Why Wade Winter Joined the PCC Foundation
Wade Winter remembers what it was like when he first joined the PCC Foundation.
“I was struck by the breadth and depth of programs PCC offers,” he says. “I didn’t know much about PCC or the Foundation at first, but getting to know the trustees, as well as the other board members, made me realize what an incredible group of folks are serving the College and its students.”
That was about 9 years ago, and Wade’s love and appreciation for PCC and the Foundation has only grown since.
“PCC is a tremendous resource to the greater San Gabriel Valley,” he says. “The opportunities it provides people, especially students, is just phenomenal.”
For Wade, it all began with a conversation. His longtime friend and colleague, Jim Sarni, suggested he consider joining the Foundation after Wade expressed an interest in getting more involved in the community.
“Jim and I were having lunch one day and he brought up the idea,” says Wade. “He shared a little with me about the Foundation, told me what it does, and I thought it all sounded great. Once I came aboard and began serving, I saw just how great it was.”
In fact, Wade’s daughter, Taylor, a technical theatre major, would go on to attend PCC herself while she was in between schools.
“I have twin daughters,” Wade explains, “and Taylor went to PCC for a year and had some amazing experiences while she was there. I went to see several of the plays she worked on, and I have to say, some of those performances were just outstanding.”
Taylor began her bachelor’s at High Point University in North Carolina before deciding she wanted to finish her education on the West Coast.
“It was great because PCC allowed her to continue her education while she was still deciding what school she wanted to transfer to,” says Wade. “It does that for so many others: helps them along the way, gives them an affordable and quality start to their education, provides a touchstone for those ‘gap’ years. PCC is just this invaluable part of our community.”
Taylor eventually transferred to Chapman University and still credits PCC with a great deal of her educational success.
“PCC helped her transition and ultimately transfer and graduate from Chapman,” says Wade. “It does that for so many people; it helps them find success wherever they are in life.”
This could be someone in the middle of a career change, or someone who’s stepping into the classroom as a first-generation college student. Oftentimes, it’s someone who wouldn’t be able to get a higher education without some kind of financial assistance.
Wade says, “When you’re at a Foundation event where a student is given a scholarship, and that student breaks down in tears because of how much it means to them—I mean, in some cases, if these students didn’t have this money, they wouldn’t be able to get their education—it just reinforces the importance of the Foundation.”
For Wade, giving back to one’s community has always been a central tenet in his family.
“My grandfather, who came over from Germany, worked in a brewery,” he explains. “The thing I always remember him saying to me is that education is the one thing you can give someone that can’t be taken away. I’ve held onto that philosophy my whole life. It’s the reason I’m so proud to be a part of the Foundation, and it’s what I tell my daughters to this day.”
Now, as the treasurer of the Foundation and former chair of the Finance & Investment Committee, Wade oversees the Foundation’s budget and helps ensure the Foundation’s assets are properly stewarded for their intended purpose.
“That’s essentially what the Finance & Investment Committee does,” Wade says. “It provides the checks and balances for managing the organization’s endowments.”
When, last year, PCC received a staggering $30 million gift in unrestricted funds from author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the College’s assets practically doubled overnight, leaving more than a few jaws on the floor.
“We were all shocked,” Wade says, with a laugh. “I mean, when the president calls a meeting and tells you that a donor wants to give the College an unrestricted $30 million gift, you immediately assume you misheard her.”
Because of the abrupt and dramatic increase in the College’s endowment, the Finance & Investment Committee decided to go through an RFP process—Request for Proposal—and look for an investment manager, the position Wade currently holds.
“My term expires in June 2022,” Wade explains. “Since I’ll be rotated out, we decided it was an appropriate time to go through this process, and now we’re just working through the mechanics of transferring me from our current investment manager to a new investment manager.”
“It’s been a pleasure working with the Foundation, its board members, Dr. Endrijonas and her predecessors, as well as the PCC Trustees over my tenure,” Wade adds. “PCC is a tremendous resource serving the greater Pasadena community, which I didn’t fully appreciate until I joined the board. I will miss everyone, but I know that the Foundation and PCC are in good hands.”