Cal Alumni reconnect to raise over $600K for students in need

Olden Bears from left to right: Mark Myers, Bob Mansbach, Steve Gomberg, Keith Tandowsky, Joel Hausman, Bill Black

January 15, 2026

By Jessica Park

What began as phone calls among UC Berkeley alumni during the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into a sustained effort to support students facing food insecurity and other challenges.

The Olden Bears, a group of long-time Berkeley alumni led by history alumnus Jim Kahn ‘78, have raised over $600,000 for programs serving first-generation students, youth in foster care and student-athletes. Since its founding, the group has supported initiatives including the Berkeley Hope Scholars Program, the Biology Scholars Program and the Basic Needs Center

Kahn, who spent five years at Cal before attending medical school at UCSF, spent much of his career leading HIV/AIDS research and later served as chief of medicine at Stanford’s Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital. Drawing on decades-long friendships at Cal, he co-founded the Olden Bears in 2020.

Among the alumni who help lead the group is Steven Gomberg, a senior business executive who earned his B.S. in accounting in 1979 and his M.B.A. from Berkeley in 1981. Gomberg has led initiatives such as Golden Buddies, a student-run event at California Memorial Stadium where Cal football players host youth with developmental differences for activities.

What inspired you to found the Olden Bears, Jim?

Jim Kahn: The Olden Bears started as a group of friends, many of us from the Zeta Beta Tau house at Cal, though some friendships go back even further — from high school in San Francisco to Berkeley. Those relationships continued long after graduation. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, everything changed. At the time, I was chief of medicine at the VA, and my colleague Dr. Richard Unger and I were the two physicians in our friend group. With so much uncertainty, our group had a lot of questions, so we began having regular phone calls. While many conversations initially centered on student-athletes, the pandemic pushed us to look beyond Cal sports and focus on the broader struggles facing Cal students as a whole.

How did you get involved, Steven?

Steven Gomberg: Eighty percent of us were in the same fraternity at Berkeley, spanning a range of four or five years. Some of the older guys didn't know the younger guys, but over the years, the connectivity has brought us all together. Some of the guys started a Zoom call to stay in touch, and over time, they added more of us. I joined a year or so into it, and initially it was a Zoom call to stay in touch, but it led to something more — the Olden Bears.

What types of initiatives does the Olden Bears organization focus on?

Jim Kahn: We started by addressing food insecurity, supporting the Basic Needs Center, the Alameda Food Bank and former Cal football player Elijah Hicks’ work to fight hunger in schools. From there, we asked what else we could do to support Cal students. In 2024, we gave $92,500 to the Berkeley Hope Scholars program, which helps current and former foster youth, probation youth and orphaned students navigate college. We’ve also contributed $95,000 to the Biology Scholars Program, supporting first-generation students who can’t afford unpaid summer research. Through the Fiat Lux Scholarship program, we pledged $100,000 and received a matching $100,000 grant from the Haas family. Since 2020, we’ve helped raise over $600,000 to support first-generation students, student-athletes and other Cal students.

Are there any specific initiatives that have been your favorite?

Steven Gomberg: I played on the football team for a couple of years, so I stay involved with the athletic department by advising student-athletes and supporting the football program. One initiative I spearhead for our group is Golden Buddies, a spring event run by football students with support from the Cameron Institute, a Berkeley program that helps student athletes succeed. Last spring we had more than 150 kids with developmental differences and their families to the stadium for football drills, obstacle courses, tackling dummies and interactive nutrition games. The Olden Bears help fund the event and volunteer on site. It’s amazing to see the joy in the kids’ faces as they play games and do activities.

How does the Olden Bears secure funding for its work?

Jim Kahn: We don't do any events. We don't even solicit requests. We all find a cause that's near and dear to us, and one of the Olden Bears takes the lead in raising money. For instance, one Olden Bear — Bob Mansbach — was a journalism major at Cal. He told us the students in the journalism program have to do an internship. Some students can't afford a summer without a paid internship. Mansbach led the effort to fund the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism $15,000 a year for three years, and we’ve all collectively enhanced Mansbach’s gift to $15,000. This coming year is our third year to support the initiative.

What has been the most rewarding part of your experience with the Olden Bears?

Steven Gomberg: The most rewarding part isn’t just one thing — it’s staying in touch with these guys. They’re incredibly good, responsible and compassionate people, and some I wasn’t very close with until we started this. It’s special to do meaningful work with people you genuinely enjoy. Early on, when we were figuring out how to donate money, I sent a three-page memo on what it would take to start a 501(c)(3). The group asked if there wasn’t an easier way, and we went with the simpler approach — no formal structure, no president or COO. People contribute what they want, we vote informally, and we don’t keep meticulous records. It works because of the long history and trust we have with each other.