Did you know that the 3rd Monday in January, the observed birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is the only U.S. holiday that is also designated as a national day of service? If you have the day off from work or school, consider ways to give back to our community: volunteer, donate, or simply make a point of being kind to those around you. It’s easy to make a difference, and the circle of caring will continue to go around. Here are just a few ideas of ways to honor Dr. King and celebrate his contributions:
* Make a monetary donation. Every nonprofit requires money for overhead, and your donation ensures that no family will ever be turned away from Family House
* Organize a drive for those less fortunate in your community - food, toys, and items like socks or toothbrushes for homeless shelters
* Random acts of kindness: buy someone a cup of coffee, let someone go ahead of you in the supermarket line, or compliment a stranger. Remember that there are lots of people with hidden struggles, and simply being kind can make a huge difference in someone’s day.
THANK YOU! Because of incredible friends like you, Family House is - and always will be - 100% free of charge for families dealing with a child's life-threatening illness. Your generous gift on #GivingTuesday (along with the dollar-for-dollar match) helped us to raise more than $70,000 making an immediate impact on patients like Enrique.
We're so grateful to call you part of the Family House family. This generous community of donors and volunteers helps us make Family House a home away from home. Together, we'll continue to deliver compassionate care, comfort and dignity to every family who walks through our doors. Please accept our heartfelt thanks for making a difference in the lives of the families we serve.
It's not too late to make an impact this holiday season - give now.
See some of the highlights of “Family House magic” in action in 2018! We are so grateful to our amazing community for the tremendous support that allows moments like these to happen, making Family House a home away from home for families of children with life-threatening illnesses.
Family House heavily depends on volunteers, and when our weekly volunteers are able to stay connected to help out week after week, it is a huge benefit to the organization. Mike Wong has been volunteering consistently as our of our Office Volunteers for over a year. He first volunteered with Family House as an employee at Salesforce through New Hire Training & Orientation in 2016. He felt so connected to the mission that he came back as an individual volunteer to help with events and back office data entry. With his knowledge, skills, and abilities he is able to help improve efficiency and overall effectiveness in thanking our wonderful donors.
Mike has even gotten his kids involved, and they donated stocking stuffer gifts for our families during the holiday season. His son Sean joined the 2018 Summer High School Program to have a deeper engagement and understanding of Family House.
Thank you, Mike, for all you have done over the past 2 years and we hope that you continue to volunteer with Family House for many years to come!
Family House Family Stories: Sharing the brave and inspiring stories of families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. When baby Tucker was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, he was rushed to the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital for treatment. Tucker’s mom, Veronica, shares how Family House has helped her family cope with a life-threatening illness, and how our supportive community keeps them going.
Each summer, Family House hosts a group of 15 high school volunteers who participate in activities and complete projects benefiting our families. We had students this year from George Washington, Lowell, Marin Academy, Lick-Wilmerding, Abraham Lincoln, Mercy, San Ramon Valley, St. Ignatius, Design Tech, and Oceana high schools - what a great mix! During each weekly session, in their activities in the house, students meet families and other volunteers. On the first day of the program, students met a family and heard their touching story, and were able to ask questions about treatment, travel, and life at Family House, all to better understand the people who would benefit from their service throughout the summer.
Every week, students also had the opportunity to interact with Family House staff from each department, hearing them speak about their roles within the organization, and how their department supports the overall functions of Family House. These presentations might help guide students as they consider their own future careers.
This year’s students (Ella, Madeline, Olivia, Mimoh, Jake, Shannen, Fion, Hailey, Nathan, Riley, Zoe, Dante, Lucy, Crystal, and Sean) were outstanding, and accomplished numerous fun projects for the families, including: decorating the house in preparation for the 4th of July festivities; hosting a pizza party and game night, including Bingo (with prizes for everyone); and hosting a cupcake baking & decorating activity. Each activity provided enjoyment and entertainment for the families going through a very difficult time.
The Summer High School Volunteer Program is so important to Family House: these young, service-minded, focused students use their talents to uplift our kids and families, while giving volunteers the opportunity to serve their community and those in need. One participant said, “It’s honestly just very humbling to see that small actions of love and care can make such a difference in somebody’s life.” And we want to thank all those who participated this year!
