Joan Fauvre Named a "Woman of the Year" in the 29th Congressional District
Washington, D.C.– Yesterday, at a reception in Pasadena, Representative Adam Schiff honored Joan Fauvreof Pasadena for her commitment and service to our community by naming her a “Woman of the Year.”
“Joan’s impact in Pasadena has been exemplary, and she has set a tremendous example of what it means to give back to the community,” Rep. Schiff said. “She has increasingly volunteered her time and talent, making unparalleled commitments to our children and their education.”
Joan grew up in Louisiana and received her B.A. from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette and her M.A. from Pacific Oaks College. Her commitment to children and education became evident early, when she taught third grade in the Los Angeles Unified School District in 1976, prior to starting a family.
In the 1980s, Joan joined the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF). Established in 1971, PEF is a nonprofit organization that is committed to developing partnerships and resources to enhance educational programs in the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD). The Foundation has been incredibly successful, especially due to Joan’s professional leadership and skills as a fundraiser and community builder. In 1985, Joan served on the Board of Directors, where she proved to be a valuable asset to the Foundation. In 1990, she co-chaired a planning committee, which aimed to expand PEF’s fundraising efforts. In 1994, she completed her tenure as a board member and accepted the position of Executive Director. As a testament to the foundation’s success and Joan’s able guidance, PEF has taken on some of the critically important district-wide activities that had been cut from the PUSD budget. For instance, the Foundation now runs a Summer Enrichment Program at five PUSD campuses that provides learning opportunities for more than 1,000 students. Furthermore, thanks to Joan’s efforts and the community support that she garnered, all PUSD middle schools have a Robotics Program.
Joan is also a dedicated volunteer, who has committed endless hours of service to a variety of organizations, including the Pasadena-Foothill Valley YWCA, the Junior League of Pasadena, and Polytechnic Parents Group, among others. She was also an active participant on the Partners in Education Advisory Board and served on the Board of Trustees of Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School for eight years.
Following her retirement from PEF in 2010, Joan has remained a vibrant member of the community. Currently, she serves on the Board of Trustees of the Pasadena Child Health Foundation and on the Board of Directors of the California Consortium of Education Foundations. She and her husband John have three children and two grandchildren.
Every March, during Women’s History Month, Rep. Schiff honors one outstanding woman from each of the communities in the 29th Congressional District. These women come from all walks of life and represent the thousands of women who make a positive impact in our region. While there are no specific criteria for nomination, Rep. Schiff looks for women who — through their work or volunteerism — have improved the quality of life for our community.
Rep. Schiff represents California’s 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.
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