Annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner With Friends - Let's Be Family!

4th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner With Friends

No one should be alone on Thanksgiving. Calling all Altadena, Pasadena, San Gabriel Valley, and LA neighbors: Connect 2 Rise invites you to be part of our family this year, with a hearty Southern-inspired meal, games, karaoke, and good company. Our nonprofit was featured on Fox News LA last Thanksgiving.

It's been a heavy year for a lot of us. Whether you're rebuilding after the Eaton Fire, between homes, new in town, far from family, or just don't want to spend the day alone, there's a seat at this table for you.

New Location This Year

We've outgrown our old spot in Pasadena! This year we're gathering in San Marino, just under 5 miles away. Same family, bigger table.

📅 Thursday, November 26, 2026
🕓 4:00 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 San Marino Masonic Lodge 408, 3130 Huntington Dr, San Marino, CA 91108
🚗 Lot and street parking
🚌 Need a ride or need to know the closest bus route? Let us know and we'll do our best to help.
♿ ADA accessible · All ages welcome

What to Expect

A festive meal with traditional and Southern-inspired Thanksgiving dishes, desserts, and drinks, followed by cards, dominoes, Connect 4, karaoke, or just settling in to talk.

• 4:00 PM — Get to know your new friends
• 5:00 PM — Feast
• 6:00 PM — Conversation, games, dessert, and karaoke
• 8:00 PM — Wind down and departures

Tickets

Reduced Fees This Year! Every ticket supports Connect 2 Rise's work to fight loneliness, rebuild community, and bridge the gap between people, resources, and generations.

• Free Seat — Seniors 60+ and Eaton Fire survivors. No proof needed.
• Pay What You Can — $10 and up, no questions asked
• Regular Admission — $25
• Children Under 12 — $10 (under 3 free, no ticket needed)
• Pay It Forward — $50, covers your seat and one for a neighbor. Pay It Forward seats go to seniors, Eaton Fire survivors, and families referred by our community partners.

RSVP by Saturday, November 21. All tickets, free and paid, must be reserved by then so we can finalize our headcount with the kitchen.

Can't make it? Please cancel your ticket so your seat can go to a neighbor.

What to Bring

Just yourself and a cheerful vibe. Desserts for the dessert table are always welcome. Please label anything containing nuts, dairy, or gluten.

Who We Are

Connect 2 Rise is a Pasadena-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to end social isolation. We connect neighbors to resources, support, and each other, one connection at a time.

Volunteer With Us

Help us make this Thanksgiving special. Volunteers enjoy the meal and festivities too.

• Setup — 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM
• Serving & Hosting — 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM

Reserve a volunteer ticket through this page, or reach out with questions.

Sponsor a Seat

Last year's dinner was featured on Fox News LA. This year, your support reaches neighbors across the San Gabriel Valley and greater LA County.

• $75 — covers the full cost of one guest's seat
• $300 — a family of four
• $600 — a full table of eight

15 tables. 120 neighbors. One holiday. We also welcome food donations, in-kind contributions, and event-level sponsorships.

Questions or Interested In Donating?

📧 info@connect2rise.org · 📱 (626) 561-0622 · 📲 @connect2rise

Photo & Video Release: By attending, you consent to being photographed and/or filmed. Connect 2 Rise Inc. may use images or recordings for promotional purposes on social media, websites, or other materials without compensation. Prefer not to be photographed? Let us know at check-in and we'll give you a sticker so our photographers know.