From all of us at Family House, thank you!
Karen Banks, Director of Volunteer Programs
Tarence Dixon, Volunteer Coordinator
Thank you to Disney Pixar for screening the just-released Incredibles 2 at Family House, and to Google for throwing an awesome movie party so we could all get in the Super spirit! Check out the photos on Facebook.com/FamilyHouseSanFrancisco
Veronica Coleman is a Family House mom and the proprietor of Black Tag Bags, and recently organized a fundraiser (one of several she’s already done!) for Family House.
What is your connection to Family House? Family House has been my second home since Jan 2017, while our 20 month old son, Tucker, received cancer treatment at UCSF.
Tell us about your most recent fundraiser for Family House. Black Tag Bags are handmade all-purpose bags (shopping, lunch, and handbags). Each bag is unique and I try to use reclaimed fabric as much as possible. I started making them just before Tucker was diagnosed and it was put on hold until last month. I started making and selling the bags to friends and family, then started a facebook page where bags can be purchased. I release new bags each week, and take custom orders. The bags are still in high demand and I was excited to sell out my first few weeks.
Why did you decide to help raise money for Family House? I decided to give $2 of each bag sold to Family House simply because I can not repay Family House enough for what they have done for my family. I plan to donate $2 of every Black Tag Bag sold forever.
Do you make anything in addition to bags? I use the wrappers from a years worth of broviac flush supplies to make crinkle squares for UCSF Pediatric Units. (Yes, I saved them, I’m BIG on recycling and the waste of medical supplies drove me nuts, so I came up with an idea to repurpose.) I have a goal to make one for every bag I sell. (Watch the video to see how crinkly they are!)
What would you say to encourage others who are thinking of doing a fundraiser for Family House or another charity that they care about? Every dollar counts. Facebook and social media sites make it easy to set up fundraisers. Or if you see a need, just put it out there, ask, and people will help. (Sometimes an ask for specific items, like kitchen supplies, as some people feel more comfortable donating a needed item, rather than just cash.) I think most people would rather donate to a cause that they can see the immediate results of, and our friends and family have seen first hand what Family House has done for us.
From all of us at Family House, thank you, Veronica!
National Volunteer Week is April 15-21st! This year, we want to take a moment to truly thank all of you for your support. We rely on the volunteers who donate thousands of hours each year to keep our doors open.
Over the past year, because of you, we have hosted more meals, celebrated more birthdays, spent time with more therapy dogs and disinfected our communal spaces more than ever before to support our 4,000 families. We absolutely could not provide all of our support services without each and every one of you.
We are coming up on two years of supporting families in our Mission Bay home and 3,277 of you were instrumental to that in 2017. Volunteer Week is about celebrating you and all that you do! Without our community of dedicated individuals, we simply would not be able to serve our families as we do. Thank you so much to everyone. Your volunteering makes a difference! Your support of Family House is the reason that we can positively impact the lives our families. We truly appreciate all of your efforts.
Sincerely,
Karen Banks, Director of Volunteer Programs Tarence Dixon, Volunteer Coordinator
Many Family House volunteers are able to bring their special talents to help families directly, in areas such as yoga, massage therapy, or providing haircuts. A very unique and special gift that Alyssa Hunter has brought to our families is to capturing the beauty in their lives. Alyssa has been offering free portrait photography to all of the families since December 2016. She has also generously captured big parties at Family House, such as Thanksgiving Dinner, Holiday Dinner, Summer Carnival, and other events.
Alyssa takes time to get to know each family, and photographs the whole family together, and does individual portraits, too. She has a unique skill to make the little ones smile and pose even when they are not up for the task. She is very caring, gentle, and empathetic for the situations they are going through. The photos are a stunning display of the courage, hope, and beauty within each child.
Outside of volunteering at Family House, Alyssa runs her own photography business, Alyssa Hunter Photo, capturing photos of Bay Area families. She has a natural eye for providing her clients with the perfect portrait. On behalf of the families and staff, we say THANK YOU to Alyssa for all that she offers, and for her help in making our families feel beautiful.
