Dear Friends of U-GO,

Over the last two months our network of partners have been busy. As part of our largest cohort yet, thousands of young women are being given the happy news that they have been chosen as the newest U-GO scholar. In fact, just the other week we passed a remarkable threshold when we awarded our 5,000th scholarship! The news continues to be shared one by one until, by the end of the year, we will have 6,700 talented young women on long term U-GO scholarships.

Our work is far from done. Thousands of bright young women remain on the waitlist.Though we wish we could say yes to every deserving scholar, we are limited only by funds.

I was reminded of the resilience of our scholars recently, thanks to an Instagram post from one of our newest U-GO scholars in the Philippines. Initially, this young woman was put on the waitlist for a scholarship, but she refused to see it as the end. “Rejection is redirection,” she wrote. When she finally received confirmation of her scholarship, she excitedly reported, “I still can’t believe that I was able to get accepted into the Ayala (our Philippines partner) U-GO Scholarship Grant, even after being waitlisted for a while.” While we celebrate the life changing impact of 6,700 scholars by the end of the year, we know there are thousands more like her, waiting for their turn.

Finally, I hope you enjoy this month’s scholar spotlight. As our first cohorts begin to graduate, we are eagerly following young women like Giana Jasmine Auliaqianza from Indonesia. Giana, who is preparing to embark on a career as a guidance counselor, shares a trait that is consistent with all of our U-GO scholars: the desire to give back to her community. Giana reminds us that to fund one U-GO scholar not only changes a life, but helps to make a better future for an entire generation to come.

As the end of year and the giving season approaches, we hope you will consider helping one more deserving young woman step off the waitlist and into her future.

All the best,

John Wood

Founder and CEO

scholar spotlight

GIANA JASMINE AULIAQIANZA

Bachelor of Guidance and Counseling

University of Jakarta, Indonesia

“I want to be a guiding light for others; the same way U-GO has been for me.”

Giana is a final-year student in the Guidance and Counseling Department at the University of Jakarta, determined to turn her passion for helping others into her life’s work. As the eldest child in her family, she carries the responsibility of being a role model for her younger sibling and a source of pride for her parents. Her dream is to become a professional counselor and guide young people through the challenges of adolescence, helping them unlock their potential and grow into confident, capable individuals.

Giana’s calling became clear during a six-month internship as a counseling teacher at a junior high school in Jakarta—an experience she describes as life-changing. Working closely with students, she discovered that counseling goes beyond academics; it’s about listening with empathy, offering guidance, and nurturing character. She witnessed the struggles of adolescents firsthand, which deepened her resolve to dedicate her career to supporting youth development and inspiring the next generation.

Outside the classroom, Giana has become an active leader on campus and in her community. At the University of Jakarta, she participates in the faculty’s Outstanding Student Forum, and in her community, she serves as a key member of Karang Taruna, helping organize annual Independence Day celebrations and other youth-led initiatives. In 2024, she was also selected as the Youth Ambassador for the City of Tangerang, representing an empowered, creative generation committed to making a difference.

Giana credits the U-GO scholarship, in partnership with the Inotek Foundation, for making this journey possible. The scholarship not only eased the financial burden on her family but also opened doors to training, leadership programs, and organizational activities that strengthened her confidence and skills. Now, as she prepares to graduate and begin her career as a counselor, Giana dreams of becoming a guiding light for others, helping students navigate challenges, embrace their potential, and create brighter futures of their own.

One donation. One counselor. Endless lives impacted.

FUNdraising success!

San Francisco and Chicago

For the second year in a row, our Bay Area Wine Dinner was a rousing success. The U-GO Wild West board along with 110 guests joined us for a night of fantastic modern Chinese food at China Live, along with wines donated by our generous sponsors, River Road Winery, Cruse Wine Co., Ride & Ridden and Scribe. Lively auction bidding and generous pledges resulted in a fantastic $350,000 raised, or enough to fund over 437 years of scholarships.
A week later John was in Chicago for an intimate event at a private home. With donations still coming in, we are thrilled to report over $320,000 in commitments, enough to fund over 400 years of scholarships. Thank you Bay Area and Chicago!

Coming soon to a

city Near You…

Image: Elena Monroe Photography, San Diego event 2025

Hong Kong

U-GO Wine Dinner

Saturday, November 8th

The Rosewood Hotel, 6:30pm - 10:30pm

🧧 Tables are SOLD OUT! Wish our Hong Kong board good luck and to get on the waiting list for this event or mailing list for future events, email [email protected]

Sydney

Spring Gala in the Garden

Saturday November 15th

The Calyx at the Royal Botanic Garden, 6pm - 10pm

🌸 Only 2 tables left! Consider being a table sponsor or joining as an individual ticket buyer. Don’t miss this evening of fun and philanthropy in the beautiful botanic gardens. To book your table or tickets, email Noelene Palmer at [email protected]

For a full event schedule and to rsvp

DAF 1o1

Do you have a DAF? Or are you DAF curious? Maybe you heard John and Amy tossing around these three letters at the recent San Francisco fundraiser? Or maybe you have a DAF and didn’t realize that is what it is called, or really, what you can do with it.

Here is your primer.

DAFs are US based, tax-advantaged investment accounts. You can contribute cash or assets (eg. crypto, stocks) for an upfront tax benefit, invest the funds, and distribute grants to charities at any time. Some of the better known DAFs include Fidelity, DAFgiving360 (part of Charles Schwab), Daffy and PayPal Giving.

If you are interested in setting up a DAF, talk to your tax accountant. If you already have one, consider using it to fund a long-term commitment to U-GO today.

Ask About Making a Long-Term Commitment