Mayor to Make Supporting Organizations Key Theme in the Holiday Season Leading up to Inauguration

11/17/11 — Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced the launch of the San Francisco Season of Giving campaign to support organizations that help San Franciscans throughout the year and especially during the holiday season. Mayor Lee was joined by representatives of Glide Memorial Church, St. Anthony’s Foundation, United Way of the Bay Area, Salvation Army, Self Help for the Elderly, La Casa de las Madres, San Francisco Food Bank and the San Francisco Interfaith Council.

During the season of giving, which will last until the January 8, 2012 Mayoral Inauguration, residents and businesses are encouraged to give back to their own communities by supporting organizations that are providing warm meals, a place to stay and other essential services to the people of San Francisco. These non-profit partners are already providing to our neediest communities and it is more important now than ever for the public to support these collective efforts to provide for those most in need.

“This holiday season and leading up to my inauguration, I would like to spend my time shining a light on the wealth of organizations we have who are serving our neighbors and those in need throughout our City,” said Mayor Lee. “I will continue to focus on creating jobs and moving San Francisco in the right direction, but we need to support our fellow San Franciscans who need our help right now. During these tough economic times, we want San Francisco to be proud to say ‘we’re a City with a world class heart’ and I encourage everyone to open their hearts and give to the charities of their choice.”

Mayor Lee highlighted several organizations to give back to during the holidays and he will be visiting several of them next week during the Thanksgiving Week. 

• Glide Memorial Church
• La Casa de las Madres
• Project Homeless Connect
• Salvation Army
• San Francisco Interfaith Council
• Self Help for the Elderly 
• St. Anthony’s Foundation
• United Way of the Bay Area 

If you can’t give back financially, San Franciscans are also urged to consider giving their time to volunteer, or donating canned goods to the San Francisco Food Bank. Those that have given what they can will be provided an opportunity to take a photograph with Mayor Lee and the Tree of Hope at City Hall during the month of December at an Open House. The public should contact 311 for additional information on gift giving programs and services that provide the comfort of food and shelter during the holidays.

For more information about the San Francisco Season of Giving campaign, go to: sfgov.org/seasonofgiving