Welcome
The Fulfillment Fund prides itself in serving under-resourced students through making college education a reality. The organization reaches a great number of students through their programs offered to middle school students, through college graduation and beyond. The great work the Fulfillment Fund is able to accomplish is possible by the immense support over the last four decades from the community and corporate partners who truly believe in the mission of Fulfillment Fund and most importantly in the students.
Inspiration Breakfast Welcome from Lindy Huang Werges
The Fulfillment Fund hosted their Fifth annual Inspiration Breakfast at Akasha Restaurant and Café, in Culver City on June 14, 2018. The morning consisted of power networking, alumni and corporate partner testimonials, along with the chance to give back and support the life-changing student programs. Attendees of the event heard from Harlan Spinner, Senior Vice President at UBS Wealth Management and Fulfillment Fund Board Member; Lindy Huang Werges, Principal of Integritas Resources, Inc., and Co-Founder of Zen Yoga Strap, Inc.; Sandy Lohr, CEO of MatchCraft; Diane Reichenberger, VP of Consumer Products Global Strategy at Mattel; Victor Banuelos, Front-End Web Developer at Creative Artists Agency (Fulfillment Fund Alumnus and former Creative Artists Agency Intern); and Emily Toledo, Fulfillment Fund Alumna and former MatchCraft Intern.
Guest Speakers and Fulfillment Fund Board Members Wendy Spinner, Diane Reichenberger, Lindy Huang Werges, Sandy Lohr and Harlan Spinner
Power Networking
The morning was kicked off by a chance for attendees to network and get to know more about each other’s fields and backgrounds. Attendees included Fulfillment Fund staff and alumnus along with professionals from several corporations and industries including: Federal Reserve of San Francisco, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Ernst & Young, LLP., The Capital Group, Headspace, Inc., Armanino, LLP., BLKBX Creative Group, Unibail Rodamco Westfield, Fullscreen, Inc., VEC-Tech, Google, Nu-Set Lock, Sunbox and many more. Being given the opportunity to interact with one another gave guests the ability to see the close relationships Fulfillment Fund cultivates with their supporters and students, while giving back to the community.
Power Networking (Photo Credit: Andrew Chenault)
Power Networking (Photo Credit: Andrew Chenault)
Testimonials
Guest speakers of the event were invited to share how the Fulfillment Fund has made an impact in their lives. Whether the speakers were beneficiaries of Fulfillment Fund or proud supporters of the organization, they each felt their lives had been changed for the better because of the Fund’s dedication to service and support for the under-resourced youth of Los Angeles.
Harlan Spinner opened the event by sharing his experience working with Fulfillment Fund initially as a mentor 30-years ago subsequently joining the board. Harlan specifically recalls the many experiences he shared with his mentee. He felt watching his mentee grow into a responsible and diligent professional was extremely rewarding and reminded him constantly of the importance of Fulfillment Funds work.
Guest Speaker Harlan Spinner (Photo Credit: Andrew Chenault)
Sandy Lohr shared on the significant growth MatchCraft has undergone since being involved with Fulfillment Fund. MatchCraft recently partnered with FulfillmentFund to offer their Scholar Bridge Scholars summer internship opportunities. Sandy said, “We’ve gotten so much more as a company. It’s truly benefited MatchCraft probably so much more than we actually helped the interns.”
Guest Speaker Sandy Lohr (Photo Credit: Andrew Chenault)
Attendees then heard from Emily Toledo as she shared her experience as a Fulfillment Fund alum and former MatchCraft Intern. She stated, “It was hard for me to imagine how I was going to get to college, but not long after, I was not only attending UC Irvine, but I also had the chance to intern at MatchCraft with Sandy the company’s CEO.” Emily felt that her achievements were a direct result of the Fund’s constant support.
Similarly, guest speaker Diane Reichenberger spoke on her experience as a proud supporter of Fulfillment Fund and how much she’s gained as an individual through giving back to under-served youth. Diane shared, “I think it’s much more rewarding for us because we get to look back on those moments when we were in college and we had a bunch of questions about our own career paths. In return we get to cultivate this moment of intimacy for the students where they can communicate and ask us questions about anything.”
Guest Speaker Diane Reichenberger (Photo Credit: Andrew Chenault)
Victor Banuelos then shared how he was connected to different employers and internship opportunities through the Fulfillment Fund. Victor said, “Without the Fulfillment Fund’s relationship with the Creative Artists Agency and their willingness to connect me with internship opportunities, who knows where I would be.” Today, Victor Banuelos, similarly to other Fulfillment Fund alumni are well into their careers and leading successful lives personally and professionally.
Guest speaker Victor Banuelos and Emily Toledo (Photo Credit: Andrew Chenault)
Event Close
After an incredible morning of networking and inspiration, attendees were given the opportunity to support and be a part of the Fulfillment Fund’s mission in making higher education a reality for under-resourced students. Attendees learned of ways they could engage with the Fund and/or support the organization, including programs like: College and Financial Aid Counseling, Mentoring, Digital Learning, Scholarship and Career Accelerator Programs. Lindy Huang Werges shared with guests, …this incredible organization that encourages children who come from under-resourced communities that they can dream big; that there is more for them in this world than just the neighborhood they grew up in; that college is for them; that I can be a reality for them; that they can flip the script and make a new life, a better life, not just for themselves, but also for their families” It was made apparent through Inspiration Breakfast that Fulfillment Fund students, alumni and supporters all feel strongly connected to the organization and its mission to make a difference in the lives of under-served students.
Event Close (Photo Credit: Andrew Chenault)
Click here to learn about the many ways you can support the Fulfillment Fund.
“Change a Life and Enrich Your Organizations. In Turn, Change Your Own Life!” ~ Lindy Huang Werges