March 27, 2025
We’re committed to mentorship, mental health, and communities
Kaiser Permanente awarded Elevate Your G.A.M.E. a grant to expand program capacity, improve its mentoring programs, and support student mental health.
Cristina Saucedo-Garcia, a human resources leader at Kaiser Permanente, shares her career journey with Compton High School students.
At Kaiser Permanente, we believe in the power of community and the profound impact of giving back. Our commitment extends beyond health care — we invest in people, communities, potential, and progress. Through partnerships with local organizations like Elevate Your G.A.M.E., we strive to uplift communities and equip leaders with the tools they need to succeed. Our commitment to improving the lives of people in our communities runs deep.
Elevate Your G.A.M.E., founded in 2002, uses an adult-to-youth mentoring model and a peer mentoring model to inspire and motivate urban students to excel in school and help build character. Since its inception, 3,000 students have been mentored through the program, and 95% of participants graduate high school. In 2024, Kaiser Permanente awarded Elevate Your G.A.M.E. a $95,000 grant to further expand program capacity, improve its mentoring programs, and support the mental health needs of students.
From adversity to achievement: Inspiring the leaders of tomorrow
Supporting important organizations like Elevate Your G.A.M.E. with meaningful grants is not the only way Kaiser Permanente offers aid to our community. We also have incredible leaders in our organization who meet with community members face-to-face to offer words of wisdom and encouragement and provide perspective on college and career preparedness.
Kaiser Permanente continues to be a terrific partner that supports our program. Having leaders like Cristina visit with schools impacts our youth directly. Michael Freeman
Recently, Cristina Saucedo-Garcia, executive director of human resources for Kaiser Permanente in Southern California, visited Compton High School to share her inspiring career journey with students in the Elevate Your G.A.M.E. program.
Cristina shared how her career journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact of mentorship. Her defining moments — from overcoming the challenges of growing up without a father and living on social security benefits alone to graduating from the University of Southern California with her bachelor’s degree early because of advanced placement classes she took in high school — resonated deeply with the students.
After she shared her thoughts about the program, excited students eagerly approached Saucedo-Garcia to speak with her about the qualities that make a good leader. One student proudly shared that he had a 4.0 GPA and had even read one of the books she recommended.
“It fills my heart to know that I was once in their place growing up in a low-income community but determined to succeed,” said Saucedo-Garcia.
Our commitment to youth mentorship and mental health
“Kaiser Permanente continues to be a terrific partner that supports our program. Having leaders like Cristina visit with schools impacts our youth directly,” said Michael Freeman, founder and executive director of Elevate Your G.A.M.E. “We are truly grateful for this partnership over the years and look forward to continuing to invest back in our youth through ongoing mentorship and mental health-related services in 2025 and beyond.”
As Kaiser Permanente continues to partner with organizations like Elevate Your G.A.M.E., we remain committed to investing in our youth and empowering the next generation of leaders for lasting impact. Together, we can help create a brighter future for our communities.