Lael Robertson is a superstar volunteer and has become an incredible asset at Family House. She started volunteering in May 2017 and has already made a huge impact in every department. She has logged more than 150 volunteer hours at Family House in just 9 months. Her dedication and compassion go beyond the tasks she performs, which include supporting volunteer group activities, helping with administrative tasks and house projects, and in the development office. Lael has also helped run our daily breakfast service so staff could take a break without negatively impacting the families. She will soon be helping to support the front desk staff that works directly with families.
Lael is willing and able to help with any task that is asked of her and understands the importance of supporting our families. She takes care and treats every family with respect and dignity.
Lael shares and is a living example of the beliefs of Family House. Thank you, Lael, for all you have done over the past months and we hope that you continue to volunteer with Family House for many years to come!
#GivingTuesday kicks off the holiday giving season on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (right after Black Friday and Cyber Monday) - encouraging people to give back through gifts of your time, donations, goods, or your voice.
Donate!We rely on the generous support of individuals, corporations, and foundations to make sure that our services are always free to every family. We receive no government funding, and need you to help us meet our Giving Tuesday goal!
Volunteer! There are so many ways to volunteer at Family House - click here for inspiration, and fill out the Volunteer Application today to get started.
In-Kind Gifts! From gas cards to gift cards to canned goods for our pantry and toys for Fozzy’s Toy Room, your in-kind gifts round out the support we give our families. Visit our wish list on Amazon Smile for ideas.
Spread the Word! If you tell just 5 of your friends about the Family House mission to provide free, temporary housing for families of sick children undergoing medical treatment at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, we will dramatically increase our reach.
Thank you for all you do for Family House families for Giving Tuesday and year round!
Are you feeling festive this holiday season and looking for a way to give back? Family House has several ongoing volunteer opportunities, and we need your help to make our Home Away from Home merry and bright, especially for those families who are separated from their own families and community this season.
Host a Family Dinner This is a great opportunity for groups of 10 to 15 people. Cook a meal or have it catered, and make the evening complete with fun holiday activities like arts and crafts, games, or music. The big holidays are already booked, but we would welcome your talents on another weeknight in November, December, and beyond! Sign up at http://familyhouseinc.org/volunteer/family-meal-calendar/
Host a Family Breakfast Monday through Friday year round, we offer breakfast to all of our families. Help serve the meal and get to know our families! Perfect for volunteer groups of 15 to 20 people. Sign up at http://familyhouseinc.org/volunteer/family-meal-calendar/
Host an Afternoon Holiday Party Any day can be a holiday at Family House! Bring arts and crafts, a baking activity, board games, or a fun holiday movie to Family House. Your positive spirit will make our families smile! Perfect for groups of 4 to 8 volunteers.
Host a Toy or Gift Card Drive Support our Secret Santa program by volunteering in your community! Collect gift cards, toys for children of all ages, and fun stocking stuffers that we can give to our families staying with us at Christmas. Learn more at http://familyhouseinc.org/donate/holiday-giving/
Host a Canned Food Drive Help us keep our communal pantries stocked by organizing a canned food drive. We always need pantry staples like pasta, soup, beans, baby formula, granola bars, and more. Visit our Pantry Wish List for ideas or to send directly to Family House: https://smile.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/TE7RNBWEL66D/ref=cm_go_nav_hz
Check out this great video about the K-PAX Racing/Family House partnership, and the awesome Pirelli World Challenge Championship race day at Sonoma Raceway!
See photos from the race day at facebook.com/familyhousesanfrancisco
Thank you to Tise, Toyin, and Toyo Obembe for hosting a great book drive for Family House families! By reaching out to their community, they raised $550 which, in partnership with the Scholastic Literacy Program, was used to purchase 338 books for Family House. We asked their father, Olu, how it came to be:
“My kids were challenged last year by my wife to think of something they can do to help others. Last year’s effort was a teddies for sick kids drive. They built ‘build-a-bear’ bears for kids at Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland. This year, I shared with them what Family House Director of Volunteer Programs Karen Banks had shared when she spoke to my corporate team at Salesforce. I was inspired. My kids were excited. That’s how it started. You can help others with just a little effort.”
Family House Family Stories: Sharing the brave and inspiring stories of families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. This story features Gina, mom to four boys, two of whom have a rare genetic disease that requires treatment at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. Hear from Gina about the positive impact that Family House has had on their family, and the ways that they try to pay it forward.
