Gala 2026 - Aim High

Forty years of Aim High! What an extraordinary milestone, and what an extraordinary community that has made it possible.

On October 22, 2026, more than 350 friends and supporters gathered at San Francisco City Hall for More Than a Summer, our 40th Anniversary Gala. It was a joyful celebration of the generations of students, educators, alumni, families, and supporters who have shaped Aim High over four decades.

And we have some wonderful news to share!

The evening helped raise incredible support for Aim High to help ensure that more young people and educators have access to the opportunities, relationships, and experiences that make Aim High so much more than a summer.

We were also honored to welcome Mayor Daniel Lurie, who officially proclaimed October 22 Aim High Day in San Francisco! What a wonderful recognition of 40 years of expanding educational opportunity and the countless people who have been part of that work.

Throughout the evening, we heard powerful reflections from Aim High alumni Malia M. Cohen and Makei Harrison, educator Elizabeth Sanchez Wright, and our wonderful alumna and auctioneer Michelle Cody. Their stories reminded us that the relationships, confidence, and sense of possibility that begin at Aim High can last a lifetime.

As I reflect on this milestone, I think about the legacy of our founders, Eleanor McBride and Alec Lee, and the many educators who have carried their vision forward. Our responsibility is to make sure the next generation of young people has someone who will look them in the eye and say, “I believe in you, and I’m going to help you get there.”

That’s the promise at the heart of Aim High. And it’s a promise we can only keep together.

Whether you were part of Aim High’s earliest summers or have only recently joined our community, you are part of this story. Thank you for helping us reach this remarkable milestone and for all you do to make Aim High possible.

Here’s to the next 40 years!

With gratitude,

Jesús Galindo
Chief Executive Officer
Aim High

With special thanks to our 40th Anniversary Gala sponsors, Host Committee, Board of Trustees, and Ambassador Council for helping make this celebration possible.