Credit: Kayla Wolf

Staci Plutchok Anderson is a non-profit leader whose visionary approach has empowered thousands of young people to build healthier futures for themselves, their families, and their communities in Northern California.

As President and CEO of PRO Youth and Families in Sacramento since 2002, and founder of the Youth and Family Collective in 2016, she develops and oversees innovative programs that support mental wellness, prevent substance misuse, and help youth acquire the skills and confidence they need to thrive.

Her colleagues attribute Staci’s success to her genuine care for those she serves and her ability to create partnerships that address complex challenges and achieve shared goals. Each year, she oversees programming for 3,800 young people through collaborations with as many as 70 partner nonprofits.

“Staci is a tireless advocate for state and local prevention programs, skillfully translating the vision of federal and state grants into real-world impact,” says longtime collaborator Denise Galvez with California’s Department of Health Care Services. “What sets her apart is her ability to bring diverse groups of people together through collective impact strategies. The Youth and Family Collective is a perfect example. Under her guidance, state and local professionals become true partners, collaboratively finding innovative ways to meet individuals and families where they are.”

Staci’s commitment to service began early and blossomed at Beloit. She enrolled with a desire to serve young people, studied sociology, and refined her interests through an internship with the Beloit Police Department. Riding the city streets in a patrol car, this budding sociologist discovered that she preferred building opportunities for young people before they got involved with the criminal justice system - precisely where she focuses her energy now. She also recognized the power of her Beloit peers as mentors. She and her classmates learned from one another, often pushing each other to the edges of their comfort zones, but always growing as a result. Today, peer-learning is a central tenet of the programs Staci manages.

The Beloit College Alumni Association applauds Staci’s accomplishments. Her passion for educating and mobilizing young people and her effectiveness at creating systems and partnerships that center the voices of the youth she serves is making a dramatic impact on her community. We are pleased to recognize her with a 2025 Distinguished Service Citation.