Meet Jillian Wong, a recent Family House intern. Hear why volunteering at Family House is so important to her and her entire family, and about the difference you can make by volunteering at Family House.
It’s clear that the 7-Eleven Golden Gate Market team is a family, and they really work together to make a difference in the Bay Area. Market Manager Robert Young encourages the hard work of Community Relations Leader Mindy Layon, and together, they work magic for Family House. They champion Family House at every turn, and do their best to rally the support of approximately 100 Bay Area 7-Eleven stores.
Robert’s team of Field Consultants (Mark Kwasigroch, Tim Lankford, Jamaal Brown, Khae Alvarado-Poblete, Nicole Wyatt, Don Hayden, Janae Dominguez, Trina Metoyer, Jim Rasmussen and Mindy Layon) are all very involved, and there is a core group of Franchisees (Harry Brar, Destiny Nguyen, Jasama Patel, Raj Uppal, Amar and Raman Johal, Sindy Singh, Basel Aldabyani, Kuljit Matharu, Phyllis Shideler, and Neil Khoury, just to name a few!) that help with donations and volunteering, as well. “Its important that our stores are involved with the communities they serve, and it’s a lot of fun”, says Layon.
It all began four years ago when Young, Layon, and a group of 7-Eleven franchisees volunteered at the Family House on 10th Avenue. “It’s the right thing to do. It’s a good partnership for us, it gets us involved with the community, and it gives us a way to give back to the less fortunate,” recalls Mark Kwasigroch. The group helped by disinfecting toys and organizing donated items - when they saw the impact they were having, they were hooked. “There is a certain amount of reward to giving back. In some ways it’s kind of selfish because it makes you feel good. It’s really rewarding,” admits Tim Lankford.
Since 2013, they have contributed to Family House in a huge variety of ways: they’ve donated product (coffee and pizza are the biggest hits); set up kiosks in stores to collect cash donations and pantry food items; hosted fundraising drives to purchase gifts for the Family House Secret Santa Program (10 families so far!); volunteered doing projects around the house; hosted parties for Halloween and the Super Bowl; and made surprise visits to drop off all kinds of goodies for our families. Harry Brar says, “We love spending time with the kids and the families - letting them know that there are people out there who care about them. It’s just about caring, and sharing, you know?”
When the team heard about the Capital Campaign to build the Nancy and Stephen Grand Family House, they upped their game, and just had to see the progress for themselves. Jamaal Brown points out, “It’s not just the sick kids who go to the hospital - it’s the families, the parents, too - they need the support system - and Family House provides it all for no charge. These families come from all over, and it helps out tremendously. Even giving two hours of your time is a huge help - it makes the kids feel better and have a better day.”
Jasama Patel remembers the first time she volunteered at Family House: “It was a humbling experience for me, because it could be my kids [who are sick]. Don’t take things for granted; you never know when it could be taken away. I’m looking forward to bringing my kids here to volunteer. You see how everyone here cares.”
As we approached the one year anniversary of the Nancy and Stephen Grand Family House, Robert’s team couldn’t wait to help. They donated a ton of food for the party (200 hot dogs, sides, beverages, and more!), and even took turns manning the grill so everyone could have fresh dogs!
We appreciate all that the Bay Area 7-Eleven team does for our families, and we’re so glad they’re part of the family!
Watch the video we put together featuring 7-Eleven volunteers:
Position at Family House: Hospitality Services Coordinator
Reason for working at Family House: Having the opportunity to help out in any way possible and being there for families (whether it is providing a smile or a shoulder to lean on!) is the reason why I work at Family House.
Favorite thing to do in San Francisco: My favorite thing to do in San Francisco is to spend a day at Ocean Beach with a good book, some yummy food, and great company.
What makes you special? We are all special in our own special way! (And I can juggle….Is that special enough??)
What's the story behind the photo? The photo is of me and Suzy, who is like a second mom to me. I spent a year and a half living with Suzy and her two children in Sydney, Australia. This photo is when she came to visit me in San Francisco and we took a ferry and spent the day in Sausalito. It was a day filled with sunshine, love, and laughter!
