New Jericho Road Pasadena Executive Director Hopes to Increase Number of Supported Projects

Jericho Road Pasadena, a nonprofit corporation that connects skilled volunteers to community-based nonprofit organizations to help them realize their goals, has selected Pasadena resident Kim Olpin as its new executive director, replacing Melanie Goodyear, who left JRP in March after serving for 12 years. 

Olpin brings 15 years of nonprofit experience to JRP that includes running health clinics in the jungles of Panama, organizing LA River Clean-Ups, and fundraising at Audubon California.  

Most recently, she was the Vice President of Corporate Engagement for L.A. Works, where she directed and managed the corporate partnerships of the 50,000-member nonprofit volunteer action center focusing on impactful solutions in collaboration with community organizations. 

Prior to L.A. Works, she held development positions with organizations including the CLARE Foundation, now CLARE | MATRIX,  and the National Audubon Society.

“JRP’s mission to bridge communities through volunteering is one that I strongly believe in. As I’ve begun to get to know the members of this community, I have been moved and inspired by the work everyone is doing, and grateful for the strong foundation of goodwill that JRP has earned. One of the lessons of the past couple years has been the importance of community and working together. I am humbled to be joining this strong, kind community,” Olpin said in her letter to the JRP community.

Aside from matching JRP volunteers who offer expertise in accounting, communications, graphic design, business development, social media and writing, to name a few, to a non-profit, JRS also trains potential board members and matches them to a nonprofit.

As the new executive director, Olpin said her goal is to improve JRP’s skill based volunteer matching program, which she described as the backbone of the corporation’s work for the past 12 years. 

“I hope to continue to improve it and increase the number of projects that we’re able to support and manage with our partner organizations,” Olpin told Pasadena Now in an interview. 

Olpin also said she will look for ways to expand the board training and matching program, which she said has a lot of potential. 

“JRP is kind of a connector in the local community. And I’m going to keep looking for new ways that we can bring non-profits together and bring volunteers to nonprofits.” 

Members of the community who want to support local nonprofits in Pasadena and the surrounding areas through volunteering or serving on nonprofit boards are welcome to join JRP, according to Olpin. 

Residents interested in volunteering must submit their volunteer application online through: jrpasadena.org/how-to-apply. For nonprofits interested in getting services of JRP volunteers, click here for more information.