needs of K-12 educational partners.

In collaboration with Tommy Brewer II, Senior Vice President of Partner Success and Innovation, this added capacity will help Think Together serve even more students where it’s needed most across California. Brewer’s team will concentrate on partner success, enhancing enrichment opportunities and testing new approaches to increase student learning time with current school partnerships. The newly established team will lead efforts to grow Think Together’s presence in new territories, broadening the organization’s impact statewide.

Turner, who has also served in senior roles at Alphabet, Google Cloud, and TriNet, is known for his ability to unify teams and implement strategic playbooks that drive success. With his leadership, Think Together aims to optimize revenue streams, strengthen district relationships, and explore new opportunities to serve even more students across the state of California

“Joining Think Together feels like a natural next step in my career after successfully leading ambitious revenue-generating teams in the technology sector,” said Turner. “With the organization already in a rapid growth cycle, I’m excited to build on that momentum by exploring new opportunities to maximize student impact.”

In fiscal year 2023, the nonprofit grew by more than 70%. Since fiscal year 2021, the organization has tripled in size. With more than 4,500 team members now serving in schools and administrative roles, Think Together continues to recruit purpose-driven talent. The addition of Turner and the new directors of district partnerships marks a strategic investment in the organization’s mission, positioning it to scale its impact and provide high-quality expanded learning support to even more students across California.

About Think Together

Think Together partners with schools and communities to pursue educational equity and excellence for all kids. As a nonprofit organization, Think Together innovates, implements, and scales academic solutions that change the odds for hundreds of thousands of California students. Think Together’s program areas include early learning, afterschool, school support services and leadership development for teachers and school administrators. For more information, call (888) 485-THINK or visit https://bit.ly/ThinkHome.

Think Together is thrilled to announce a $50,000 contribution from Honda to support the expansion of STEM coding and robotics programs across 15 schools within Paramount Unified School District, with a goal of engaging more than 900 elementary and middle students with project-based STEM learning.   

This contribution supports Think Together’s coding and robotics programs, which includes curriculum focused on visual and text-based code editing, rapid prototyping, STEM career explorations, Invention Adventures activities, and Hack Clubs for all grade levels.  

According to the U. S. Department of Commerce, STEM occupations are growing at 24%, while other occupations are growing at 4%. Even in non-STEM careers, individuals with STEM degrees tend to earn higher incomes.    

STEM education helps foster the foundation of creative thinking, problem solving, while preparing future scientists, engineers, and inventors.    

At Howard Tanner Elementary School in Paramount Unified School District, students of all ages participate in building LEGO®STEM kits, by creating their own theme parks, as part of the curriculum. This project shows students the concept of programming through coding and allows them to step into an engineer’s shoes for the day.   

Students collaborated in groups to first conceptualize and design their theme park. Then, students built their theme park using their unique designs before presenting their concepts to their classmates.   

“I think exposing students to all of these different activities is super important, especially at this age,” said Adriana Perez, site program manager for Howard Tanner. “Also, seeing them figure out how STEM is incorporated in a lot of stuff they do.”   

From a student’s perspective, the program has been fun and eye-opening. Following a lesson on how batteries and circuits can help power LEGO® creations, fifth grader Leilani shared, “I learned how to use the electronic batteries you add to make them move.”  

Honda’s mission of giving back to students and education is evident in their philosophy of solving today’s problems for tomorrow’s challenges. With STEM education as a top priority, Honda and Think Together aim to create opportunities that inspire students to explore, innovate, and develop the skills needed for tomorrow’s workforce. 

Think Together appreciates Honda for helping us change the odds for kids by providing vital funding for STEM coding and robotics opportunities to our youth. Follow Think Together on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter for more stories.   

Think Together Honors LA84 Foundation as 2024 Champion of Change 

Think Together is proud to award LA84 Foundation the Champion of Change award. Since 2008, Think Together and LA84 have partnered to offer sports programs to every one of its middle school programs stretching from the San Fernando Valley to the Coachella Valley. Over 7,000 students at 88 schools competitive team sports, ranging from flag football to volleyball, soccer, and basketball.

