
L-R: Minori, Camila, Brayden, Dr. Jose Diaz (Principal Albert Einstein Charter Middle School), and Ms. Sigrid Struben (Associate Director of Philanthropy & Community Affairs, PATH San Diego)
The end of any school year is marked by both chaos and excitement amidst standardized testing, final exams, foreign exchange trips, tournaments, and graduation. From a PILT perspective, it's usually a relatively quiet period of time when we wrap up our projects and prepare for the year ahead. Although this school year was no different, its ending was anything but "quiet."
True to our motto, "Community, Collaboration, Compassion," April saw Scripps Ranch High and Albert Einstein Charter Middle joining forces to serve dinner to residents at PATH's "Connections" downtown. Led by Kiara and Minori, respectively, the event was a great success. Also in April, High Tech High - Mesa ASB dedicated a leadership workshop day to community service with a field trip to PATH's downtown location where they made sack lunches for residents and volunteered at the interim shelter. Brayden, Camila, and Minori represented PILT at "A Toast to Home" -- PATH's 40th Anniversary Gala honoring IKEA. The event ended on a high note with Erika Nava of IKEA San Diego giving PILT a shoutout for introducing IKEA to PATH.
All ongoing projects were wrapped up in May with Kiara producing watercolor paintings by artists at Scripps Ranch High School for PATH's residents. Unfortunately, a Health Sciences High School field trip to PATH's interim shelter facility was canceled due to a COVID outbreak at PATH.
June was a month of surprises. Seeing an opportunity to obtain Chromebooks for those transitioning out of homelessness, Brayden worked with his grade level team at Helix Charter High to provide graduating seniors with the option to donate, sell (for $20), or exchange their Chromebooks for a grad ticket. (The Chromebooks will be reset for PATH's Veteran clients later in the summer.) In a fitting tribute to everything we have accomplished since PILT's founding in August 2021, PILT gained national recognition with Brayden's third place win in the Bill of Rights Institute's 2024 My Impact Challenge.
July 15th marked the third anniversary of the pivotal meeting between Brayden and Ms. Struben that led to the founding of PILT. By a happy coincidence, PILT gained congressional recognition that day when Rep. Sara Jacobs presented Brayden with a certificate recognizing his contribution to San Diego communities through PILT.
"Three Cheers for Three Years," read a post from PATH San Diego congratulating PILT. In three short years, we turned an idea into a fully-fledged 501(c)(3) nonprofit association run entirely by K-12 students. We've assisted countless unhoused adults including Veterans and seniors, unsheltered teens, transitional age foster youth, and unsheltered pets. We've supported PATH, StandUp For Kids, and the YMCA with their clients' needs, and we've provided opportunities to our peers to make a positive change in our communities. The work Brayden, Camila, Kiara, and Lauren started, and you supported, will continue under Minori's leadership, and PILT will continue to live up to its motto, "Community, Collaboration, [and] Compassion" for many years to come.
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