PIHRA Affiliate

PIHRA Foundation

The PIHRA Foundation

Various Events and Initiatives Throughout the Year

PIHRA Foundation supports workforce readiness in Southern California including support for education through programs such as “You and Your First Job” and human resources scholarships. The scholarship program attracts top students from local universities who have a commitment to enter the human resources field. Recipients are selected on a competitive basis by a committee of seasoned PIHRA members who are themselves part time university instructors.

Support Our Cause:

PIHRA members, their companies, and others interested in the mission of the Foundation are encouraged to send contributions to:

PIHRA Foundation
18080 Crenshaw Blvd, #7909
Torrance, CA 90504

Valentina Fiorentino, Foundation President
Email: pihrafoundation@pihra.org

→ Support the PIHRA Foundation Today:

→ Become a PIHRA Member!

 

Mission

Our mission is to advance workforce readiness through community service in the greater Los Angeles area.

 

About Us

PIHRA Foundation supports workforce readiness in Southern California including support for education through programs such as “You and Your First Job” and human resources scholarships. The scholarship program attracts top students from local universities who have a commitment to enter the human resources field. Recipients are selected on a competitive basis by a committee of seasoned PIHRA members who are themselves part time university instructors.

The PIHRA Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation serving Southern California communities. The PIHRA Foundation was established in partnership with the Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA). The PIHRA Foundation is continuing its fund raising activities in order to have the resources to carry out its various programs.

PIHRA members, their companies, and others interested in the mission of the Foundation are encouraged to send contributions to:

PIHRA Foundation
18080 Crenshaw Blvd, #7909
Torrance, CA 90504

Valentina Fiorentino, Foundation President
Email: pihrafoundation@pihra.org

Our History

The concept of a foundation affiliated with PIHRA was announced by 1989 incoming PIHRA President Roger Sommer in his installation address. The possibility of starting such an organization was studied that year, but abandoned because it was thought that the foundation would need a substantial capital base which was not available.

Approximately one year later, it was decided to try again, but this time as a not-for-profit, tax exempt 501c3 organization. Lee Patterson of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal succeeded in this effort, and the first meeting of the Board of Directors was held on March 27th, 1991. Roger Sommer served as its first President.

The organization was incorporated as Human Resource Management Institute (HRMI), as initial plans were for it to offer human resources professional development programs. This plan was scrapped because of tax considerations, and the name was changed in 1994 to PIHRA Foundation. Its mission statement was established as: “To promote the Human Resource profession through research, education and community service, primarily in Southern California.”

Prior to the PIHRA Foundation, the You and Your First Job (Y&YFJ) program and the fund raising to support it was a function of PIHRA. This responsibility was transferred to the Foundation as an affiliated organization of PIHRA. The Y&YFJ program has had a long and highly successful history including receiving one of six Pinnacle Awards granted by SHRM in 1992.

In order to more effectively raise the funds necessary to support the Y&YFJ program, the Foundation initiated a silent auction event at the 1994 PIHRA Annual Conference, and this fund raiser has become a fixture at the Conference since that time.

Since its inception, the PIHRA Foundation has provided over $100,000 worth of assistance to educate Human Resource professionals and those individuals entering the workforce. Of that total:

Over $52,000 funded HR college scholarships awarded to PIHRA members.
Over $10,000 funded college scholarships to PIHRA members’ sons and daughters in any discipline.
Over $34,000 was used to develop and train high school students and those re-entering the workforce with the use of the foundation’s publications.

We also published the Job Seeker Materials “You and Your First Job” and “You and Your Next Job” booklet which have been donated to the vocational classes of scores of California secondary schools and junior colleges.

