Meet the Team: Alex Mow

Background and Inspiration
I graduated from Lehigh University in 2021 with a major in marketing and a minor in mandarin. I was born in Bellevue, Washington and moved to San Diego when I was 8 years old in 2006.

When I graduated from Lehigh, I loathed the idea of spending 8 hours a day working as a corporate drone at a company whose mission didn’t remotely align with my values. Because of this fear of experiencing said dread, I drew to the conclusion that going to the Peace Corps and serving 2 years in a far away land would suit me best. After telling all my friends that I had been accepted and was going to Ghana, I patiently waited for my departure date… And waited… and waited…Half a year went by, but I couldn’t go due to Covid’s ravaging and extended effects on impoverished countries. As a recent college grad, who had told all his friends and family that he was going on a grand adventure to do good on the other side of the world, I felt a great sense of guilt and crippled pride in the fact that it had been 6 months after my big news and I still lived at home and worked at a rock climbing gym part time. 

It wasn’t long after that guilt started to set in that I was trauma dumping, if you will, to a friend. Complaining and regurgitating my averse attitudes toward the image of myself working in a snuffy office. “Why don’t you start a non-profit?” he said, being an entrepreneur himself. And that’s what got the little wheel in my head to start turning.

Determined to start a non profit of my own, I set out to meet with a long term advisor and role model of mine, Susan Nordenger. Susan was the Community Service Director during my time in middle school and high school at La Jolla Country Day, and we had experienced a great deal of volunteering and travel together. I figured she would be the perfect person to talk to about what it would take to start a 501(c)(3), and she was. She said, “you have to talk to Mike.”

The next week, I was on a call with Mike (yes, our Mike). I picked his brain, getting slightly overwhelmed with the concept, formalities, fundraising, regulations, and everything else that goes into starting a non profit. His advice to me, “don’t start a non-profit.” Before I had the chance to counter argue, he offered me a position with A Bridge for Kids that I couldn’t refuse. Saying that if all goes well, after a while, I can implement my dream into his non-profit… 3 fleeting years later, here we are, and my dream - the Health & Wellness Program - has become a huge and influential program offered to all of our students.

Roles and Responsibilities
Humble brag incoming:

At ABFK, I wear many hats, focusing on program development, event planning, marketing, website maintenance, occasional grant writing, student outreach, mentorship, and more. I’ve played a key role in expanding and nurturing programs like Health & Wellness and Crossing the Bridge, ensuring that the underrepresented students we serve receive the support and opportunities they need to thrive. I also oversee and handle a large part of the student interview and outreach process, having developed a standardized grading rubric to streamline evaluations.

On the marketing side, I manage advertisements, social media accounts, branding, email campaigns & content, and fundraising campaigns, including our Giving Tuesday initiative, raffles, and gala events (although I can’t take full credit for DreamMakers as that takes a tribe and months of planning). I’ve also designed visually compelling annual reports that have directly contributed to securing grants.

Beyond strategy and outreach, I act as a mentor and role model for students, leading trips and outings that foster personal growth and community. My work blends strategic planning, student engagement, and donor relations, all with the goal of expanding opportunities for the students we serve.

How does your work impact the students & programs at ABFK?
When I first started at ABFK, I had no idea just how much of an impact I’d be able to make on the students. I knew I wanted to build something meaningful - something that would challenge students the same way I’ve always sought to challenge myself. I’ve always believed that growth happens at the edge of your comfort zone, and with that in mind, I created the Health & Wellness Program to give our students experiences that push them beyond their limits, build confidence, and teach them the importance of a balanced, active life.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of watching students conquer their fears and discover new passions. I’ve seen students who were afraid of the water paddle board across Mission Bay, hesitant hikers push through exhaustion to watch the sunrise from Vernal Falls in Yosemite, and those terrified of heights finally reach the top of a climbing wall at Vertical Hold, only to beam with pride once they touch back down to the ground. Every trip we take - whether it’s kayaking in Catalina, or trekking through the Grand Canyon - is more than just an adventure. It’s an opportunity for our students to realize what they’re capable of when they trust themselves and push forward. Through these experiences, I try to inspire every student I meet to chase challenges, embrace discomfort, and understand that they are stronger than they think.

Seeing a student step outside their comfort zone, achieve something they didn’t think they could, and leave with a new sense of confidence. That might be the best feeling, because I know that mindset will stay with them long after the trip is over.

Can you share a memorable story or example of the impact your work has had?
I serve on our judges' panel for our Annual Essay Contest, where we read through hundreds of carefully crafted stories, each offering a glimpse into the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of our students. Not long into the stack, I turned the page to an essay titled Reaching Unspeakable Heights. As I began reading I started to realize that this wasn’t just any essay - this was a direct reflection of the work I do, a testament to the power of the Health & Wellness Program in action.

The student wrote about their first experience rock climbing, describing the initial fear of heights, the uncertainty of stepping into something new, and the internal dialogue convincing them to keep going. As I read on, I saw how that single experience rippled into something bigger. Climbing didn’t just challenge their body - it changed their mindset. They started saying yes to more opportunities, inviting their brothers to join, encouraging friends to step outside their comfort zones, and viewing the world through a new lens of gratitude and courage.

As you know by now, I believe that growth occurs at the edge of discomfort, but seeing it put into (many) words like this - seeing how one moment of hesitation, one decision to push forward, led to a lasting change - was powerful. It was a reminder that the work we do at ABFK isn’t just about fun outings or physical activities. It’s about empowerment. It’s about showing students what they’re capable of, giving them the confidence to tackle challenges both on and off the climbing wall, and helping them recognize that every opportunity is a step toward something greater.

This student took that lesson and ran with it. They transformed their personal breakthrough into a mission to inspire others - to make sure their friends and family experienced that same sense of liberation, that same realization that they, too, can reach heights they never thought possible.

Vision and Future Goals
I personally want to see ABFK grow. I want to see us grow so fast and big that we become almost overwhelmed. In my little fantasy, we become the next Reality Changers, AVID, BridgeQuest, Outdoor Outreach, and everything else, combined. That being said, we can’t be everything to everyone, and I recognize this silly little delusion. Still, I can’t help but dream of what if?

What advice would you give to others interested in becoming more involved in philanthropy?
Think of your college years, a favorite hobby, or the thing you’ve been most excited about this month. Now imagine your life without it… It’s a hard thing to do, right?

For so many kids, that’s not just a thought experiment. It’s their reality. The thing that shaped you, the thing that brought you joy, confidence, or purpose? They might never get the chance to experience it. And not because they don’t have the drive or the talent, but because no one ever opened the door for them.

Philanthropy, at its core, is about opening doors - or as we say at ABFK, “building bridges.” It’s about giving someone a chance to explore, to grow, to feel seen and valued. And the best part? You don’t need to start a nonprofit or donate millions to make an impact. You just need to show up, mentor a student, share your skills, advocate for opportunities, support a cause that speaks to you. The little things add up.

So here’s my challenge to you: What do you love? What’s the thing that’s shaped you the most? Now, how can you use it to change someone else’s life? Because once you realize how much a single opportunity can alter the course of someone’s future, it’s impossible not to want to be a part of that.