News

Compass Family Services was very excited to distribute 100 merchandise certificates for children’s shoes to our clients this holiday season.  The certificates were provided by the Payless Gives™ Shoes 4 Kids program, an annual giving program from Payless ShoeSource.

Although properly fitting shoes are important for children’s health and development, a striking number of children don’t own a pair of shoes that fit.  A new pair of shoes will provide 100 underserved children with the opportunity to run and play in comfort.

By helping families who struggle to provide their children with basic essentials on a daily basis, we hope to relieve some of the stress parents feel during the holidays and bring joy to as many children as possible.

To make sure you hear about all the ways in which Compass is helping our community this holiday season, sign up for our newsletter, like us on facebook, or follow us on twitter.

Converse and San Francisco-based retailer ShoeBiz are launching their new Mayan collection on 12/21/12, and will be donating 100% of the proceeds to Compass Family Services. If you are still looking for holiday gifts, please stop by Shoebiz and pick up a pair of shoes that will not only be given, but will give back. 

In this Staff Spotlight installment, we talk to Bianca Espinoza about her work helping families in crisis access permanent housing. 

Q: What has been your proudest moment as a Compass Connecting Point Housing Specialist?

A: I've had many great experiences working with families. One of my proudest moments came this summer when I assisted two families who both found housing and moved in on June 1, 2012.

I referred the first family for an opening through Community Housing Partnership (CHP).  I assisted the family with the application, helped them to gather all of the necessary documentation and to prepare for the meeting with the CHP intake coordinator.  After their successful interview and housing offer, CCP was also able to help the family with their move-in costs that allowed them to move into their new home right away! 

Converse and San Francisco-based retailer ShoeBiz launch the Chuck Taylor All Star City Collection, featuring artwork by local artists Alán González and Kris Mestizo.

The collection celebrates the iconic sites of San Francisco with original artwork inspired by and reflective of the city’s heritage and lifestyle. ShoeBiz has agreed to donate 100% of the project earnings and proceeds towards Youth Against Poverty and Compass Family Services. The profits of these shoes will directly support and help stabilize a deserving family in need.

The Chuck Taylor All Star City collection launches on September 1 at the ShoeBiz Dino Store located at 1553 Haight Street at 11am.  The collection is available in unisex sizes 3-13 at ShoeBiz locations across San Francisco and online at www.shoebizsf.com.

Introducing our new "Staff Spotlight" series, where we will be featuring a different Compass staff member every few weeks!

Where do you live? Where is your hometown?

I was living in San Pablo, CA, but just moved to Lake Merritt in Oakland! And although I was born in San Francisco, I grew up in Oakland and consider it my hometown.

How long have you been with Compass and what is your role?

It will be 17 years in September. I started out as a floater in childcare at Compass Clara House, but I am now the Children’s Activities Coordinator at Compass Family Shelter.

During the summer I run Camp Compass, a fun and enriching summer program for the children of Compass' client families. Camp is in session Tuesday throughThursday, but it takes a lot of work during the rest of the week to make things happen! Camp staff meet at 10 in the morning and camp starts at 10:30. I’ve got to make sure parents don’t leave the kids before then, as well as facilitate check-ins, help serve breakfast and keep the kids engaged until lunch and the daily outing (which can include ice skating, bowling or going to parks around the city).

Best thing about the Bay area?

There’s a ton to do in San Francisco, but I honestly prefer Oakland. It’s a crazy city, but has lots of diversity and culture. I like to walk around Lake Merritt, bike and enjoy the bars and food.

What is your favorite Bay Area restaurant?

Regent Thai on Church Street. Best Thai in the city.

What do you do on your day off?

Rest! Work can be exhausting, so I enjoy relaxing and enjoying the outdoors.

What have you enjoyed most about working at Compass?

More than anything the diversity and wonderful people.

Why Compass?

The amazing programs. The fact that most of our services are wrap-around and are offered to all parts of the family make us unique and such a successful organization.

Thanks to our awesome friends at ShoeBiz, Compass supporters will have the opportunity to meet famed designer Jeremy Scott during a special meet & greet from 1-3pm at the ShoeBiz adidas Concept Shop. In addition to meeting Jeremy and getting a first look at his 2012 collection, all proceeds from releated event sales will go to Compass Family Services.

August 11, 2012
1-3pm
ShoeBiz +adidas Concept Shop
1420 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117

There is a widening gap between the state funding that Compass Children’s Center (CCC) receives and the actual cost of providing a top-notch early childhood education to the Center’s 70 homeless and extremely low-income children. In 2008, Compass established the Compass Children’s Center Scholarship Fund to help raise the portion of each child’s care that is not covered by state funding.

CCC operates year-round, and in addition to an enriched early childhood curriculum tailored specifically to meet the needs of children living in poverty and homelessness, the Center offers a range of on-site support services to the children and their families that include therapy, parent education and support groups, case management, resource and referral, and crisis intervention. Families also have access to Compass’ full complement of programs and services for families in need.

Compass would like to extend its thanks to everyone who joined us at our 16^th annual Spring Forward luncheon, Room to Dream.  The event raised over $280,000 to benefit the more than 3,000 homeless and extremely low-income parents and children that Compass helps each year to regain a solid footing.  The event was hosted by Steven Dinkelspiel, President and Publisher of San Francisco magazine. 

$75,000 Challenge Grant

Compass was thrilled to announce the Marie Mendenhall Cleasby and Gilbert W. Cleasby challenge grant at the luncheon.  Dr. and Mrs. Cleasby were long-time residents of San Francisco and although they travelled the world, they loved San Francisco and cared deeply about helping their neighbors in need.  

The annual holiday party is Compass’ most highly anticipated event of the year.  The event is the culmination of months of hard work by Compass staff and a small army of amazing volunteers.  The party offered something for every member of the family.  The children loved meeting our very engaging Santa Claus, who was played by long time Compass volunteer Todd Kahl.  The kids also had the chance to win great prizes at our winter carnival, organized by the staff at Compass Family Resource Center.  

Thanks to generous donations, each family also got to take home a copy of the new holiday classic, “Olive, the Other Reindeer” which was the inspiration for the beautiful decorations created by the amazing team at Redmond Aldrich Design.   “Chef Alex” Tamburro and his staff cooked up a chili feast for the families.  In addition to coordinating the meal for the holiday party for the past four years, Chef Alex also teaches a regular children’s cooking class at Compass Family Shelter. 

This year a record 400 parents and children attended the party.  All of us at Compass are so grateful for the generosity and dedication of our community. You helped us make this event such a success!

The holiday season is about giving.  Each year through our Adopt-a-Family project, hundreds of generous donors from the local community have the chance to make holiday wishes come true for Compass families.  The magic of the season is reflected in the generosity of the many donors who enthusiastically buy, wrap and deliver  gifts for their adopted families.  Tears of joy and hugs all around are common when our client families pick up their gifts.

Thanks to an outpouring of community support, Compass adopted a record 450 families this year.  In addition to dolls, Legos and lots and lots of Play-Doh, donors helped families meet some very special needs with gifts that will make a huge impact in their everyday lives.