 

PIHRA FOUNDATION

Volunteer Officers

For additional information, please contact us at
pihrafoundation@pihra.org

 President:   Valentina Fiorentino  

  Vice President:   Marilyn Monahan  

 Treasurer:   Jeanette Parr

 Secretary:  Patricia Figueroa

   Publications Committee:   Mark Christensen

 Publications Committee:   Arte Nathan, SPHR

 Publications Committee:   Cheryl Wyrick, Ph.D., SPHR

 Social Media Committee:   Katherine Zertuche

 Scholarship Committee:   Victoria Okolo

 Scholarship Committee:   Cynthia Varona, PHR

 Scholarship Committee:   Laura Clive Flores, SPHR

 Immediate Past President:   Michelle Schuh, PHR, SHRM-CP

 

We invite you to connect with us online, or at our Silent Auction at the California HR Conference!

 

2023 Degree Scholarships

Apply now for the annual PIHRA Foundation HR Student Scholarship! Deadline: November 19, 2023. 

The PIHRA Foundation Student Scholarship provides grants in the following categories:

Undergraduate:

  • Up to $2,500 (depending on student status with upper division undergraduate study)

Graduate:

  • Up to $3,000 (depending on student status)

We urge you to follow the instructions on the flier carefully. Applications for the student scholarship award must be submitted no later than November 19, 2023 to pihra.foundation.scholarships@gmail.com with “PIHRA FOUNDATION Student Scholarship Application” in the subject line.

To download the student application, CLICK HERE.

2023 HR Certification Scholarships

Apply now for our Annual Certification Scholarship! Deadline: December 17, 2023.

As part of its commitment to the human resources community, the PIHRA Foundation grants scholarships ranging from $500 to $3,000 every year to support HR professionals and students.

Currently, the PIHRA Foundation HR Certification Award provides reimbursement grants of up to $500 to selected HR professionals who meet the eligibility requirements for an approved course of instruction leading to their successful SHRM or HRCI certification including the SHRM-SCP, SHRM-CP, SPHR, PHRca and GPHR.

Applications are NOW OPEN for the PIHRA Foundation HR Certification Award.

We urge you to follow the instructions on the flier carefully. Applications for the HR Certification Award must be submitted no later than December 17, 2023 to pihra.foundation.scholarships@gmail.com with “PIHRA FOUNDATION Certification Application” in the subject line.

NOTE: Applicants who have already completed their exam are not eligible for this scholarship and should not apply for a grant to cover past expenses. This scholarship is awarded for testing dates December 1, 2023 – February 15, 2024. PIHRA membership is encouraged, however not required.

Submit a fully and accurately completed application form no later than December 17, 2023. Questions concerning the application process may be directed to the PIHRA Foundation at the above email.

Apply Now!

To download the application, CLICK HERE.

 

 

Donate/Support Us

Donate to the PIHRA Foundation Today!

 

 

Annual Silent Auction

The Silent Auction at the annual California HR Conference in Long Beach, CA, has been our main fundraising event. Auction proceeds fund scholarships to deserving Human Resource majors at local colleges and universities and for their professional certifications. The Foundation also funds two programs: “You and Your First Job”, for high school students applying for their first job, and “You and Your Next Job”, for those wanting to change jobs or those returning to the workforce.

The PIHRA Foundation is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) organization and the value of your donation may be considered a tax deduction.

Donated items are displayed in the Exhibition Hall’s Silent Auction booth for the Conference attendees to view and bid on your products and see your company name as a donor or sponsor who supports the PIHRA Foundation.

Please check back on this site soon to find further details regarding the next Silent Auction.

Questions concerning the Silent Auction or any other donation may be directed to the PIHRA Foundation at pihrafoundation@pihra.org.

 

Shopping with tax deductions through eScrip!

eScrip 

Your favorite online retailers will make a donation on your behalf to the Foundation every time you shop at their online stores once you have registered. It’s so easy! So get started on your holiday shopping and making a tax deductible donation to the Foundation all at the same time!

It’s easy to get started. Simply visit www.escrip.com – click on “1 Sign Up – It’s Free!” and complete the four easy Steps (enter “PIHRA Foundation” as the Group).

