Social Responsibility & Community Engagement
MAKING POSITIVE CHANGE
Mary Hayashi is a passionate agent for positive change, and she has spent her career working to lead the way toward a brighter future. She fortifies charitable foundations and corporations, refining their philanthropic strategies for maximum support and impact, honing in on pivotal needs, and architecting plans for impactful contribution.
Drawing on her extensive background in healthcare and advocacy, Mary is not only a generous benefactor but also a donor-advisor for the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Her leadership also extended as the driving force behind the Women’s Sports Safety Initiative, amplifying the discourse on sports-related injuries and spotlighting the distinct risks faced by girls and women.
Mary presiding over API Heritage Month
SERVING IN THE CA STATE LEGISLATURE
In the California State Legislature, Mary Hayashi took important steps to support the welfare of student-athletes. She led the effort with AB 25, establishing the nation’s toughest return-to-play guidelines for athletes who sustained a concussion or head injury. This legislation, co-sponsored by the NFL, requires school districts to obtain a physician’s note before a student can return to play after sustaining a concussion. Additionally, Mary introduced AB 1451, which added concussion education to the mandatory first-aid training for all high school coaches in California.
Mary also authored AB 509, which established California’s Office of Suicide Prevention, and AB 73, which secured ongoing resources and permanent funding for domestic violence prevention and intervention in Alameda County.
MENTAL HEALTH DEFENDER
Prior to her influential tenure in the California State Legislature, Mary was a driving force behind the campaign championing Proposition 63, which fortified funding for vital mental health initiatives. Recognizing her leadership and expertise, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger entrusted her with a pivotal role on the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Nationally recognized for her insights, Mary was a distinguished speaker at the inaugural White House Conference on Mental Health and served in a leadership position within the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention.
Mary Hayashi with Tipper Gore, mental health advocate
work with mary
In the vanguard of healthcare, public policy, diversity and equality, Mary Hayashi’s leadership transcends the standard definition of a public affairs consultant. A proven strategist, trusted advisor, staunch reformer, and passionate champion of underserved communities, Mary has spent over 30 years forging transformative alliances and pioneering meaningful change.