For the past three months, we have had the pleasure of supporting Blue Bear School of Music as part of our giving back campaign. It was really fun to write them a check for a portion of EVERY sale of EVERY Push Pack.
Today, I am excited to announce our support for Family House of San Francisco.
What they do:
Founded in 1981, Family House is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization providing temporary housing to families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at the University of California San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital. Qualifying families live more than 50 miles from UCSF, and many live at or below the low-income status as determined by UCSF. Our two locations sustain nearly a 100% occupancy rate and can accommodate 107 people per night. Over the course of a year we serve more than 2,000 families.
Family House is an independent organization led by a professional staff and board of directors dedicated to providing residential services free-of-charge to qualifying families. Since we receive no financial support from UCSF, or any other public entity, we rely solely on the generous contributions of individuals, corporations and foundations.
Why Family House?
When my second daughter was three days old, we had been home all of one day. Sometime in the evening “something” wasn’t right. I didn’t know what it was. She didn’t have a fever, she just wasn’t “right”. About 1:00 AM she started moaning like a wounded cat. I can still remember that sound, coming from my new little princess. I took her into the ER, and my husband stayed with our 1 1/2 yr old. I remember telling the nurse what was wrong & having her look at me like I was crazy … “SOMETHING just isn’t right.” They did tests, and long story short, at 7AM the decision was made to have her tested for meningitis. This involves a spinal tap and a minimum of 3 day hospital stay. I was just 10 minutes from my home, but there was talk of having to go to a Children’s Hospital about 45 minutes away. Fortunately, she was fine, it was just a virus of some sort.
I couldn’t imagine how it would feel to be told my daughter had something seriously wrong, let alone that her treatment would be over an hour or a days drive away … or even further. Where would you stay? How would you pay for this? So many things to worry about along with the fact that your baby is sick.
Fast forward a year and a half later, my husband and I volunteered through our work at a benefit for Family House San Francisco. It was at this event that we learned about the amazing work that they do. I recently reconnected with Family House at another event and was reminded how the wonderful people are who are running this charity. I realized I wanted to support them and be a part of the work they do.
Here’s a VIDEO that explains what more of what they do, better than I could on this blog.
I hope you will join me in supporting them and their mission. If you would like to donate you can click HERE
If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and would like to get involved click HERE