Once registered online, go to www.escrip.com Click on “At The Online Mall” under “Welcome to eScrip!” Select your online store – Start shopping!

Here are a few of your favorite participating online stores: Amazon, babyGAP, Apple Store, Dell Home, Home Depot, Staples, Bloomingdale’s, Adidas, LEGO, Best Buy, FTD, Harry and David, GODIVA Chocolatier, Petsmart, Nordstrom, Toys R Us, Sears, Lancome, JCPenny, TurboTax, Barnes&Noble, Cabelas, Blue Nile, Sephora, eHarmony, TiVo, Restaurant.com, Eddie Bauer, Office Depot, eBay, Gap.com, SonyStyle.com, Vistaprint.com, Wireless from AT&T…and more!

Every contribution to the Foundation makes a difference to the HR students and professionals we serve. In 2013 four students received a total of $10,000 for scholarships, four HR professionals received a total of $2,000 toward PHR/SPHR Certification and three in transition professionals received CA HR Conference stipends valued at $1,197. These awards were made possible thanks to the funds raised from the Silent Auction, District donations and individual contributors. The PIHRA Foundation Board extends a sincere thanks to all.

If you just want to make a year-end contribution to meet your tax deduction limits, simply make your check payable to PIHRA Foundation and mail it to the PIHRA office:

PIHRA Foundation
1515 W 190th St, Ste 530
Gardena, CA 90248

 

Job Seeker Materials

PIHRA Foundation Booklet: You and Your Next Job

It’s called the information age, the 24/7 workplace, and the service economy. But no matter what you call it, the 21st century is bringing far-reaching changes ill the way we live and work and learn.

You can see changes going on all around you. There are new jobs, new ways to work, new technologies, and new challenges. As you look to the future you may feel overwhelmed and insecure, or excited and confident.

Do you have what it takes to find success in the 21st century work force? Sure you do! While you may not have the sophisticated skills or abilities for this “high-tech” century, if you have a great attitude and a willingness and enthusiasm to learn, you will find limitless opportunities.

Finding, choosing and building a career takes a lot of work, knowledge and support because careers just don’t work like they used to. This booklet is organized around a four-step career development process: Discover, Explore, Decide, and Act.

It is our hope that reading and completing the activities and suggestions in this Booklet, will help you find a career path filled with extraordinary success.

“Follow your bliss and be what you want to be. Don’t climb the ladder of success only to find its leaning against the wrong wall.” – Bernie Siegel

If you are interested in obtaining copies of our publications, please contact PIHRA at (310) 416-1210 or download the Order Form here.

Are you interested in a PDF file copy? Click here to submit a request form.

For other inquiries, please email us at info@pihrafoundation.org

 

PIHRA Foundation

Volunteer Opportunities

Be a Job Skills Trainer or Mock Interviewer

PIHRA Foundation welcomes your participation in our mission. 

L.A. Youth At Work

PIHRA Foundation has partnered with L.A. Youth at Work, an initiative of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, L.A. Youth at Work, to recruit volunteers for Job Skills Workshop or Mock Interview which any HR professional can participate.

  • Conduct a Mock Interview at a Work Readiness Certification Session. Evaluate and coach young job seekers’ work readiness competencies.

  • Conduct a Job Skills Workshop and coach young people on resume/cover letter writing, interview skills, workplace ethics and etiquette after completing LA Youth at Work Training Class for Trainers/Facilitators.

  • Interested in volunteering as a facilitator for a Career-themed Job Skills Workshop.

If you are ready, willing, and able to volunteer please contact PIHRA Foundation Board Member Jenny Klein immediately:
Email: jennybklein@cox.net
Phone: (949) 887-3447

Maria Dolores Nieto | Director, Education & Workforce Development
LA Youth at Work | UNITELA
Ph: 213.580.7599
mnieto@lachamber.com | www.layouthatwork.org