Click here to read more!  

Lights On Afterschool Paves the Way for Students to “Think It. Dream It. Go for Greatness!” 

Think Together held its fourth annual Lights On Afterschool event with a virtual celebration featuring highlights from Think Together’s expanded learning, afterschool and summer programs, as well as impactful testimonials from students, parents, staff and top policymakers.  

More than 400 Think Together sites continued the celebrations across the state in collaboration with school district partners. One school in particular, Kelley Elementary School, stood out for its Literacy and Numeracy Carnival, which was featured in IE Community News and in the Rialto Record community newspaper.

Watch Think Together’s Lights On Afterschool live broadcast and experience the transformative work being done for our students!

Family and Community Engagement Coordinator Alexis Rivas Makes Her Mark in the Inland Empire  

Out of hundreds of nominations, Family and Community Engagement Coordinator Alexis Rivas was selected to be a part of Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes’ 30 Under 30 Awardees. This recognition is given to 30 young men and women who showcase their dedication, innovation and service in the 50th Assembly District. 

Alexis supports over 100 schools in Think Together’s San Bernardino County, where she looks forward to supporting Spanish speaking families through Think Together’s enrollment process. She aspires to be the change that breaks barriers and brings new opportunities for future generations. 

Congratulations, Alexis! Leaders like you are what makes change possible within Think Together.  

Think Together Leaders are Inspiring a Brighter Future in Coachella Valley 

Congratulations to Think Together’s Executive Director of Philanthropy Katie Roth, Senior Director of Development Sarah Wills, and Coachella Valley General Manager Lisa Tabarez who have been recognized by Desert Charity News: Women in Philanthropy 2025!

These incredible leaders have used their influence to make an impact across their community, expanding Think Together’s ability to provide more students with the tools necessary to succeed. 

It wasn’t easy juggling high school, college applications and advocating for diverse curriculum but that didn’t stop Althea from achieving endless possibilities.

Ever since Althea was a freshman in high school, she has shown a passion for public service and advocacy for quality education. She displayed this enthusiasm when she and a few classmates established a chapter for a nonprofit called Diversify Our Narrative. The nonprofit aims to “empower students as change makers” by promoting and integrating Black, Indigenous and authors of color within their school’s English curriculum.

Althea continued as a trailblazer serving her community when she pursued a summer internship with State Senator Susan Rubio’s office before starting her first fall college semester. She shared how her love for her community and public service blossomed when she was younger.

“A lot of my early childhood aspirations were very much focused on education or STEM, but it always revolved around public service. It wasn’t until Covid came around, that I became self-conscious and reached a point of self-actualization that I really started getting involved within my community,” Althea said. “My passion for people and my overall love of my community just grew exponentially.”

Althea’s devotion to her community pushed her to reach for the stars when it came to following a path to higher education. Being a first-generation college student, she faced many challenges, especially navigating college applications and filling out financial aid forms. She shared that Think Together’s support made the process easier for her.

“Coming from an underserved community with predominantly first-generation students and immigrants, it’s very hard to find those opportunities for us. The great thing about Think Together is that it really provides you with a community of support, resources and pathways,” Althea said. “I had help from some of my Think Together coordinators to build my resume, since I didn’t have any way to navigate that being first-generation.”

During her time as a Think Together student, Althea took to the stage at Think Together’s Raise a Hand philanthropy event where she celebrated our 2023 Champion of Change, Azusa Unified School District, for the support she received during her time as a student.

Althea shines bright at UC Berkeley where she is pursuing a degree in social and philosophical foundations of education.

Althea is an excellent example of Think Together students and alumni’s hard work and determination. It is an honor for Think Together to be a steppingstone for our alumni’s promising futures. We can’t wait to see what they do next!

Learn more about our amazing alumni and their stories as they pursue their goals and dreams.

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