To Give and To Receive
Golden Bear Alumni Embody the Spirit of Service and Community
What if giving and receiving isn’t about expecting something in return? What if, instead, it’s about the intangible rewards that amass over a lifetime of dedication to a calling?
Sometimes the benefits of a gift given are ones that we don’t see for years. Maybe those benefits come with the harvest of a seed planted and forgotten. A first-year student steps into office hours for help and discovers an instructor who believes in their abilities. That student later becomes an advocate for others. Or a casual acquaintance at an internship endures to a mentorship that withstands the test of time.
Gifts can take a variety of shapes. While we typically associate them with envelopes or packages wrapped in ribbon, some of the greatest gifts are without form: they are time, energy, and compassion. We invite you to take a moment to reflect on where you give your time, your energy, and your compassion. You may find that your gifts define an aspect of yourself.
The Golden Bear alumni featured in the following stories embody the spirit of giving. Their various gifts are rooted in the love of a childhood sport, the drive to defy stereotypes, and the will to bring out the best in others. And, while it may be easy to spot the tangible rewards with a championship win or a new facility, the true impacts of their gifts have a far greater reach.
Janet Johnson Bullard ’69: A Philanthropist with a Heart of Gold
Sara Taylor L’02 Finds Joy Along a Winding Path to Nonprofit Legal Assistance
Gina Kos ’88/G’95 and Christine Pollender ’99/G’09 Give and Grow at Sunshine Village
Mike Murray ’12/G’18 Empowers Urban Youth to Reach Their Fullest Potential
