Think Together Welcomes New Deputy Chief of Human Capital and Director of Talent Acquisition Amid Transformational Investments in Expanded Learning

Kecia Bailey Alexander and Holly Perry join Think Together to lead the nonprofit’s human capital and recruitment efforts as the organization experiences rapid growth.

Santa Ana, Calif. (January 11, 2022) – Think Together, California’s leading nonprofit provider of school improvement, expanded learning and afterschool programs, today announced the appointment of Kecia Bailey Alexander as Deputy Chief of Human Capital and Holly Perry as Director of Talent Acquisition.

With more than 25 years of professional experience in human resources, Kecia will lead the nonprofit’s onboarding and professional development, as well as its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives. Kecia comes to Think Together from Williams-Sonoma where she was Regional Director of Human Resources supporting the global supply chain for five multi-channel brands and multiple locations.

Kecia holds a Bachelor of Science from University of Phoenix and a Master of Applied Leadership & Management at Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management. Kecia also holds the following human resources designations, SHRM-CP, SPHR-CA, sHRBP and LDSS.

Holly joins Think Together from Gifted Healthcare where she led a clinical recruitment team during the COVID-19 staffing crisis. During which, Holly successfully placed nurses in hospitals nationally to help meet the overwhelming demand for healthcare workers throughout the pandemic.

At Think Together, Holly will oversee Think Together’s talent acquisition and retention strategies as well as its talent management framework as she leads the staffing and recruiting teams. Holly graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary studies.

“We’re proud to welcome these tremendously talented leaders to the Think Together team as we embark on a transformational moment in education,” said Think Together Founder and CEO Randy Barth. “These hires represent the building blocks needed as we prepare to scale in pursuit of our vision to reach more of the two million students at risk of not reaching their academic potential.”

Kecia and Holly will report to Chief People Officer Josh Felix who returned to the organization in 2020 to lead Think Together’s human capital team. The appointments come as Think Together expands its organization infrastructure to meet the unprecedented demand for afterschool and enrichment education to combat learning loss amid the ongoing pandemic.

Bolstered by a record expanded learning investment of $5 billion by 2025 by the state of California, the education nonprofit is immediately hiring 800 program and school site staff across the state. In addition, Think Together is preparing to hire 400 new staff members every month to scale its growth and meet the equitable education needs of students and families. This is part of an overall $123 billion investment in K-12 systems to address student learning recovery and reimagine education and expanded learning solutions for every student in the state.

California has the largest system of publicly-backed expanded learning in the nation. Generally funded through After School Education and Safety (ASES) state grants and federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants, these programs initially faced budget cuts amid the pandemic. Organizations like Think Together rely on public grants as well as private philanthropy to bring high-quality education programs from preschool to high school.

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 www.thinktogether.org.

About Orenda Education

A Think Together affiliate since 2014, Orenda Education is in the business of change. This group of highly experienced educational consultants’ partners with school districts to identify research-based equity-grounded solutions for closing the Achievement Gap. Orenda’s proven approach dramatically improves student outcomes and creates paths for college and career opportunities. For more information please go to orendaed.org.

Media Inquiries
Elena Bosch
(714) 824-8136
[email protected]

Grant Will Help Students in Bellflower, Compton and Lynwood Gain Additional Access to STEM Opportunities

Santa Ana, Calif. (January 20, 2021) Think Together, California’s leading nonprofit provider of afterschool, expanded learning and school improvement programs, announced today that The Boeing Company has awarded $100,000 in grant funding to Think Together’s Southeast Los Angeles County region. This grant marks their third year of funding at $100,000 and has created a K-12 STEM continuum, serving more than 16,000 students across the cities of Bellflower, Lynwood and Compton.

Boeing employees have continuously contributed to the program serving as judges for competitions, conventions, and career panels. Through the funding and support provided by Boeing, Think Together has been able to offer a robust STEM curriculum and resources to these traditionally under-resourced students. Many of Boeing’s employees have similar backgrounds to the students Think Together serves, and this partnership makes visible the future successes our students can achieve.

“Boeing is proud to support an organization like Think Together that inspires our youth to engage in opportunities involving math, science and technology,” said Kristie Hernández, Senior Government & Community Relations Specialist at Boeing. “By partnering with Think Together, we are helping local students receive equitable education resources that can propel them for success now and in the future.”

At Think Together, students are provided instruction in introductory coding, robotics, and logic through their Coding For All initiative and other expanded learning and enrichment curriculums. Programming supported by Coding For All includes visual and text-based code editing, e-sports competitions, rapid-prototyping, STEM career explorations, Invention Adventures activities, and Hack Clubs throughout Los Angeles county as well as Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Alameda and Santa Clara counties.

