Meet the man who inspired it all.

The Sabatini Fund was established in honor of Paul L. Sabatine, the grandfather of co-founder Ashley Kidder.

Paul, seen on the right in the neighboring photo, was a lifelong learner who encouraged Ashley to pursue her interests knowing that she would have his full support, something this fund wishes to emulate.

In his formative years, Paul received a Master’s of Science in Biochemistry from Georgetown University in 1952, followed by a Juris Doctorate from George Washington University in 1963.

For just over 30 years, Paul practiced patent law, most notably for the ALZA Corporation where he represented numerous pharmaceutical patents for many prescriptions that you just might use today.

Read on to learn more about the man who inspired this endeavor.

Born in 1922, Paul was one of nine children. When emigrating to the United States from Italy, his last name was changed from Sabatini to Sabatine in an effort to sound more American.

In 1985, Ashley was born to Paul’s youngest daughter Marilyn. The first of four grandchildren, Ashley and who she would learn to call Granddad formed an immediate bond.

The two spent weekends, summers, and holidays together, along with Paul’s wife (Ashley’s grandmother) Marilyn. Living in Silicon Valley at the time, they would often attend musicals, operas, plays, and symphonies in San Francisco.

Paul consistently and unabashedly accepted Ashley’s interests as his own, from books to movies to musical artists. Here you can see a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles poster displayed proudly in Paul’s bedroom, one of Ashley’s favorite childhood movies.

Well into his elder years, Paul continued to pursue his own hobbies and passions. He audited courses for fun at Stanford University and even took a ballroom dance class so he could spin his wife with ease on the dance floor.

Books, newspapers, educational shows, you name it — Paul lived for acquiring new knowledge and keeping his interests flourishing. He would often read into the early morning hours, snipping newspaper articles he thought Ashley might enjoy reading. He would send these in the mail every few days.

When Ashley moved 1,200 miles away in 1995, Paul made sure to stay involved in her studies. He would order Ashley’s school textbooks so they could work science and math homework problems over the phone together.

In 2002, Paul died after several years fighting heart problems. Some three hundred people gathered at First Lutheran Church in Palo Alto for his memorial service, a clear reflection of his legacy at ALZA Corporation, where he earned the prestigious Founder’s Award. His generosity, curiosity, and wit left an enduring imprint on everyone fortunate enough to know him.

Today, Paul’s effervescence lives on through The Sabatini Fund, where his granddaughter Ashley and co-founder Tim Kelley advance his vision by expanding financial access to extracurricular programs and enrichment opportunities that inspire students to always pursue their passions.