As Bay Area Service Teens marks its 30th anniversary, we’re remembering one of our past philanthropic programs: Project FAMILY.

Each month, Project FAMILY partnered with Bay Area Turning Point to bring our teens to the shelter, where they spent time with children ages 4 to 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month.

On these Saturdays, the first hour focused on visiting, helping with homework, or engaging in instructional activities with the kids. The second hour was all about birthday celebrations, with fun treats and decorations.

The children looked forward to spending time with the teens, and together they made lasting memories.

Project FAMILY showed our pledge to service. We believe every child should have strong role models and moments of happiness, even when life is hard.

FAMILY represents the values and goals that guide our service:
Friendly, Fun – We wanted to make each child smile and feel like a friend, helping brighten their day.

Academic – We tutored and read with children who might not always get the attention they need, helping them do better in school.
Mentorship – We worked to be positive role models.

Interaction – We brought new faces and friendships, giving children a chance to make new connections.

Life – We know that birthdays and holidays are sometimes missed or not fully celebrated. We wanted to change that by giving children opportunities to enjoy birthday parties and to celebrate holidays.

Yes – Because of their situation, these children are often overlooked or told ‘no.’ We wanted to say yes to their requests and activities, giving them the experiences they deserve.

As the community needs change, this program was retired in March 2023.