South Bay Non-Profit Groups Participate in Volunteer Efforts for Compassion Week

Michael Reisman • October 4, 2023

College of Adaptive Arts Students Join Thousands of Other Volunteers to Spread Kindness Throughout the Community


(Saratoga, Calif.) --- On October 7 through October 14, students from the College of Adaptive Arts will participate in Compassion Week, an effort in Bay Area centered on bringing people of all ages and abilities together with the mission to build a strong, compassionate, and empathetic community.

 

In partnership with the Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation, Fremont Bank, County of Santa Clara Supervisor Joe Simitian, and multiple local faith communities, Compassion Week encourages individuals, groups, and families to engage in meaningful acts of service. Since its inception in 2012, over 21,000 volunteers have participated in Compassion Week activities, supporting over 85 nonprofits.

 

College of Adaptive Arts (CAA) is a Bay Area based educational non-profit which provides collegiate education to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It centers on the concept of lifelong learning and serves more than 224 adult students across 9 states.

 

CAA Student Brighid Kohl said that she and her classmates have elected to assemble CARE packages for local foster youth to help them feel less alone.

 

“There is enough sadness in the world,” said Brighid. “We are trying to make sure there is a lot of happiness too.”

 

Those who are interested in volunteering for Compassion Week can register at https://www.compassionweeklosaltos.org/. For more information on the College of Adaptive Arts, please visit https://www.collegeofadaptivearts.org/.


ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF ADAPTIVE ARTS:

College of Adaptive Arts is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing a lifelong, equitable collegiate experience to adults with special needs who historically have not had access to college education. The vision of CAA is to empower adults with special needs to creatively transform perception of disability. This is an institution of higher education where adults have opportunities to learn from a diverse and rich curriculum that will enable them to live a full and empowered life as successful, contributing members of the community. For more information, or to volunteer and/or donate visit https://www.collegeofadaptivearts.org/



Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn't Find. CAA Story #13: Professor Anthony Nguyen

By DeAnna Pursai • May 18, 2026
CAA's Director of the School of Communications

Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn't Find. CAA Story #12: Student Andre C.

By DeAnna Pursai • May 11, 2026
At only 5 years old, Andre lost his parents and began a long and painful stay in the foster care system, not really having anyone to trust or love him. Eventually he started hanging out with the wrong people and faced his share of troubles. Being developmentally and physically disabled, people often took advantage of him or tried extorting him for money. He met two friends, Nancy and Kristin, through his church and they began helping Andre turn his life around.. Both women began helping Andre at first with essentials, making sure he got meals and into a safe housing situation. Nancy helped Andre get set with a bank account and taught him basic budgeting skills, while Kristin got him involved in stable social environments like College of Adaptive Arts. Now, at age 67, Andre is one of the oldest students currently enrolled in College of Adaptive Arts (CAA), a nonprofit providing higher education for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Every week, Andre looks forward to attending his Innercise class, which focuses on mindfulness, meditation and introspection. “The class helps me feel good about myself,” said Andre. “It helps me calm my mind.” According to Nicole Kim, Executive Director of College of Adaptive Arts, students like Andre who have been sidelined from traditional education are exactly who they are trying to reach. “Andre is proof that education has no expiration date,” said Nicole Kim, Executive Director of College of Adaptive Arts. “No matter your age or ability level, you are never too old to learn, grow and cultivate meaningful relationships” According to Nancy and Kristin, CAA has helped Andre further his education but also regain the trust to make friends and find a safe community of like-minded friends. “After our church closed, Andre really missed being able to share things with others that were important or special to him, and I think he’s found that at CAA,” said Nancy. Since meeting both women and attending CAA, Andre has said he has made the choice to change his life, and that he chooses “The New Andre” everyday.

Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn’t Find. CAA Story #11: Mimi Giannini and the Bill and Linda Giannini Family Foundation

By DeAnna Pursai • May 4, 2026

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