The PIHRA Foundation

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.

The scholarship program attracts top students form 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 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: