About Esther Gillies

Esther Gillies is a licensed clinical social worker and dedicated volunteer at Pasadena Village, the United Nation Association Pasadena Foothills Chapter, and several organizations dedicated to preventing child abuse. She champions self-determination and is a caring and impactful mentor to many aspiring social workers and other caring professionals. 

In 2014, she established a mutually beneficial internship program at Pasadena Village for Social Work Master’s students. She designed the program to engage the students with the aging process outside of a clinical setting. She volunteered thousands of hours to provide weekly supervision, mentorship, hands-on assistance, and learning opportunities for over 15 interns from University of Southern California, Azusa Pacific University and California State University, Los Angeles. 

Her significant contributions also include her leadership on the Board of Directors as Secretary, her support of peers through the Village Care Team, the development of the women’s group model, the founding of the Caregiver Support Group, the development of the Caregiver Support Toolkit shared with other nonprofits throughout California, leadership of the Adapting When Life Gets Tough support group and Critical Issues Discussion Group, and organizing the temporary meal delivery program and transportation initiatives. She has been an active contributing member of Pasadena Village since 2013.

About Rotary Club of Altadena

The Rotary Club of Altadena has made positive contributions to the community for over seventy-five years. The Rotarians, currently led by President Maricela Viramontes, are dedicated volunteer leaders who make a difference while having a great time together. Their signature program, the Farnsworth Park Concert Series, brings together people from all ages and walks of life to enjoy quality musical entertainment. It has become a summer tradition for many, including Pasadena Villagers who gather together for a picnic dinner at several of the concerts each summer.

Altadena Rotary Charities has contributed thousands of dollars to a wide range of nonprofit organizations, further strengthening their impact. In 2022, Pasadena After Hours Rotary Club merged with Altadena. The two clubs have supported Pasadena Village over the past several years, through the donation of a new laptop for the Masters of Social Work interns, new chairs and tables for Village gatherings, and for the past two years, the generous support of the annual Volunteer Appreciation Lunch, where the Rotarians not only provide the food and location, they help plan the event, serve the lunch, and engage in the program. Pasadena Village couldn’t ask for a better partner in building community.