Today we’d like to introduce you to Pasadena Jaycees
Pasadena, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The Pasadena Junior Chamber of Commerce (nicknamed the Pasadena Jaycees) was founded in 1929 as a civic association for young professionals dedicated to becoming a positive force in the Pasadena community. Nearly a century later, the Jaycees remain true to this founding goal. We are an organization of young people (ages 21–40) in the Pasadena area who want to improve the lives of people in our community through service while developing leadership skills, broadening our network, and making lifelong friends. In addition to leadership training and community service, we host social events throughout the year, volunteer with other organizations, and even have an annual exchange with a chapter in Japan!
The Pasadena Jaycees are a branch of JCI (Junior Chamber International) – an international organization of active young citizens dedicated to creating positive change in our respective communities around the world. JCI is a worldwide community of young, active citizens who share the belief that in order to create positive change, we must take collective action to improve ourselves and the world around us. Engaging in activities ranging from community development to international projects, members demonstrate their social responsibility and improve themselves through participation, leadership, and action.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In our nearly a 100-year history, the Jaycees have certainly encountered obstacles, but we’re proud to continue the work of our predecessors. We fundraise throughout the year in order to support our Jaycee run service events and are thankful for the continued support of the business community for our projects.
COVID-19 was a difficult time for our organization and we unfortunately saw a decline in membership as life was thrown into uncertainty. Despite this, we were able to rally support around projects like Operation Restaurant Worker to support those heavily impacted by the pandemic. Since then, we’ve been rebuilding our membership by meeting people where they’re at. In today’s rapidly changing world, young professionals have many demands on their time. We’re always seeking potential volunteers to join, no matter if they can help for one event or make on ongoing commitment through our event committees. The ultimate goal is to give young people a professional toolkit that they can use to make a difference no matter where they go in life.
We’ve been impressed with The Pasadena Jaycees, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Pasadena Jaycees put on a variety of projects and social events throughout the year, giving members many ways to be involved. Notable projects include our Five Acres Parties for foster children, our Operation Gobbler thanksgiving food drive, our Operation Santa toy drive, and Program Sales at the Rose Bowl Game on New Year’s day.
We hold monthly mixers at local businesses and frequent social events such as hiking, beach trips, paint nights, and book club. The Jaycees also often we volunteer with various charities in addition to our own projects.
The Pasadena Jaycees’ heartwarming tradition of providing Thanksgiving meals to those in need continued in 2023. Last year, Operation Gobbler ensured that more than 300 families enjoyed a festive Thanksgiving meal. First organized in 1987, Op Gobbler has been a cornerstone of the Pasadena community service efforts for 37 years. Jaycee members work hard to collect ingredients and distribute ingredients for Thanksgiving meals to local families facing hardship. The Jaycees remain deeply grateful to Friends In Deed Pantry for their ongoing partnership in this vital program.
For 89 years, the magic of the holidays has been delivered throughout Pasadena thanks to the Pasadena Jaycees’ Operation Santa. In 2023, more than 30 Santa Teams and 200+ volunteers spread holiday cheer, delivering thousands of toys to families on Christmas Eve—more toys than have been delivered through this project in over 10 years. Our amazing donors allowed each child to receive a personalized selection of toys, including a STEAM toy to ignite their curiosity and spark an interest in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
Operations Gobbler and Santa are great examples of how we engage the whole community, recruiting volunteers of all ages to give back.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
The Jaycees are always willing to experiment with new projects ideas and initiatives. The needs of our membership and the community are constantly evolving. Our core projects return year after year but we’ll try new events and partnerships as you never know where new traditions lie! For example, this year we engaged in a new event with the Pasadena Senior Center and helped them throw a Memorial Day dance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pasadenajaycees.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pasadenajaycees
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PasadenaJaycees
- Other: https://linktr.ee/pasadenajaycees
