PEF Executive Director Patrick Conyers, Honoree Jane Kaczmarek, and Event Chair Felita Kealing at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo and PUSD Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
PEF Board President Luisa Rengifo Estrada, Luis Navarro, Erin Baker, and Jeremy Baker at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Natasha Mahone and Scott Harden at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Michelle Richardson Bailey, Steve Darden, and Keshia Darden at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Daniel Rossman, Yarma Velasquez, Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, and Vannia De La Cuba at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Alma and Maitland Stokes at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Margaret Hunt, Elizabeth Pomeroy, and Pasadena Councilmember-Elect Rick Cole at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Karen Anderson and Patrick Cahalan at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Shari Boyer, Maggie Sabbag, Alexandra Poer, Ken Farley, and Sarah Deschenes at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Gail Reysa and Pasadena Councilmember Jason Lyon at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Anne Sunshine, Leigh Oliver, Erin Baker, Honoree Jane Kaczmarek, Karen Anderson, Stephen McCurry, Sandy Esserman, and Melissa Froehlich at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Carter Dandridge and Karina Montilla at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Zarouhi Kazanjian, Arpy Jahjah, Tatevick Nasilyan, Lucine Kazanjian, Arpine Khrlopyan, Arusyan Houhannisian, Sarak Houhannisian, and Narek Ispiryan at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Tina Fredericks and Brian McDonald at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Karen Burgess, Heather Backstrom, and Tim Burgess at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Iliana Alvarez and Nan Lan Ye at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Allie Carreon and Sarah Hilbert at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Joan and Jeff Palmer at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Monica Jimenez and Charles Freeman at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Margarita Dominguez and Jessica Perez del Toro at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
The evening's honoree Jane Kaczmarek expresses her appreciation at Pasadena Educational Foundation's IMAGINE 2024 Honoring Jane Kaczmarek [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
On May 7, the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) held its annual spring event, “Celebrating Our Schools: IMAGINE 2024,” at Pasadena City Hall. The gathering honored actor, mentor, philanthropist, and PEF board member Jane Kaczmarek. The event also highlighted the innovative programs and students within the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) through its interactive showcase.
Guests explored the IMAGINE Interactive Student Showcase, which opened at 5 p.m. and provided hands-on experiences to learn directly from students. Visitors were inspired by art, immersed in technology, explored scientific innovations, and engaged in the secrets of school gardens. The showcase also included activities that allowed attendees to participate in the creative stories being shared.
The celebration then transitioned to the courtyard for an award presentation and reception. Kaczmarek, known for her role in the TV show “Malcolm in the Middle,” was recognized for her dedication to public education and the arts. Her advocacy through PEF and the Pasadena Playhouse has inspired countless PUSD students, encouraging them to pursue their passion for theater and creativity.
In an emotional acceptance speech, Kaczmarek declared, “Strong schools build strong communities and strong communities build strong schools, and as we might say back in Wisconsin, holy cow, there ain’t a better community around than Pasadena.”
The evening served as a reminder of PEF’s ongoing commitment to public education and equity for all students in the PUSD, which includes Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre. The organization supports arts, music, health centers, gardens, and STEM programs, building a stronger foundation for students across these communities. The event was not only a celebration of Kaczmarek’s contributions but also a testament to the programs and initiatives transforming education in Pasadena. For more information visit www.pasedfoundation.org.
