Jeanette Kennedy experienced first hand the value of a UC education during her undergraduate and graduate studies and believes that education has the power to transform lives. After a career in the technology industry, she invested time in strengthening the educational experiences of students in her community. She helped to build a local nonprofit dedicated to improving the literacy and math skills of elementary school students. Jeanette first became aware of the Basic Needs Center when her son started as a Berkeley undergraduate and she became committed to supporting the dedicated and...
As a parent of a blended family of 6 kids in their twenties, I feel compelled to pay it forward to young adults and to support UC Berkeley which is my partner’s Alma mater (1988). I’m a former CEO and business leader, and currently an advisor, advocate and investor in mental health and Women’s health. Supporting the BNC team and the students it serves is a honor and a privilege.
As an alumna, mom of an alumnus, and parent of a current student, I feel compelled to make a meaningful impact at an institution that has given so much to each one of us. Being part of a family that prioritizes service and social action, particularly through our work with the public-benefit entertainment company Level Forward and our backing of Dr. Harry Edwards The Last Lectures Series, the Basic Needs Center stood out as the ideal organization on campus in which to offer our support. By providing essentials such as food and housing to students, we collectively strengthen the student body...
Julie Morgan is VP of Workers Compensation Claim Product at Travelers, where she has spent over 35 years championing the best possible outcomes for injured workers and the people who support them. Her career has been defined by a belief that technology should serve people, freeing professionals to focus on trust, connection, and solving what matters most.
A proud UC Berkeley alumna with a BA in Political Science, Julie's commitment to the Berkeley community runs deep. She is drawn to the Basic Needs Council's mission because she knows firsthand that students cannot learn, grow, or...
Kimberly Henderson is an educator and the proud parent of a current UC Berkeley student, dedicating her time to community advocacy and student support networks. She currently serves on the Cal’s Parent Board, where she encourages family philanthropy and supports student programs. Deeply committed to food equity, Kimberly believes access to healthy food is a fundamental human right and that the hunger gap must be eradicated. Her extensive volunteer background includes supporting Saint John’s Program for Real Change and the River City Food Bank. On the UC Berkeley’s Basic Needs Advisory...
I grew up in a family in San Francisco's Chinatown that devoted time and effort to community service organizations. I continued with that focus when I attended Cal Berkeley. I chaired a Voter Registration Drive and a program which brought together Oakland middle-school pupils with Cal students. I volunteered several years at the School for the Blind. Later on, both as an instructor at a Community College, and then as an attorney, I worked with low-income persons and nonprofit organizations. I have served as the President of a University Support Group which gives emergency grants to Cal...
Studying at Berkeley was one of the most inspiring and enriching experiences I had. I want to give back to the school that gave me so much and I want to help reduce student stress about their basic needs so they can focus on their learning.
