From Mother to Daughter - A Tradition of Giving Takes Root

When longtime Chaffey College Governing Board member Kathleen Brugger retired from public service in December, she didn’t want to leave without giving a parting gift.

She has pledged $25,000 to her alma mater for an endowed nursing scholarship. The move inspired her daughter to follow suit.

“I thought, ‘What a great idea!’ Nursing has always been near and dear to her heart. I thought that for us, welding is what has given us everything we have,” said Serena Perazzo.

Perazzo, who helps run the Brugger family’s welding business J&K Welding Co Inc. in Bloomington, has given $12,000 to go toward an endowed welding scholarship at Chaffey College.

Brugger, who serves on the Chaffey College Foundation Board of Directors and has given numerous gifts to Chaffey, said she hopes other alumni will consider giving back to their alma mater.

“I’d like to see more people within the community that would be willing to help with endowments, because they go beyond your lifetime and will help generations of students,” she said.

The Brugger family has deep roots in Chaffey College, with Brugger, several of her children, numerous grandchildren and extended family attending Chaffey.

Perazzo’s husband, Keith, has worked for J&K since he was in his 20s and began helping with day-to-day operations with his wife after Brugger’s husband passed away in 2016. J&K welds underground water lines for contractors, cities, water districts and public works.

“If you appreciate hard work, you will love welding,” Keith Perazzo said. “I think it’s terrific what my family is putting into this. That’s what it takes. We need more people to want to get into this field.”

Serena Perazzo said she did not decide to pursue a welding scholarship until she learned about her mother’s scholarship.

“It lit a fire in my mind that it was a great thing to do,” she said.

Brugger has been a longtime supporter of Career and Technical Education programs because of their ability to provide students with a two-year pathway to good jobs. Her latest gift is a testament to her enthusiasm for CTE.

“The more students we can help to learn a trade, the better,” she said. “Some of them may not want to go to a four-year institution. But they can go to Chaffey, get a certificate and get a job after graduation.”

Learn more about endowment opportunities by contacting the Chaffey College Foundation at foundation@chaffey.edu or at 909-652-6545.