Knowledge from STEM courses is becoming increasingly vital for careers out of college. Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts are critical, but so are the traits developed like ingenuity, creativity, problem-solving, resilience, teamwork, and the willingness to take risks. 

“We are grateful for partners like The Boeing Company who believe education is the key to changing the odds for kids,” says Randy Barth, founder and CEO of Think Together. “STEM knowledge is integral to future success and Think Together is proud to offer that knowledge to students through our partnership.”

The grant was awarded as part of the organization’s, “Light the Way” giving campaign, which raised nearly $400,000 in private funds for afterschool and expanded learning programs. Private partnerships are powerful catalysts for providing equity in education and economic empowerment by allowing Think Together to augment public grants received at the state and federal levels.

Think Together’s afterschool expanded learning programs are funded in part by After School Education and Safety (ASES) grants awarded by the California Department of Education and 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants secured from the U.S. Department of Education. California has the largest system of publicly backed expanded learning in the nation.

These programs initially faced budget cuts amid the pandemic. In 2021, however, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, committed a record $5 billion investment by 2025 for afterschool programs as part of his historic $123 billion funding bill to support K-12 schools. Organizations like Think Together rely on public grants as well as private philanthropy to bring high-quality education programs from preschool to high school.

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 www.thinktogether.org.

About Orenda Education

A Think Together affiliate since 2014, Orenda Education is in the business of change. This group of highly experienced educational consultants’ partners with school districts to identify research-based equity-grounded solutions for closing the Achievement Gap. Orenda’s proven approach dramatically improves student outcomes and creates paths for college and career opportunities. For more information please go to orendaed.org.

About The Boeing Company

As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing’s diverse team is committed to innovating for the future and living the company’s core values of safety, quality and integrity. Learn more at www.boeing.com. 

Media Inquiries
Elena Bosch
(714) 824-8136
[email protected]

Students at Werner Elementary School in Rialto were gifted Los Angeles Dodgers swag, books and a special visit from Dino Ebel, Third Base Coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers

Rialto, Calif. (November 30, 2021) – Today Werner Elementary School students in Rialto were greeted with a holiday surprise from someone they’d never expect, Los Angeles Dodger Third Base Coach, Dino Ebel. Nearly 50 students gathered to hear Ebel read, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” written by Larry Harper as part of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation LA Reads program.

Ebel delivered Los Angeles Dodgers branded gifts and books alongside volunteers and staff of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Rialto Unified School District and Think Together. Ebel, who as roots in the Inland Empire, said he was excited for a chance to give back.

“It’s very special to me to come out to my community and be able to speak to the youth about the importance of doing well in school and achieving your dreams,” said Ebel. “I know the importance of coming from a small town and showing kids that they can be anything if they put their mind to it.”

Think Together serves up to 11,000 students with afterschool and expanded learning programs in San Bernardino County, including 1,677 students across 25 schools in Rialto. Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians have both supported students in Rialto with reading and literacy programs as well as STEM and coding programs through the collaborative Coding for All initiative.

“We are so grateful to partner with such generous organizations like the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians,” said Think Together Founder and CEO Randy Barth. “When organizations can come together like this for the kids, it really shows them they have people in their lives that care about them.”

Think Together has been a partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation since 2015. The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation supports Think Together’s college readiness programs with college field trips for middle school students in Los Angeles County and social emotional learning programs for middle school students in San Bernardino and Los Angeles.

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has supported Think Together students in Rialto since 2011, supporting reading and literacy. Starting in 2021, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians helped launch coding curriculum and instruction across 19 elementary schools.

To learn more about Think Together, visit www.thinktogether.org.

To learn more about the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, visit: www.mlb.com/dodgers/community/foundation.

To learn more about San Manuel Band of Mission Indians philanthropic activities, visit: https://sanmanuel-nsn.gov/community/philanthropy.

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 www.thinktogether.org.

Media Inquiries
Elena Bosch
(714) 824-8136
[email protected]

The virtual event boasted appearances by California Governor Gavin Newsom among top state legislators, education leaders, parents, students and staff.  

Santa Ana, Calif. (October 29, 2021) – Think Together, California’s leading nonprofit provider of afterschool, expanded learning and school improvement programs, held its annual Lights on Afterschool event themed Light the Way on Thursday, October 28 on Think Together’s Facebook and YouTube.

