Members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco recently gathered at Family House for an evening of service, connection, and fellowship on September 1, 2026. As part of the evening, Rotarians provided a catered dinner for Family House residents and helped with a cleaning project. Volunteers also participated in arts and crafts activities, spending time with families, and helping to create a warm and welcoming community environment.
Family House provides free housing and support to families whose children are receiving medical care at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, offering families a welcoming home away from home during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
The project was led by Christopher Wiseman and is part of a $6,000 grant awarded by the San Francisco Rotary Foundation to Family House. The grant supports Family House’s mission of providing compassionate care and a place to stay at no cost to families in need, while Rotary members' volunteer service provides an opportunity to contribute directly to the organization and the families it serves.
This year marks the fourth year of the Rotary Club of San Francisco’s partnership with Family House. During that time, the partnership has combined financial support with hands-on volunteer service, helping Family House continue its important work in the San Francisco community.
Family House now provides a home for approximately 375 people each night and recently celebrated its 10th anniversary in Mission Bay. The organization continues to invest in its facilities and services, including the installation of new stoves to improve its community kitchen, underscoring the continuing need for its services.
September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, and Family House is celebrating with a limited-edition merchandise campaign running for 21 days. The campaign offers another way for supporters to raise awareness and help families staying at Family House.
After completing the service project, Rotarians continued the evening with fellowship at SPARK Social SF.
The Rotary Club of San Francisco looks forward to returning to Family House for its next service project in January 2027 and continuing this meaningful four-year partnership.
Eric Sleigh, Samantha Yu, Eric Orantes, Lena Odell, Christopher Wiseman, and Mary Fermi