Celebrating the Season: Aspiranet's Holiday Gift Drive

Michelle is Aspiranet's Online Marketing Manager. Since last December, she's been the person behind our social media. In this post, she's sharing her thoughts on Aspiranet's Holiday Gift Drive with Starbucks Coffee Company. 

It's that time of year again.

I don't know about you, but the big "C" (and by that, I mean consumerism) at this time of year makes me feel uncomfortable. It desensitizes me to the joys of the holidays, leaving me scrambling to buy gifts and forgetting the best parts of the season.

I forget messy kitchens, standing by my mother's side rolling out pie crust and creaming butter and sugar for the perfect holiday cookie.

I forget crisp winter walks with the newest additions to the family cozy in their strollers, the smells of wood-burning fireplaces in the air.

I forget laughing at my dad trying to trim the Christmas tree with his tiny Walmart saw.

I forget about family and the unique opportunity the holidays present to celebrate it.

Working at Aspiranet, I am constantly reminded that a healthy, happy family is not guaranteed. The holiday memories for nearly 60,000 children in foster care in California this season will be drastically different than my own. They may wake up Christmas morning apart from their siblings for the first time in their lives. Perhaps they'll celebrate with a wonderful foster family, all the time thinking of what their mom or dad is doing that day.

60,000 is an enormous number. It's the population of a small city. Just imagine for a week: every single person you come across at the grocery store, at the post office, at work, in the airport represents a foster youth in California. Every person is a life you can impact this holiday.

This year I challenged myself to step away from my computer and do something for Aspiranet foster youth through our Annual Holiday Gift drive with Starbucks Coffee Company.

What an experience!

I carefully selected my ornament (eggnog latte in hand).

I shuffled over to Target and agonized over the perfect gifts. Obviously, Thomas the Tank is the perfect train, but I wasn't sure if Eduardo wanted only a train or the tracks to accompany. In the end, the starter set won.

Learning toys? I wanted something that would keep Eduardo occupied longer than a few minutes. I remembered my love for coloring books as a child and continued my commercial vehicle theme with a Tonka activity book and twistable crayons.

A stop at checkout for some batteries and my experience was complete.

Back at the office, I struggled with writing a personal note to Eduardo. What could I say to a four-year-old to tell him how much I care about him? How should I say that I come to work every day so that children like him can create happy memories of the holidays?

I pause, think of my two-year-old nephew and his infatuation with trains. I know exactly what to say:

Purchasing a gift for Eduardo was just what I needed to refocus on what's important this season. I'd be willing to wager that it will do the same for you.

If you'd like to participate in Aspiranet's Gift Drive with Starbucks, please visit aspiranetheroes.org/giftdrive.

Meet an Aspiranet Foster Family: Robin and Robert

Robin and Robert are currently fostering four children, ranging from 12 years to 16 years old. They have been a foster family with Aspiranet for over 25 years and have fostered more than 35 children with us.

Please read the Q&A below to learn more about their experience in foster care. It is very inspiring!

Why did you decide to become a foster family?

Robert’s sister-in-law was a foster child. She disclosed her life as a foster child to Robert and Robin, which was not good at the time. Robert and Robin decided that when they were able they would be foster children and make a better life for foster child(ren). When they started fostering they haven’t stopped. They felt that they couldn’t change the system but they could help a least in their own way by fostering a child at a time.

What’s your most memorable moment as a foster family?

There are a lot but the one that stands out in their minds is when a foster girl grew up and asked Robert to walk her down the aisle at her wedding and Robin made her wedding dress.

What is the best part of being a foster family?

The best part is the feeling that you made a difference in a child’s life.

How is your foster child a hero to you?

There have been many heroes in this home. One was a boy who came into the foster home very disconnected with people and his environment. He made no eye contact with anyone. He was very withdrawn and isolated. He spent a year and a half in their home. By the end of that time he would come home from school smiling, laughing, look people directly in the eye, and appeared happy to be alive. He became very sociable, open and connected to his environment. Robert and Robin have seen and experienced the work that this child went through to change. They saw the struggle he went through to reconnect with the world around him and it was amazing and unforgettable.

What would you tell another family who is considering becoming a foster family?

Robert and Robin would tell another family that it is the most challenging “job” anyone could get into but it is the most rewarding. Becoming a foster parent will teach you to become a better parent to your own children. A foster parent will learn to have a lot of patience, and force themselves to learn to laugh at the small things. Being a foster parent has been a very rewarding experience to Robert and Robin and this is why they continue to be foster parents.

Aspiranet Program Spotlight: Family Focused Support Network

Did you know Aspiranet has more than 35 programs across California working toward our vision of taking collective action to support communities and families as they love and care for children? Our diverse programs range from foster care and afterschool programs to encore career opportunities for retiring professionals. 

To introduce our supporters to the life-changing work of our Aspiranet programs, we have created the Aspiranet Program Spotlight. Today, we speak with Sheri Reynolds, Director of the Aspiranet Family Focused Support Network for Autism and Developmental Disabilities. April is National Autism Awareness Month and Sheri has been busy raising her voice as an autism expert. Read on to see what the Family Focused Support Network has in the works...

What does the Family Focused Support Network do?

Family Focused Support Network (FFSN) provides intensive case management and in home behavioral services to families and children challenged by developmental disabilities. Youth referred to the program have severe behavioral issues, such as aggression, hygiene issues, bolting, rigidity and communication issues. 

What led you to begin the Family Focused Support Network?

We initially started FFSN to help keep families together and prevent out of home placement.  While the program still works with families on this goal, we are now also helping family relationships from deteriorating. We are also focused on helping younger children to learn skills earlier in age that they can use throughout their life.

When you look back on your work, is there an individual story that stands out to you as embodying the success of your program?  