The virtual event drew more than 300 live viewers and featured testimonials from educators, parents, students and Think Together staff alongside state legislative appearances from:

  • State Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego)
  • Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood)
  • Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Reyes (D-San Bernardino) 
  • State Senator Sydney K. Kamlager (D-Los Angeles)
  • State Senator Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who committed a record investment of $5 billion by 2025 for afterschool programs, concluded the virtual broadcast with a special address for Think Together staff and families. This infusion of funds into the afterschool and expanded learning space is in addition to unprecedented increases in the K-12 budget to support educators, students and their families amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“California is grateful to Think Together for helping our students succeed despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic,” said Gov. Newsom. “With historic overall $123 billion investments in our K-12 systems, we’re reimagining our schools so every child can thrive, regardless of their zip code. We want every student in California to have access to potentially lifechanging afterschool and learning programs, like Think Together’s.”

In addition to the live virtual broadcast, Think Together hosted 372 school site events to celebrate the positive impact afterschool and expanded learning programs make in the lives of students every day. From Compton to San Jose, Temecula to Orange, students took part in Lights on Afterschool through educational enrichment including STEM, ELA, healthy living, yoga, art, painting, and music activities.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Think Together supported their school partners and students with distance learning support, in-person instruction, meal distribution, wellness checks, school improvement support and more. Think Together staffed learning hubs and expanded learning programs in 41 school districts and 25 charter management organizations across the state, reaching nearly 53,000  students last year. Year over year, total impact of all programs reaches nearly 200,000 students.

“We stand at a real transformational moment in education. One in which students who have been traditionally underserved will be given the resources needed to narrow the opportunity gap once and for all,” said Think Together Founder and CEO Randy Barth. “As we continue to face the pandemic’s enduring impacts, we stand ready to serve these students who need high quality support systems to succeed in school, college and career.”

Research shows that for every student in afterschool programs across the U.S., there are three students on a waiting list. With achievement gaps widening and state tax revenues rising, Gov. Newsom and the legislature made a down payment on an “afterschool for all” initiative through the creation of the Expanded Learning Opportunity Program. 

The children and families who rely on publicly funded afterschool programs are those already disproportionately affected by the issues exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic. Nine out of 10 children served by California’s afterschool programs are children of color, and 84% are socioeconomically disadvantaged. A third of students in After School Education and Safety (ASES) and 21st Century Community Learning Centers programs are English Language Learners and 25% of California’s students experiencing homelessness are served proudly by afterschool programs.

“Through each and every hardship experienced by our students during the pandemic, Think Together staff was there supporting them,” added Barth. “We’re honored to stand with the Afterschool Alliance and our state and federal allies in our efforts to advocate for the expansion of educational support.”

Lights On Afterschool is a national campaign organized by the Afterschool Alliance to underscore the need for increased federal, state and private investment for afterschool programs in support of students. Across the United States, nearly 5,000 afterschool and expanded learning programs, including Think Together, held celebrations in support of their programs and the impact they make on our communities.

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 www.thinktogether.org.

About Orenda Education

A Think Together affiliate since 2014, Orenda Education is in the business of change. This group of highly experienced educational consultants’ partners with school districts to identify research-based equity-grounded solutions for closing the Achievement Gap. Orenda’s proven approach dramatically improves student outcomes and creates paths for college and career opportunities. For more information please go to orendaed.org.

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Media Inquiries
Elena Bosch
(714) 683-7867
[email protected]

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Media Inquiries
Elena Bosch
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[email protected]

The live broadcast will honor Broadcom Inc. with Think Together’s Champion of Change Award and longtime board member Leona Aronoff-Sadacca with the Think Legacy Award.

Santa Ana, Calif. (April 19, 2021) – Think Together, California’s largest nonprofit provider of afterschool, expanded learning, and school improvement programs, will host its annual Raise a Handfundraiser event virtually with a live broadcast at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 23. Think Together’s annual fundraiser has been reimagined this year as a virtual experience with nearly 300 registered to attend. The event raises funds to support student learning recovery programs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

When classrooms closed their doors last spring, Think Together partnered with schools to provide virtual expanded learning programs to 150,000 youth including students experiencing homelessness, in foster care and children of essential workers across California. Broadcom Inc., through the Broadcom foundation, worked with Think Together to provide an estimated 600 laptops to staff and students to support the transition to distance learning.

This year Think Together will honor Broadcom with its “Champion of Change” award which recognizes an outstanding partner dedicated to changing the odds for kids. Broadcom has been an invaluable partner, providing transformational support of student programs in the areas of technology and innovation. Since the start of its collaboration in 2018, Think Together and Broadcom have distributed nearly 2,000 laptop devices to students across the state. 

