Gretchen Kyle
​Gretchen Kyle is a retired healthcare professional who dedicates her time to our community and especially to the non-profit organization, she started called Big Bay Ray. The nonprofit is named after a horse her daughter rescued years ago. Gretchen saw a great need for nurturing and rescuing horses in distress. Ray’s death was devastating to the family and they eventually decided to find organizations that rescued horses and come up with a way to support them financially.
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Her non-profit collects recycled grain bags, volunteers wash and sew the bags into shopping bags, wine bottle carriers, baby bibs and other items that can be sold through various retail outlets. She started with a $1,700 donation to a Pleasanton organization called “Horses Healing Hearts” and expanded to other organizations and therapeutic riding groups like Reins in Motion in Livermore that receive an average of $2,000, the organization also donated $2,500 to the UC Davis Emergency Response Team, which helped battle the wildfires in Santa Rosa.
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However, her service and compassion isn’t only directed toward horses. At Christmas time, she visits Christmas tree lots just and gathers unsold trees and delivers them to needy families. She had a friend who does flowers for weddings, so after the weddings, she picks up the extra flowers and delivers them to seniors, hospitals and gets other organizations such as youth church groups to help distribute these flowers to brighten the lives of others.
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She helps other organizations with their fundraising needs, we know this because she has helped the Community of Character gather auction items for our annual BBQ and Fundraising event to provide scholarships to Pleasanton high school seniors.
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Gretchen Kyle is an extra special, compassionate volunteer with amazing energy and follow-through. She gives so much of herself to help our community and to coordinate efforts to fill the needs of a number of non-profits. She has an extra special spark and contagious positive energy. She is filled with a drive to give and is a perfect nominee for the community character award.
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Audrey & Bryan Gillette Family
Audrey, Bryan, Colin, and Decker Gillette are long-time Pleasanton residents who have made it a priority to stay actively involved in their community. Parents Audrey and Bryan have instilled in their teenage sons a strong sense of the importance of living by the Community of Character values.
Audrey and Bryan were involved with "Cycling for Civics," which raised over $70,000 for local “We the People” and “Mock Trial” teams and drama clubs at Amador Valley and Foothill High Schools. Audrey regularly volunteered at her sons' elementary school teaching Art, and while chairing the Walnut Grove Fun Run, she helped raise nearly $150,000 in just two years. For several years, she drove seniors to appointments and now drives for Meals on Wheels every week.
Bryan, a Foothill High School graduate, also volunteered in the elementary school by teaching math and reading. As co-Race Director for the PPIE Run for Education, he helped launch this annual event with over 3,000 annual participants. During his tenure, the run raised over $400,000 for local students. Bryan also led several initiatives for the Pleasanton Unified School District, including chairing the school bond campaign and serving on hiring committees. Most recently, he served on the City’s Budget Advisory Committee.
At the end of each year, the family gathers to reflect on how they can continue giving back to the community. One of their recent traditions has been picking up trash along a half-mile stretch of Hopyard Road every few months. They also regularly participate in Kids Against Hunger events with extended family—a favorite for both boys. All four are part of the city’s Park Ambassador program.
Within weeks of the war breaking out in Ukraine, the entire family traveled to Germany and Poland to purchase and deliver needed supplies to a refugee camp and foster school. Thanks to their network in Germany, they also helped coordinate the delivery of approximately $150,000 worth of critical prescription medications to hospitals in Kyiv. Since then, Audrey, Bryan, and Colin have stayed in regular contact with their Ukrainian friends, speaking weekly to help them improve their English.
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Samantha & Steve Nimmo Family
Steve, Mannie, and Samantha Nimmo are the embodiment of compassion, resilience, and purpose-driven service. For decades, Mannie and Steve have been pillars of the Pleasanton community.
Mannie dedicated years of service to various organizations, holding leadership roles on the boards of the Pleasanton Mothers Club, Friends of Gingerbread Preschool, Fairlands Elementary, and Amador Valley High School.
Steve made his mark as a longtime volunteer and coach, serving 21 seasons across the RAGE and Ballistic United soccer programs, with Mannie supporting as team manager. He also served as President of the Amador Valley High School Athletic Boosters, helping raise critical funds for school sports—most notably leading efforts to install much-needed new turf at the school stadium.
Samantha, a 2019 graduate of Amador Valley High School, shared the family’s passion for youth sports. She played competitive soccer with Pleasanton RAGE and lacrosse with
Pleasanton Pride, later coaching youth soccer and excelling in NCAA collegiate lacrosse. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology, deepening her commitment to mental health advocacy.
In 2018, the Nimmos experienced unimaginable loss when their beloved son and brother, Zachary, died by suicide. Faced with profound grief, they initially stepped back from their volunteer roles. But their pause was brief. Channeling their pain into purpose, the Nimmos created the Z Cares Foundation, committed to breaking the silence around youth mental health.
Their mission began with a community screening of Angst, a documentary raising awareness about anxiety. The powerful community response sparked a deeper calling: to use storytelling
and film to drive impact. They became filmmakers, starting with Look At Me Now: Stories of Hope, a compelling feature that follows four young people on their mental health journeys. They followed it with Stories of Hope: SHORTS, a classroom-ready film series designed to spark critical conversations among students and educators.
To date, their films have been viewed more than 70,000 times and honored with 10 film festival awards—proof that their message is resonating.
Through their unwavering commitment, the Nimmos have transformed personal tragedy into a movement for healing, hope, and change. Their rallying cry—“Let’s talk about it!”—continues to open hearts, spark dialogue, and remind others that no one is alone.
PPIE (Pleasanton Partnerships in Education)
Founded in 1987, PPIE (Pleasanton Partnerships in Education) is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for over 13,000 students across 15 Pleasanton schools.
By funding supplemental staff and awarding innovative grants to both educators and students, PPIE helps bridge critical funding gaps not covered by the state. The foundation works hand-in-hand with parent clubs, Booster programs, and the school district to support a well-rounded, high-quality education.
Thanks to the generous contributions of Pleasanton families, local businesses, community leaders, and foundations, PPIE continues to invest in the future of our schools—providing essential staffing, dynamic grants, and meaningful opportunities for community involvement.
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PPIE’s signature annual fundraiser—the Pleasanton Run for Education—is a celebration of community spirit, wellness, and educational support. Designed for all ages and fitness levels, the event welcomes runners, walkers, and even stroller joggers. To date, it has raised over $1 million for Pleasanton schools.
Guided by a dedicated board and countless volunteers, PPIE remains a trusted partner in education, working to meet the evolving needs of students and teachers alike.
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PPIE believes that strong schools are built by strong communities. Through critical staffing and innovative grants that support students at all Pleasanton schools, PPIE’s mission is to empower educators and students to thrive—both in the classroom and beyond.
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