Jae Eui Yi, San Francisco Alumnus ’06

"Always be grateful for the tools that helped you on your climb"

Jae Eui Yi met Summer Search in 1995 when he was a junior at St. Mary’s High School in Berkeley. As an introvert, Jae was surprised that he felt so comfortable talking about his family in his interview with Founder Linda Mornell.

Jae and his family emigrated from Korea when he was two. His parents worked long hours in a shoe store to create educational opportunities for their children that they weren’t able to obtain for themselves. Jae performed well in school but his parents’ absence added pressure for him to care for his younger sister.

Summer Search for Jae was an opportunity to do something for himself and away from the scrutiny of his family. Through his 30-day NOLS experience, Jae developed confidence and boldly stepped out of his shell. Jae returned to school with a stronger presence and voice on his sports teams and in clubs. Finding this inner strength compelled Jae to go against his inclinations and families’ wishes to attend college close to home. In the spring of 2000, Jae graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Business Administration.

Returning to the Bay Area after 11 years in Southern California, Jae works at a private equity firm called Coastwood Capital Group. Being close again to his parents and watching his nephews grow up, reminded Jae of his gratitude towards Summer Search. Inspired, Jae reached out to his friends and colleagues, told them about the impact of Summer Search in his own life and in the lives of other deserving students who have since entered the program. Inspired by Jae’s commitment to his community, his colleagues raised a staggering $2,000 for Summer Search!