“Since March 2020, when California schools were mandated to continue instruction using distance learning, Broadcom proved to be a truly incredible partner, allowing Think Together to support schools and students through distance learning and meet the moment for our families,” said Randy Barth, founder and CEO at Think Together. “We couldn’t be prouder to present them with the Champion of Change award for their continued commitment to supporting students and their education.”

COVID-19 has exacerbated the inequities that have always existed, and education is no exception. With 84% students served by Think Together living in under-resourced households and many from first-generation immigrant families, these inequities have been fueled further by job loss, food insecurity, language barriers, access to technology, and more.

Leona Aronoff-Sadacca, like many of Think Together’s board members, can relate. Born in 1936 into a Jewish family in Germany, her family fled from the horrors of the Holocaust during World War II, landing in New York before moving to Los Angeles, and finally raising her own family in Rialto while running Gate City Beverage in San Bernardino as president, CEO and owner. 

With more than ten years of dedicated service on Think Together’s board of directors, Leona is retiring from her role from the board this year. Think Together will honor Leona with the Think Legacy Award at this year’s event.

“Leona brought to the board that special something all organizations need, but particularly nonprofits need; she truly cares about her constituency, for the community, and for other board members,” said John Lee, Think Together Board Chair and PIMCO Executive Vice President. “The board of directors is not going to be the same without her and the organization as a whole is better for having her involved for all these years.”

Think Together will also award its Faces of the Future Scholarship Award, presented by PacLife, to three outstanding high school seniors enrolled in Think Together’s program. Recipients will be given a $3,000 scholarship and a laptop to start their college career.

Think Together’s annual Raise a Hand event is free to attend virtually, with watch party packages including Think Together branded wine glasses, face masks and copies of the Think Together magazine starting at $100.

Guests can also participate in Think Together’s Raise a Hand silent action online through April 23 with auction packages ranging from a four-night retreat to La Villa Bella in Punta Mita, Mexico to a luxury wine selection including Ridge Monte Bello, Occidental, Kistler and Kosta Browne.

For more information or to register, please visit the Raise a Hand event website.

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 www.thinktogether.org.

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Press Release

Media Inquiries
Elena Bosch
(714) 824-8136
[email protected]

Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Pitcher Trevor Bauer Donates $51,000 To Think Together in First Month of Season-Long Giveback Initiative “Ks For A Cause”

Ks for a Cause provides grants from Bauer via the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation

Lynwood, Calif. (May 3, 2021) – Think Together, California’s largest nonprofit provider of afterschool, expanded learning, and school improvement programs, today announced Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star pitcher Trevor Bauer has donated $51,000 to the nonprofit, through his season-long giveback initiative – Ks for a Cause.

As part of the initiative, Bauer is donating $1,000 per strikeout (K) throughout the regular season to local nonprofit organizations focused on STEM and/or youth programming in the greater Los Angeles area. Each month, a different nonprofit organization will be designated, starting with Think Together in the month of April. Bauer is fully funding the initiative through grants via the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF).

“This season, I want to give back to my hometown community in a really meaningful way,” said Bauer. “I’m excited to launch Ks for a Cause to support several incredible nonprofit organizations doing impactful work to promote STEM and offer a variety of youth programming across the greater Los Angeles area. Strikeouts have always been important to me, but this season they will be even more purposeful.”

Think Together, with operations throughout the state, serves more 71,000 students among 14 school districts and 23 charters in Los Angeles county. In partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, Think Together offers its Coding for All initiative, which supports STEM, coding and robotics programs in schools throughout Compton and Lynwood.

Bauer is raising additional funds for Think Together, as well as other Ks for a Cause organizations, with limited-edition co-branded merchandise on his website. All proceeds from Ks for a Cause x Think Together merchandise sales, available now through May 22, 2021, will benefit Think Together.

Think Together Founder and CEO Randy Barth was also featured in Bauer’s new, dedicated content series on his YouTube Channel (@BauerOutage) where the pair discussed Think Together’s mission, its longtime partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, and its Coding for All program.

“We are so excited to have the opportunity to partner with Trevor Bauer and his Ks for Cause initiative, thanks to our long-standing relationship with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation,” said Barth. “Bauer has had an incredible start to the season and we’re cheering for him as he makes such a tremendous impact for kids living in our hometown of Los Angeles.”

Think Together has been a partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation since 2015. Integral to Coding for All, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation supports Think Together’s College readiness programs with college field trips for middle school students in Los Angeles County and Social Emotional Learning Programs for middle school students in San Bernardino and Los Angeles.

To learn more about Think Together, visit www.thinktogether.org.

To learn more about Trevor Bauer’s Ks for a Cause program, visit: www.trevorbauer.com/ksforacause.

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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 www.thinktogether.org.

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