I have so many stories that involve youth coming to us while living in their home, disconnected from their family.  With our help, the family gains connection, learns skills and increases their relationship harmony. Often, the youth gain social skills that allow them to make friendships. Seeing these success stories time and again makes me a firm believer in the importance and need for our Family Focused Support Network. 

What does the Family Focused Support Network have on the horizon?

We're working on many different projects right now! Soon, we'll be offering psychotherapy services to families and individuals. We're also getting ready to launch social skills groups in the Greater Bay Area. Lastly, I'm hosting a free public webinar titled "Decoding Autism" Saturday, April 23 at 10am in support of National Autism Awareness month. I'm going to discuss treatment strategies, including the use of the iPad as a component of a comprehensive treatment plan. To register or learn more, please visit the Aspiranet website. 

How can we learn more about the Aspiranet Family Focused Support Network?

Visit us on the web or send me an email at, sreynolds@aspiranet.org. I'd be happy to speak with you about the work we do and discuss ways the Family Focused Support Network can help you. 

Visit our website...

Aspiranet Program Spotlight: Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center

Did you know Aspiranet has more than 35 programs across California working toward our vision of taking collective action to support communities and families as they love and care for children? Our diverse programs range from foster care and afterschool programs to encore career opportunities for retiring professionals. 

In the coming months, we will introduce our readers to the life-changing work of our Aspiranet programs. For the first installment of the Aspiranet Program Spotlight, Michael Funk of the Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center took a moment from his jam-packed schedule as the Director of Afterschool, Community, and Youth Development at Aspiranet to participate in a Q&A with us. Please enjoy and ask anything we missed in the comments! 

What does the Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center do? 

SNBC’s mission is to provide support and opportunities to ensure the healthy development of children, youth, and adults in the Sunset District of San Francisco.

In response to a dearth of community-based services for Sunset families, I decided to start a grassroots effort to address issues facing the Sunset community, out of which SNBC was born. Now in its 15^th year of operation, SNBC is still one of the few family-focused agencies in the neighborhood.  SNBC continues its focus on improving the life outcomes of local youth, families, and seniors.  

SNBC's vision is to connect people to their passion, potential, and community here on San Francisco's West Side. Through our myriad programs, we support the healthy development of Sunset community members and families. Programs include: daily afterschool programs at five public schools and two community-based locations, serving more than 900 students daily with academic support and enrichment activities; technology classes in English and Cantonese for adults; digital arts and media programs for youth and young adults; case management services for at-risk youth; enrichment and skill-building evening classes for adults, and the Sunset Family Resource Collaborative, led by SNBC, which provides support services for families with young children. All programs and services offered by SNBC are known for their exceptional quality and are free of charge.

 When you look back on your work, is there an individual story that stands out to you as embodying the success of SNBC?

This past fall, SNBC was selected as one of only 18 national finalists (out of more than 300 applicants!) for the prestigious MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Award.  Our afterschool programs at A.P. Giannini Middle School is a national model for afterschool programming—right here in the Sunset! 

What does SNBC need to better serve families?

Like many nonprofits in this difficult economy, our needs are largely financial. To continue serving Sunset families, we need ongoing financial support for our programming. SNBC currently serves more Sunset community members than ever before -- each day of the school year, more than 900 youth attend our afterschool programs, and every week, more than 300 adults participate in our evening programs. While our efforts are supporting more youth and adults than ever, we still have waiting lists! Our programs are more popular than ever and we have grown to meet demand, but we must raise funds to support our future programs. In 2011, we must raise an additional $50,000. Every donation, no matter the size, will propel us towards our goal and is greatly appreciated!

What does SNBC have on the horizon? 

On Saturday, April 9th, SNBC will host A Victorian Evening, a benefit and fundraiser. The event is also a celebration of SNBC's 15 years and 15,000 youth served. You can support SNBC by joining us at A Victorian Evening for beer and wine, hors d'oeuvres, live entertainment, door prizes, poker and blackjack, and a silent auction! Tickets are $50 and can be purchased here. You can learn more about SNBC's A Victorian Evening by visiting our website. 


We're excited to welcome the following special guests: San Francisco Unified School District Deputy Superintendent Richard Carranza, Senator Leland Yee, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, Speaker Pro Tempore, Phil Ting, San Francisco Assessor-Recorder, and Hydra Mendoza, San Francisco Board of Education President.

Wine and wine cocktails will be served, courtesy of Barefoot Wine & Bubbly. 

The menu for the evening includes:

Gourmet Sliders

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

Smoked Salmon Cucumber Rolls

Shrimp Cocktail

Fruit Tartlets 

The silent auction includes:
Russian River Getaway - vacation home rental
Private Sunset Flight for two over the San Francisco Bay
Round-trip flights on Southwest Airlines
Tickets to "Uncorked" Wine Events
San Francisco 49ers tickets plus parking pass
San Francisco Giants tickets
Lunch and Capitol Tour with Assemblywoman Fiona Ma
San Francisco Ballet tickets
Sunset Sail on the San Francisco Bay
Lunch for five with bestselling author John Lescroart
VIP Barrel Tasting for six at Peju Winery
Wine from Grieve Family Winery, Dutton-Goldfield Winery, Kermit Lynch Wines, and more!

If you cannot attend A Victorian Evening but still want to support Sunset children and families, you can make a gift to SNBC at www.snbc.org.

How can we learn more about SNBC?

Visit our website at www.snbc.org and follow SNBC on twitter and facebook. We update our twitter and facebook often. We're currently running giveaways on facebook for people purchasing and/or promoting our A Victorian Evening event tickets, so be sure to head over and show your support. 

Thank you, Michael, for talking with us about the exciting activities over at SNBC. We're happy to feature the great work of SNBC in the first edition of the Aspiranet Program Spotlight.