About Us

Mission Statement

The mission of the Ivy & Pearls Foundation is to serve communities of color with a special focus on women and girls. Primarily serving Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, we strive to improve the quality of life by promoting health and wellness, academic excellence, economic empowerment, civic engagement, arts appreciation, and environmental and social justice.

Brief History

The Ivy and Pearls Foundation was developed in 2005 to provide service projects and scholarships in the cities of Palo Alto, East Palo Alto and surrounding areas. The formation of the Ivy and Pearls Foundation has expanded the philanthropic efforts of Rho Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, by giving us the ability to provide scholarships that support educational endeavors of college students, and to expand our reach in providing excellent service projects in the local area. The initial trustees of the Foundation were Rho Delta Omega chapter members: Sharon A. Godbolt, Audrey V. Kay, and Jyrl Washington.

The Articles of Association were drafted and submitted for approval to the State of California, and distinctly state that the Foundation’s mission is to provide academic scholarship funding. The Ivy and Pearls Foundation has been recognized since January 2, 2005 as a tax-exempt organization under Internal Revenue Code 501c3, based on Public Charity status under Internal Revenue Code 509a2.

While the mission of the Ivy and Pearls Foundation is to provide academic funding for college, as the needs of the community has changed, the Foundation Board has pursued grant funding and other fundraising to address issues related to health, human trafficking, domestic violence and environmental sustainability. As the needs of the community have expanded, so shall the mission of Ivy and Pearls Foundation. It is our utmost goal to be provide direct service and support to our local community.

Additionally, we partner with other local and national community-based organizations which emulate our goals and interests to address the ever-changing needs of the community. Because of our collaborative work on vital educational disparities and health issues, along with granting tens of thousands of scholarships, hosting the longest running Black College Awareness Fair in the Bay Area for over 29 years, and mentoring at-risk youth, the Ivy and Pearls Foundation has been repeatedly recognized within the community for excellence.

Board of Directors 2023

The mailing address for the Ivy and Pearls Foundation is PO Box 50054, Palo Alto, CA 94303.