This Thanksgiving, as many families across Southern California face rising food costs and limited access to holiday essentials, Broadcom co-founder and philanthropist Dr. Henry T. Nicholas III and the Nicholas Academic Centers (NAC) chose to forgo their annual Thanksgiving celebration together and reallocate those resources toward a meal giveaway. In 2025, with economic pressures continuing to impact local households, NAC and Dr. Nicholas redirected funding to ensure NAC students can provide their immediate families with a Thanksgiving meal kit to enjoy at home, reinforcing the organization’s ongoing mission of gratitude and service.

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Left to Right: Nicholas Academic Centers Director of Programs Jocelyne Serafin, Executive Director Rodolfo Duarte, Santa Ana Councilmember Jessie Lopez, and Santa Ana Unified School District Board Member and NAC Alumni Valerie Magdaleno

“The NAC Thanksgiving meal meant so much to my family and me. The amount of food distributed and the people who helped reminded us of the kindness around us. Not only were we fed for the holiday, but we also felt included, valued, and uplifted,” said Jocelyn Reyes Gallegos, a NAC student in her senior year. “Being a part of NAC has been a blessing. NAC has opened so many doors I never expected to receive. The NAC has supported my journey and shaped me into someone stronger and prepared for the future.”

Staff and volunteers distributed over 400 Thanksgiving meals to NAC students at Valley High School (1801 S Greenville St., Santa Ana, CA 92704) on November 25, between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. The meal kits, enough to feed a family of six, contained a whole turkey, side dishes, dessert, and a gift card. This year marked the return of NAC’s 2020 initiative, when the organization distributed meal baskets during the pandemic to ensure students and families could celebrate safely.

Executive Director Rodolfo Duarte said the decision to shift this year’s event back to meal distribution underscored NAC’s community-first approach and commitment to addressing local needs. “The NAC is more than a program; it’s a family. When we share food, we share hope and love,” Duarte said. “Our students and alumni have shown us what resilience looks like, and this was our way of giving back. The success of our students reminds us why community matters. Whether we’re helping them apply to college or providing a warm Thanksgiving meal, it’s about supporting the whole family. Education changes lives, but so does compassion.”

“This is such an inspiring event. Recognizing the hard work of our students and their families, celebrating the community that’s built on the generosity of Dr. Henry Nicholas and the hard work of our team, the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) teachers, and the school board, and ultimately taking a moment to take a deep breath from college applications and just feel thankful,” said NAC Board Chairman Mike Newman.

Founded in 2007 by Dr. Nicholas and Retired Superior Court Judge Jack Mandel, the NAC provides highly qualified staff, academic assistance and tutoring, social services, cultural enrichment programs, college access and support services, and need-based scholarship opportunities for students. Many NAC families face financial hardship, making the meal distribution deeply personal to the organization’s mission.

That sense of enduring connection continues to drive Dr. Nicholas’ commitment to the Santa Ana community. To date, 2,498 NAC graduates have earned more than $154.2 million in scholarships and grants, attending universities such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Cornell, Columbia, the University of Southern California, and the University of California, Los Angeles.

“The NAC shows what real commitment looks like to our Santa Ana families. Giving out more than 400 bags filled with food while guiding students toward higher education speaks volumes. I’m grateful for Dr. Nicholas and every NAC staff member who works hard every day to uplift our community,” said Santa Ana Councilmember Jessie Lopez.

SAUSD Board Member and NAC Alumni Valerie Magdaleno shared, “It means so much to return now as a Board Member and help distribute turkeys and groceries for our families’ Thanksgiving dinners. The NAC has shaped the trajectory of so many SAUSD students, and I’m grateful to now give back to the NAC. Thank you to Dr. Nicholas and all the NAC staff who continuously show up.”

The NAC’s Thanksgiving meal giveaway was made possible through the Henry T. Nicholas III Education Foundation, which funds all three NAC sites and student services. Since its founding, Dr. Nicholas has donated more than $57.7 million to sustain the program’s mission of helping students reach higher education and lifelong success.

View: Press Packet

NAC Graduate Statistics:

• 91% who enrolled in four-year universities have graduated or remain enrolled (national average retention rate of 82%)
• 81% who attended four-year universities graduated in six years (national average of 64%)
• 11% between 2009 and 2014 who attended four-year universities have earned or currently remain enrolled in graduate school

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