In her 15 years at YOU, Inc. Kate Pesa, Director of the Career Pathways Program, has been an unwavering champion for not just the students in her own program, but for the thousands of youth and families we serve across the agency. 

Kate oversees a busy program including four classrooms and staff who provide structured academic supports and tutoring to students who have dropped out of a traditional high school and want to attain a High School Equivalency (HiSET), as well as certificate training programs that prepare students for careers in IT, healthcare, and youth services.  

Despite that demanding schedule, for the last four years Kate has taken on the monumental task of planning for, soliciting, and distributing hundreds of holiday gifts for children and teens in our programs, and in many cases for their extended family members. From early November until the very last days before Christmas, when not at one of her program locations Kate can be found either driving across Worcester County to gather donations, or labeling and sorting 600+ gifts in her home away from home at Seven Hills’ Hope Ave. headquarters.

“Kate’s dedication to making sure no child we serve goes without on Christmas morning is nothing short of amazing. And the generosity of the dozens of companies and individuals who donate gifts is testament to Kate’s passion for the work she does every day at YOU, Inc.”
Monica Potter
Senior Director, Education Programs