Emily Sunez, disability advocate, educator, artist, and nonprofit leader, has been selected as a member of the prestigious Junior League’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2026, an honor presented by The Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI). This national recognition celebrates outstanding leaders across the Junior League movement who are creating meaningful community impact through service, leadership, and innovation.

A member of the Junior League of Pasadena (JLP), Sunez currently serves on the League’s Operations Committee, where she contributes to strengthening the organization’s internal systems to better support its mission-driven work in the community.

Sunez is widely recognized for her advocacy for individuals living with chronic and invisible illnesses. After being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and autonomic nervous system disorder, she transitioned from her career as a classroom ESL teacher and transformed her personal health journey into a mission to serve others. In 2018, she founded the Pasadena POTS support group, a grassroots effort that grew into the nonprofit Los Angeles Dysautonomia Network (LADN), which she co-founded.

Under her leadership as Co-Executive Director, LADN expanded to offer adult, teen, and caregiver support groups; patient education programs; community-building events; and a grant program assisting low-income patients with medical expenses. In 2024, she received the Robert Gorski Access Award from the City of Pasadena in recognition of her work to improve accessibility and quality of life for people with disabilities.

Now serving as LADN’s Outreach Director, Sunez has returned to education as a K–8 reading interventionist, where she specializes in supporting students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. She also advocates for the therapeutic power of creativity — her award-winning oil paintings have been exhibited in galleries across California, including a recent solo exhibition at San Marino’s Crowell Public Library. She is also the author and illustrator of The Healing Journal: Guided Prompts & Inspiration for Life with Illness (2022), a guided journal for individuals living with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

Her long-standing commitment to service includes volunteering as a literacy tutor at Pasadena’s Longfellow Elementary School through Reading Partners and helping plan and execute “SheCounts: Women Owning Their Financial Future,” a financial literacy conference hosted by her Junior League of Pasadena new member class.

Sunez’s recognition as a 40 Under 40 honoree highlights her dedication to building inclusive communities, advancing disability advocacy, and empowering others through education, creativity, and service.

The post Emily Suñez Named to Junior League’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2026 appeared first on The Junior League of Pasadena.

First African Methodist Episcopal Church
1700 N Raymond
(626) 798-0503
2nd and 4th Fridays: 9 am – 12 pm

Helping Hands–  First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena
3700 E Sierra Madre Blvd
(626) 351-9631
Wednesdays: 9 am to 12pm

First United Methodist Church
500 E Colorado Blvd
(626) 796-0157
Tuesdays: 10 am – 12 pm

Foothill Unity Center  
191 N Oak Ave
(626) 584-7420
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays: 9am to 11:30am

The Food Pantry – Friends In Deed
444 E Washington Blvd
(626) 797-2402
Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 10am to 3pm; Thursdays: 10am to 1pm

Hill Avenue Grace Lutheran
73 N Hill Ave
(626) 792-4169
Saturdays: 9:30 am – 11:30 am

Juicy Little Society at Fair Oaks Burger
2560 N Fair Oaks Ave, Altadena
(626) 410-5869
Wednesdays: 12 pm – 3 pm
Primarily for Altadena residents

Lincoln Avenue Christian Church
1180 Lincoln Ave
(626) 798-9163
Wednesdays: 10am to 12pm

Morning Star Outreach
1416 Mentor Ave
(626) 354-3006
2nd Saturday 11 am – 1 pm; 4th Saturday 11 am – 12 pm

Pasadena Church
404 E Washington Ave
(626)764-2951
Saturdays 11 am – 3 pm

Pasadena City College – Lancer Pantry
1570 E Colorado Blvd
(626) 585-7264
For PCC students Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays: 10am to 4pm

Mano a Mano Pantry – Pasadena Community Job Center
500 N Lake Ave
(626) 440-0112
Fridays: 8 am – 12 pm

Pasadena Meals on Wheels
500 E Colorado
(626) 449-6815
Meals delivered weekdays

Pasadena Senior Center
85 E Holly St
(626) 685-6732
Food Pantry open Weekdays: 8:30 AM-4:30 PM

St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank– Saint Andrew Church
140 Chestnut St
(626) 792-4183
Wednesdays: 9:00am to 10:30 am; Saturdays: 7:30am to 10:30am

Salvation Army Pasadena Tabernacle Corps – Hope Center
1000 E Walnut St
(626) 529-0503
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 9 am – 11:30 am

Together We Thrive
3541 Brandon St.
Fridays 5 PM – 6:30 PM

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
997 E Walnut St
(626) 792-1212
Saturdays: 10 am – 1 pm

Union Station Homeless Services
825 E Orange Grove Blvd
(626) 791-6602
Daily

ACTS Food Pantry – Westminster Presbyterian Church
1757 N Lake Ave
(626) 794-7141
Saturdays: 10 am – 12 pm

YWCA San Gabriel Valley – Senior Services
85 E Holly
(626) 214-9465
Congregate dining and home delivered meals

If you would like to volunteer or donate, please contact the organizations via the phone numbers listed. We will update this list as we receive more information.

Source: City of Pasadena

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Click HERE to read the article.

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Anastasia Kiok / Junior League of Pasadena
Junior League of Pasadena members Abigail Parsons (Community Committee VP), Allison Daniel (Treasurer), Liwen Tsai (New Member), and Alice Liang (New Member) at the check-in table during the League’s “Family and Friends Come Together” fundraising event at Mt. Lowe Brewing Company on April 5, 2025.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you for joining our Family & Friends Come Together Fundraiser on April 5 at Mt. Lowe Brewing Company! Your support helped make this event a true success, bringing together our community to enjoy an evening of food, fun, and philanthropy in support of the Junior League of Pasadena.

It was an unforgettable night filled with delicious BBQ, craft beer, yard games, and fantastic entertainment. We were thrilled to see so many of you participate in the silent auction and enjoy activities such as music, face painting, balloon art, and more.

We also want to acknowledge the local small businesses, most of which are women-owned, who helped make this event possible: Stems: Cheese, Charcuterie & Catering (BBQ), No Tricks Only Treats (bakery), Cakes by Olive (cake game donation), Mt. Lowe Brewing Co. (event venue), Jovial Events (photo booth), The Ballusionist (balloon artist), Kat the SGV Facepainter, Melissa’s Healing Hands (massage sessions), DeeDee Cupcake (Master of Ceremonies), Anastasia Kiok Photography, Marketing Wave (graphic design), and DJ Valley GRRRL (music).

We are also deeply grateful for our event sponsors who helped make this event possible:

• Heartship Psychological Services – heartshipcounseling.com
• Pamela Hillings Tegtmeyer, Etiquette Speaker/Consultant – pamelahllings@gmail.com
  
• Valerie Mendoza, V Mendoza Consulting LLC

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Updates from Local Authorities
As we all know, the Eaton Fire has affected multiple communities in our beautiful San Gabriel Valley, including Altadena, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Arcadia, Monrovia, and others. Local authorities are actively working to contain the fire and aid those affected. Please refer to the following channels for up-to-date information, evacuation orders, and safety guidelines:

City of Pasadena X Updates
CAL Fire Updates

Please note that CAL Fire has issued an alert about tap water safety in the evacuation areas. Please visit the links above for further information.

Resources
Please visit the Malan Fire & Wind Storms Resources spreadsheet by clicking HERE. This spreadsheet lists the various different shelters and animal boarding information available in our community. This spreadsheet also contains a list of either volunteer or donation needs.

Emotional Support and Counseling Services:
CALHope: Offers free crisis counseling for disaster survivors

• calhope.org or 833-317-4673

Disaster Distress Helpline: Provides 24/7 emotional support for those affected by natural
disasters

• 1-800-985-5990
• Text “TalkWithUs” to 66746

LA County Department of Mental Health: Offers further resources for individuals and families
dealing with trauma

• Dmh.lacounty.gov
• 1-800-854-7771

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Date: October 17, 2024
Time: 10- 11am
Location: Elizabeth House 559 N El Molino Avenue, Pasadena 91101

Click HERE to RSVP

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The Junior League of Pasadena is thrilled to participate in Find the Good Day on September 19, 2024. Created by the Junior League, Find the Good Day is dedicated to finding the good in yourself, your community and the world around you. We invite everyone to join us in spreading positivity and kindness in our communities. JLP will take part in a social media campaign encouraging our members and followers to Find the Good in their communities. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to get involved: JLPasadena

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