
40 to Forever
Celebrating the past and building for the future

Barbara Alejandre
Retired Intergovernmental Relations Officer
San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools

Why do you support Children’s Fund?
I support Children’s Fund because I have seen firsthand what happens when a community refuses to give up on its children. Many of the students we serve have experienced more hardship in their young lives than most adults ever will—poverty, instability, abuse, and broken family systems. Yet even in the midst of that, I’ve seen incredible resilience. I’ve also seen children who are still searching for someone to believe in them. That is where we step in. Through mentorship, scholarships, training, providing basic needs and meaningful life experiences, we don’t just provide services — we provide encouragement, belief, and opportunity.
What moves me most is the collective passion behind this work. Every staff member and board member genuinely cares about improving outcomes for vulnerable children in need. This isn’t abstract — it’s deeply personal. Children don’t get to choose the circumstances they are born into. Those of us who can make a difference have a responsibility to do so. When a community comes together with compassion and action, lives change. I’ve seen it happen.


