Thank You for an Incredible 2026 Gala!
Building Strength Through Community
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the 2026 DIY Girls Gala such a special evening. Together, we celebrated the power of community and the creativity, curiosity, and potential of the girls and gender-expansive youth we serve. Thank you to our guests, sponsors, partners, volunteers, and supporters for making this year’s Gala possible. We’re excited to keep building together.
EVENT HONOREES
Evelyn Cortez-Davis, P.E., BCEE
Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Water System at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Recipient of the Community Leader Award
Evelyn has over 30 years of water industry experience in the areas of engineering design, pipeline construction, asset management, project delivery, water operations, recycled water, water supply, conservation, groundwater remediation, and environmental compliance. Evelyn currently oversees strategic programs to ensure the long-term health of L.A.’s water system, including the Pure Water Los Angeles program, water supply and infrastructure resilience planning, and wildfire mitigation. In prior roles, she was the first Latina to serve as Director of Water Engineering, overseeing infrastructure projects to supply reliable water to 4 million people in the city of Los Angeles.
Patricia Ortiz
Project Manager for the Branch Chief for Space Projects & Partnerships at NASA AFRC
Recipient of the Inspirational Leader Award
Patricia Ortiz is an aerospace engineer with over 22 years of experience at NASA and in the aerospace industry, specializing in project management, flight operations, risk management, and thermal systems for the International Space Station and advanced flight research programs. Patricia joined NASA as a Project Manager in the Space Projects and Partnerships Branch at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) to focus on space advocacy and to manage various flight projects in 2019. As AFRC diversifies its portfolio to support Boots on the Moon and/or future Artemis missions, Patricia is currently supporting as the Deputy Project Manager for the Orion Heat Shield Spectrometer Project, managing the project to deliver a spectrometer that will add the capability to measure shock layer radiation spectra during Orion’s Artemis Mission 2,3,4, and 5 entry.
Karimar Trujillo
DIY Girls Alumna
Electrical Engineering, UC Irvine Class of ‘27
Student Speaker
Karimar Trujillo is an Electrical Engineering student at the University of California, Irvine, Class of 2027, with a passion for using engineering and technology to create meaningful change in her community. As she pursues her degree, Karimar is exploring opportunities in power and renewable energy, emerging technologies, and medical devices, with the goal of building a career that combines innovation with service. Karimar aspires to help build a future that is more accessible, inclusive, and equitable for everyone. Her interests extend from developing accessible technologies and sustainable solutions to addressing housing insecurity and advancing social justice. Through engineering and community engagement, she hopes to create the change she wants to see, give back to her community, and use her skills to improve the lives of those in need.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsorship opportunities are now available. If you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring our 2026 Gala, please email Susana Gomez, Director of Development and Communications, at susana@diygirls.org.
Support our mission and be part of this inspiring journey. Together, we will build a future rooted in strength and perseverance, redefining the STEM narrative for generations to come.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 GALA SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS
CONTRIBUTOR SPONSORS
FRIEND AD SPONSORS
