Friends, in just under a month, I’m hosting a benefit for the Caltech Y​, a service organization that provides opportunities for young people with serious science backgrounds to become engaged, responsible citizens of the world through teamwork, community engagement, activism and leadership.

For the sake of making this the funnest evening possible, we’ll be joined by four of Caltech’s greatest pranksters, one of whom was responsible in part for evading security at the HOLLYWOOD sign to make this spectacular photo happen. They will speak about their experiences pulling off some great logistical feats and answer questions.

Before the event starts, Tom Mannion, Caltech’s Senior Director for Student Activities and Programs, will lead a cooking class making Shenandoah-themed hors d’oevres. At Caltech, Tom teaches PA-16, a quarter-long cooking class detailed here, here and here, in which meals are prepared for luminaries like Stephen Hawking, Kip Thorne and Steven Spielberg and in which students’ final exam requires them to cook for Nobel Laureates.

Over the past 100 years, the Y has worked with thousands of students and brought leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Margaret Mead, Dolores Huerta, and Scott Ritter to interact with them on campus. As the Y celebrates its centennial this year, its friends look forward to another century of empowering young leaders with science backgrounds.

If you are in Washington, DC, please join us for a terrific cause and help to spread the word! All proceeds will go to fund the Caltech Y’s activities, which include an annual science policy trip to Washington DC, community service programs, an alternative spring break, and the social activism speaker series.

Tickets are available here: http://bit.ly/caltechydc

You can also make a donation to the Caltech Y here: http://bit.ly/supportcaltechy